Final Approval Actions are the actions Salesforce fires when an Approval Process completes successfully — typically updating a Status field, sending a notification email, unlocking the record. They're configured per Approval Process in Setup → Approval Processes.
- Open Setup → Approval Processes
Setup gear → Quick Find: Approval Processes → click into the process.
- Scroll to Final Approval Actions section
Below the Approval Steps list.
- Click Add New → pick action type
Field Update / Email Alert / Task / Outbound Message. Field Update is most common — "Set Status to Approved."
- Configure the action
For Field Update: pick the field, the new value (or formula), check option to re-evaluate workflow rules.
- Set whether the record is Locked / Unlocked after final approval
Under Initial Submission Actions, you set Locked. Final Approval Actions usually Unlock.
- Save
Action runs automatically when the Approval Process completes. Test with a sandbox approval cycle.
Field Update / Email Alert / Task / Outbound Message.
Most common — auto-set Status, completion date, etc.
Notify the requester or other stakeholders.
When the Field Update fires, optionally re-fire workflow rules. Risk of recursion.
- Final Approval Actions and Final Rejection Actions are configured separately. A common bug is to set up Final Approval but forget Final Rejection — the record stays locked when rejected.
- Field Updates from Final Approval Actions can re-trigger Workflow Rules. The Re-evaluate Workflow Rules checkbox controls this — leave unchecked unless you understand the implications.
- If the Approval Process is deactivated mid-flight, Final Approval Actions don't fire even if approval is granted. Plan deactivations carefully.