A Google Drive approval request asks you to review a particular file through the formal workflow. It does not mean you own the file, can edit it, or should approve content you have not examined. Verify the original and the request details before making a decision.
Open the intended review
Use the authorized account and original file link. Open the Approvals sidebar from the file list, preview, or supported editor. In a Google editor, an active-review banner can also provide View details.
Check who requested the review, which file is involved, the due date, and whether the current content is the version you were asked to assess. Verify unexpected requests through an established project channel.
Review content before deciding
Read the relevant material and inspect changes through the approval sidebar’s available comparison controls where supported. Google documents options such as changes since review started or since your last approval, subject to the current state.
Use Approve or Reject with an appropriate note when ready. A comment elsewhere in the document is not necessarily the same as a formal approval action. If you lack access to required material, tell the requester instead of approving an incomplete review.
Keep role and status distinct
Your Drive role controls editing and other actions separately from the approval decision. Locking or editing can affect an active review according to its settings. Do not unlock the file casually just to add a note without checking the consequences. After deciding, confirm the recorded status in the sidebar. A completed review is not a guarantee that later edits remain covered, nor does it automatically satisfy a separate signature, compliance, or organizational authorization process.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.