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# Approve a Checkpoint that is waiting for you

> Approve a Mammoth pipeline paused at a Checkpoint Approval Gate: open the View from the email or Monitor, check the data, and click Approve and Continue.
>
> Applies to: Roles: Project Admin, or a custom role with Approve/reject Checkpoint gates. Where: View › Pipeline panel › Checkpoint › Pending › Approve and Continue

When a pipeline reaches a Checkpoint set to **Pause for approval** (an Approval Gate), it stops and emails the people chosen, who get a link to the View. Approving needs the project permission **Approve/reject Checkpoint gates**, which Project Admins have. To set up a Checkpoint, see [Pause a pipeline for approval with a Checkpoint](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/checkpoints/).

## Approve a paused pipeline from the email

1. Click the link in the email. It opens the View in Mammoth.
2. Sign in if asked. You need a Mammoth account with access to the project.
3. In the Pipeline panel, click the **Pending** chip on the Checkpoint task.
4. Read the *Message from pipeline owner* and check the data if you need to.
5. Click **Approve and Continue**.
6. In *Approve this checkpoint?*, click **Yes, Approve**.

The Checkpoint shows *Approved* and the pipeline continues on its own.

### Who can approve

Approving needs the project permission **Approve/reject Checkpoint gates**. Of the standard roles, only **Project Admin** has it. A custom role can include it. For anyone else, **Approve and Continue** is turned off and its tooltip reads "Your role doesn't have permission to perform this action". See [Projects](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/workspace/projects/) and [Members, roles and custom roles](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/workspace/members-and-roles/).

### Find Checkpoints waiting for approval in Monitor

A waiting Approval Gate appears in **Monitor**, on the **Needs Attention** tab, in the **Governance** section. It reads *Checkpoint: approval required*, with the View and a line such as *Task 4 of 8 is waiting for approval*. Click **Approve** on the row to open the View, check the data and approve.

![Older screenshot of a checkpoint waiting for approval; the Monitor row now has an Approve button](https://mammoth.io/docs/images/20260427_113608_pending-checkpoints-with-items.webp)

## What happens when a pipeline reaches an Approval Gate

1. **The pipeline pauses.** It stops at the Checkpoint. Later tasks don't run.
2. **Notifications go out.** Email recipients get the message and any webhook fires.
3. **The status changes to pending.** The Checkpoint shows a *Pending* chip, and its status window is titled *Checkpoint Alert - Pending Approval*.
4. **A reviewer opens it.** They sign in, open the View and open the Checkpoint status window.
5. **The reviewer checks the data.** The output up to this point is available while the pipeline is paused.
6. **The reviewer approves.** They click **Approve and Continue**, then **Yes, Approve** in the *Approve this checkpoint?* confirmation.
7. **The pipeline resumes** from the task after the Checkpoint.
8. **The status changes to Approved.**

![Checkpoint - Pending Approval dialog with run details, people notified, and Cancel and Approve and Continue buttons](https://mammoth.io/docs/images/20260427_111854_pending-checkpoint-approval-modal1.webp)

## Troubleshooting approvals

| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Approve and Continue** is greyed out with "Your role doesn't have permission to perform this action" | Your role lacks **Approve/reject Checkpoint gates** | Ask a Project Admin to approve, or to change your role |

## Related

- [Pause a pipeline for approval with a Checkpoint](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/checkpoints/): add and configure Checkpoints.
- [Members, roles and custom roles](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/workspace/members-and-roles/): give a role the approval permission.
- [Remove duplicate rows and add data quality checks](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/duplicates-and-checks/): automated checks with a pause or a flag.

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Source: https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/approve-a-checkpoint.md · Updated: 2026-11-08