Approval flows not using the context of the user running the Flow

[buildbod]

I understand that Flow actions are executed using the context of the user running the Flow. However Approval actions appear use the context of the Flow owner. This results in Approval emails being sent from the Owner rather than the user.

Is there a way to set the 'Requested by' being the user initating the action rather than the Owner?

I did not start this approval but as it is a Team Flow and I'm the owner every email has my name on it

[v-yuazh-msft]

Hi @buildbod,

I have made a test on my side and don't have the issue that you mentioned, the 'Requested by' in the approval email always being the connection account of the "Start an approval" action in the flow.

If you would like the 'Requested by' in the approval email always being the user of the flow, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in Microsoft Flow currently.

If you would like this feature to be added in Microsoft Flow, please submit an idea to Flow Ideas Forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/idb-p/FlowIdeas

Best regards,

Alice

[buildbod · Accepted solution]

Thank you for confirming. I think the documentation could be improved to show which Flows run with the context of the Flow user and which Flows run with the context of the connection.

I'll add a UserVoice entry for this and the need to change the approval flow

[mojoriesen]

I'm still seeing this problem and the documentation on Approval Flows don't seem to specify which Flows can be used run in context of the user's connection instead of the Flow creator. Is there any reference to updated documentation on this somewhere?

[mojoriesen]

@buildbod - Do you have a link to the Uservoice for this? I'm having to create the flows at one of the approvers computers while they are logged in just so I do not show as the one who sends the approval/denial email in Outlook.

[buildbod]

There is an existing one that seemed very similar so I did not create a new one:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/Add-the-From-field-on-the-action-Send-Approval-email/...

[buildbod]

And this is the one to improve the documentation

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/Update-documentation-to-show-the-user-context-for-Flo...

[buildbod]

You can now set the context of the Approval 🙂 https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/button-types-more/