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Fix SharePoint List Approval Status Not Updating via Power Automate

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where a SharePoint list's approval status does not update when triggered by a Power Automate flow, although manual status updates work correctly.

Product: SharePoint, Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating SharePoint list approval status updates using a custom Power Automate flow.
Observed behavior: The approval status remains at 'Not Submitted' or fails to reflect the approval outcome after the Power Automate flow runs.

Before you start

Ensure that you have Edit permissions for both the Power Automate flow and the target SharePoint list before making configuration changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Review and Correct the Power Automate Flow Configuration

Verify the custom flow settings, ensuring the trigger, approval actions, and status update actions correctly target the SharePoint list.

The most common reason for this issue is a misconfiguration in the 'Update item' action within the flow, which prevents the status from mapping back to the SharePoint list properly.

Open Power Automate

Navigate to the Power Automate portal and click on 'My flows' from the left-hand menu.

Edit the Approval Flow

Locate the approval flow connected to your SharePoint list, select it, and click the 'Edit' button at the top.

Check the Trigger and Approval Action

Review the trigger conditions and ensure the 'Start and wait for an approval' action is configured to wait for the correct response.

Verify the Update Action

Inspect the 'Update item' action for SharePoint. Confirm that it points to the correct Site Address, List Name, and Item ID.

Map the Approval Status

Ensure that the 'Approval Status' column in the 'Update item' action is being updated with the dynamic content from the approval response outcome (e.g., Approve or Reject).

Community Support: If the configuration is correct but the issue persists, consider exporting your flow details and posting them in the Power Platform Community forums for advanced troubleshooting.

Solution 2

Request Microsoft 365 Administrator Support

If flow configuration checks do not resolve the issue, escalate the problem to your organization's IT department.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does manual approval update the SharePoint list but Power Automate does not?

Manual approvals update the status directly within SharePoint's native interface. Power Automate relies on specific 'Update item' actions; if the Item ID or specific column mapping in the flow is incorrect, the automated update will fail.

How can I check if my Power Automate flow is failing?

Go to Power Automate, select your specific flow, and view the '28-day run history'. Click on a recent failed run to see exactly which step encountered an error.

Do I need special permissions to update a SharePoint list via Power Automate?

Yes, the user account running the Power Automate flow must have Edit or Contribute permissions on the target SharePoint list to successfully update the approval status column.

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