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Fix SharePoint List Approval Not Appearing in Microsoft Teams

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 7, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where SharePoint List items stay pending without triggering an approval request in the Teams Approvals app or sending email notifications.

Fix SharePoint List Approval Not Appearing in Microsoft Teams

Product: Microsoft SharePoint / Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing list approvals using the SharePoint and Microsoft Teams integration.
Observed behavior: A SharePoint List item remains Pending, but no approval request appears in the Teams Approvals app and no email notification is sent.

Before you start

Verify if the issue persists when accessing Teams via the web browser and check if other team members are experiencing the same missing approval notifications.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify SharePoint List Template Compatibility

Ensure you are using a list template that natively supports the Teams Approvals app integration.

Many standard SharePoint list templates only add an 'Approval status' column and do not automatically link to the Teams Approvals app. Native integration requires specific templates designed for this workflow.

Create a new list with a supported template

Go to your SharePoint site and click 'New' followed by 'List'.

Select an approval template

Choose a template that explicitly contains 'with Approval' in its name, such as the 'Travel Request with Approval' template.

Test the workflow

Submit a new test item in this list to verify that an approval request now correctly appears in the Teams Approvals app and sends an email notification.

Verify SharePoint List Template Compatibility

Solution 2

Submit a Service Request for Backend Investigation

If the correct template is used but approvals still fail, there may be a backend synchronization issue between SharePoint and Teams.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint list only show an Approval status column instead of triggering Teams approvals?

This happens because standard list templates are not built with native Teams Approvals integration. To trigger the full workflow in Teams, you must use specific templates like 'Travel Request with Approval'.

How can I check if the missing approvals are a Teams desktop app issue?

Log into Microsoft Teams on the web using your browser. If the approvals appear in the web version but not in your desktop app, the issue is local, and you may need to clear your Teams cache or reinstall the application.

Are email notifications supposed to be sent for pending SharePoint list approvals?

Yes, when an approval workflow is properly configured and supported by the list template, designated approvers should receive both a notification in the Teams Approvals app and a standard email alert.

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