How approval workflow works in Postly
Approval workflow lets a workspace require review before posts are published. Turn it on in Workspace Settings, assign at least one approver, then every new post that needs review moves into Pending Approval.
Workspace Settings preview
Generated SVG guide based on the Approval Workflow settings screen
Important rule
The post creator cannot approve their own post. Add another Approver, Admin, or Owner before enabling approvals for the team.
Set up approval workflow in 6 simple steps
Use this checklist when you want posts to be reviewed before they are published for a workspace, client, or team.
Open Workspace Settings
Go to the workspace where approvals should be required. Approval rules are set per workspace so each team or client can have its own review flow.
Require approval before publishing
Turn on the setting that requires posts to be approved before they can be published or scheduled. Set the minimum number of approvers to at least 1.
Add an approver
Invite or update at least one team member as an Approver, Admin, or Owner. Creators cannot approve their own posts, so another qualified team member must review them.
Create or schedule a post
Once approval is required, new posts automatically move to Pending Approval instead of going straight to publishing.
Review in Manage Posts
Approvers can open Manage Posts, filter by Pending Approval, review the content, then approve or reject it with feedback.
Publish after approval
Approved posts continue to their scheduled time or become ready to publish. Rejected posts return to the creator for edits and resubmission.
The approval rules are intentionally simple
Approval workflow is not another complicated project management layer. It is a publishing safety check: someone creates, someone else approves, then the post can move forward.
Best setup for most teams
Set the workspace to require 1 approver, then assign one team lead or client stakeholder as Approver. This keeps content moving without slowing the publishing process.
Approval is workspace-based
Each workspace can have its own approval requirement and approver count.
Creators cannot self-approve
The person who created the post needs a different approver to approve it.
Pending posts stay controlled
Posts that require approval are held in the Pending Approval queue until reviewed.
Rejected posts can be fixed
Creators can edit rejected content and submit it again for review.
Who can approve posts?
Owners, Admins, and Approvers can approve posts. Editors can create content, but they should submit it for review.
| Role | Can approve? | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Yes | Workspace owner, final decision maker, full account control. |
| Admin | Yes | Team lead or manager who can review content and manage workspace settings. |
| Approver | Yes | Client, reviewer, brand manager, or stakeholder who only needs approval access. |
| Editor | No | Content creator who drafts posts and submits them for review. |
Quick answers for new users
These are the most important details users need when they ask how approval workflow works.
Where do I turn on approval workflow?
Open Workspace Settings, enable approval requirement, and choose the minimum number of approvers required before publishing.
Where do pending posts appear?
They appear in Manage Posts under the Pending Approval status or folder, where approvers can review them.
Why can’t I approve my own post?
Approval workflow is designed for separation of duties. A different approver, admin, or owner must approve the post.
What happens when a post is rejected?
The post returns to the creator with the rejection context. The creator can update it and submit it again.
Ready to require approvals before publishing?
Open your dashboard, go to Workspace Settings, enable approval requirement, and add at least one approver to the workspace.