Human Approval (Email)
Pause workflow and email a human for approval before continuing
Node Type
Human in the Loop
Category
Human in the Loop
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Overview
The Human Approval (Email) node is a Human in the Loop node that pauses your workflow and sends an email to a human for approval before continuing. This is essential for workflows that require human oversight, decision-making, or validation at critical steps.
Key Features
- • Workflow Pause: Automatically pauses execution until approval is received
- • Email Notification: Sends approval request with context to designated recipient
- • Approval Link: Includes one-click approval link in email
- • Context Sharing: Passes workflow data to approver for informed decisions
- • Resume on Approval: Workflow continues automatically after approval
- • Audit Trail: Tracks approval status and decision-maker
Prerequisites
Email Service
Requires email service for sending approval requests
Approval Process
Understanding of approval workflow requirements
Use Cases
Content Approval
Send generated content to a manager for review before publishing to social media or sending to customers.
Risk Management
Require human approval for high-value transactions, sensitive data processing, or compliance-critical operations.
Customer Communication
Get approval before sending important emails to customers, especially for sensitive or high-value communications.
Quality Control
Have humans review AI-generated content, data analysis results, or automated decisions before they're finalized.
Node Configuration
Required Fields
Recipient Email
The email address of the person who will receive the approval request. They will receive an email with context and an approval link.
Subject
The subject line of the approval email. Should clearly indicate what needs approval.
Message
The message body of the approval email. Include context, details, and any relevant information for the approver.
Optional Fields
Context Data
Additional data to include in the approval email. This can contain workflow variables, generated content, or any information the approver needs.
Examples & Use Cases
Content Publishing Approval
Get approval before publishing AI-generated content
{
"recipientEmail": "[email protected]",
"subject": "Approval Required: Blog Post Draft",
"message": "Please review the AI-generated blog post below before publishing.",
"contextData": {
"title": "{{blogPost.title}}",
"content": "{{blogPost.content}}",
"targetDate": "{{publishDate}}"
}
}Sends blog post draft to editor for approval before publishing.
Transaction Approval Workflow
Require approval for high-value transactions
Workflow Structure
{
"recipientEmail": "[email protected]",
"subject": "High-Value Transaction Approval Required",
"message": "Amount: ${{transaction.amount}}. Approve to proceed with payment.",
"contextData": {
"amount": "{{transaction.amount}}",
"vendor": "{{transaction.vendor}}",
"invoiceId": "{{transaction.id}}"
}
}Best Practices
Do's
- • Include clear context and relevant data in the message
- • Use descriptive subject lines that indicate urgency
- • Add workflow variables to show what needs approval
- • Set appropriate timeout policies for approvals
- • Log approval decisions for audit trails
- • Test approval emails before production use
Don'ts
- • Don't use for time-critical workflows without fallbacks
- • Avoid vague messages without context
- • Don't forget to handle rejection scenarios
- • Avoid sending approvals to wrong email addresses
- • Don't include sensitive data in plain text emails
- • Avoid creating bottlenecks with too many approval steps
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Email Not Received
Symptoms: Approver doesn't receive the approval email
Solution: Check spam folders and verify the recipient email address is correct. Ensure your email service is properly configured and has sending permissions.
Workflow Stuck
Symptoms: Workflow remains paused indefinitely
Solution: This is expected behavior - the workflow waits for approval. Implement timeout logic or send reminder emails. Check that the approval link in the email is working.
Approval Link Broken
Symptoms: Clicking approval link doesn't work
Solution: Verify your workflow service URL is accessible and properly configured. Check that the approval token hasn't expired.
Wrong Person Approved
Symptoms: Approval came from unexpected email
Solution: Anyone with access to the approval link can click it. Consider implementing additional verification or using role-based approval systems.