Approval emails

Approve or reject Google Forms responses by email

FormFlow is a Google Forms add-on that routes each form response to approvers by email, lets reviewers approve or reject from a review link, and keeps approval status visible in the linked Google Sheets response file.

Quick answer

Google Forms does not include a built-in approve or reject workflow for each response. With FormFlow, you can keep Google Forms as the intake page, send each submission to one or more approvers by email, and track the decision state in the linked response sheet.

Form response

The user submits the normal Google Form. No separate intake portal is required.

Approval email

FormFlow sends the reviewer a message with the submission context and review action path.

Approve or reject

The reviewer decides from the review surface and can add comments when your setup requires them.

Sheet status

The linked response sheet remains the visible workflow record for operators.

When this setup fits

Use this path when a Google Form collects the request but a person still needs to make a decision before the request is complete.

Internal requests

Route simple access, admin, facilities, or operations requests to the right reviewer.

Leave or PTO forms

Collect the request in Google Forms and send it to a manager before marking it approved.

Application screening

Let one reviewer approve, reject, or flag a submitted application for a next step.

Exception review

Keep unusual submissions visible in Sheets while routing the decision by email.

Keep the first rollout narrow. FormFlow is for lightweight Google Forms approval workflows, not a full enterprise procurement, compliance, expense, ticketing, or CRM system.

Setup path with FormFlow

  1. Open the Google Form in edit mode and confirm it collects the fields approvers need to review.
  2. Link the form to a Google Sheets response spreadsheet.
  3. Install FormFlow from Google Workspace Marketplace.
  4. Open FormFlow from the Google Forms add-ons menu.
  5. Select the linked response spreadsheet with Google Picker.
  6. Add one approval level and one approver email address for the first test.
  7. Save the configuration and run Preflight before inviting real reviewers.
  8. Submit one internal test response and check both the approver email path and the linked response sheet status.
A good first run proves three things: the linked response sheet is selected, the approver email path works, and the approval status can be inspected from the response sheet.

What to check before sending live responses

Approver inbox

Use a reviewer you can reach quickly during the first test, then add more reviewers after the flow works.

Submission context

Make sure approvers can understand the request from the form answers and email context.

Decision wording

Decide what approve, reject, comment, and reminder language should mean for the team.

Google limits

Keep workflow volume inside the limits of the installing Google account and Apps Script environment.

Install, then test one response

Start with one known approver and one sample submission. After that path works, expand the workflow to the real reviewers and form traffic.

Related FormFlow guides