SharePoint “Review Approval” Not Loading? Here’s the Fix

Published Date -

December 22, 2025

SharePoint “Review Approval” Not Loading? Here’s the Fix

Fix SharePoint Page Approval Panel Not Loading in Power Automate

When working with SharePoint Site Pages and building custom page approval workflows in Power Automate, you may face a frustrating issue:

You click Review approval in the command bar, but the approval panel refuses to load.

Yet the approval email still arrives, and the workflow seems to run normally.

This problem occurs frequently when organizations replace the default “Configure page approval” feature with custom approval flows.

This guide explains why this happens, how to fix the approval panel, and how to configure Power Automate correctly so the approval interface renders every time.

Why Use SharePoint Page Approval?

SharePoint Page Approval helps maintain:

Content governance for intranet and communication sites
Quality control before publishing
Consistent workflows for content reviewers
A structured approval lifecycle for pages

However, custom approval flows introduce one common but critical issue:

SharePoint cannot render the panel unless Item Link + ETag are provided in the correct format.

Root Cause: Incorrect or Missing Item Link in the Approval Action

In Power Automate, the Start and wait for an approval action includes a field called Item Link.

This is the link SharePoint uses to open the approval panel when someone clicks Review approval.

If this link is missing the encoded ETag, the panel will not load.

To fix this, we must include two things:

The page URL
The properly encoded ETag of the item

Without these, the SharePoint panel cannot load approval data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Resolve the Approval Panel Rendering Issue in Power Automate

Step 1: Build the Correct Item Link‍

The correct format for the item link is: itemUrl?etag=uriComponent('ETag')

In Power Automate dynamic content, it should look like: outputs('Compose_ItemUrl')?etag=uriComponent(body('Get_file_metadata_-_Get-Etag')?['ETag'])

Why this works:

SharePoint expects the ETag as a URL parameter.
The ETag must be URI encoded using uriComponent().

In the Start and wait for an approval action, the ItemLink property controls the rendering of the approval panel when clicking 'ReviewApproval'.

Step-by-Step Guide to Resolve the Approval

Step 2: Retrieve the Current ETag Using “Get file metadata”

Add the Get file metadata action and pass the page’s file identifier.

This gets the latest ETag, which changes every time the page is edited or updated.‍

Why ETag matters?‍

SharePoint uses ETag to determine if the item version being approved is current.

If the ETag doesn’t match, the panel fails to load.

Use the Get file metadata action to retrieve the current ETag, as it changes frequently.

Retrieve the Current ETag Using Get file metadata

Step 3: Add a Short Delay Before Getting the ETag

When a page is saved or updated, SharePoint may take a few seconds to commit the latest version.

Add a Delay of 10–15 seconds before the "Get file metadata" action.

This ensures:

You always get the latest ETag
Approval panel loads correctly

Even a small delay significantly improves reliability.

Adding a short Delay (10–15 seconds) before retrieving the ETag may help ensure the latest version is fetched.

Add a Short Delay Before Getting the ETag

If you need help implementing enterprise-grade approval workflows or modernizing your intranet.

Talk to Our Experts

Final Flow Structure (Simplified)

Trigger: When a Site Page is created or modified
Delay (10–15 seconds)
Get file metadata
Compose page URL
Start and wait for an approval
- Item Link: pageUrl?etag=uriComponent(ETag)
Update approval status

With this structure, clicking Review approval in SharePoint will consistently load the approval panel.

Conclusion

The SharePoint Page Approval panel fails to render when the Item Link in the approval action does not include the properly encoded ETag. By building the item link correctly and retrieving the latest ETag after a brief delay, you can ensure a smooth and reliable approval experience. This fix is essential for any organization using custom Power Automate approval flows for SharePoint Site Pages.

If your organization needs a reliable, modern, and fully governed SharePoint intranet, get in touch with SharePoint Designs. We help companies streamline page approvals, modernize UX, and implement automation that works flawlessly.

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faqS

Why is my SharePoint page approval panel not loading?

The approval panel fails to load when the Item Link in the Power Automate approval action is missing the URI-encoded ETag. SharePoint requires the ETag to validate the page version. Without it, the Review approval panel cannot render the approval metadata.

How do I fix the “Review approval” button not opening in SharePoint?

To fix this, include the correct Item Link format in your Start and wait for an approval action: pageUrl?etag=uriComponent(ETag) Also ensure you retrieve the latest ETag using Get file metadata, preferably after a short 10–15 second delay.

What is the ETag and why is it required for SharePoint approvals?

The ETag is a unique identifier representing the current version of a SharePoint file or page. Since it changes after every edit, SharePoint uses it to confirm the version being approved. If the ETag is missing or outdated, the approval panel won't load.

How do I get the current ETag for a SharePoint Site Page in Power Automate?

Use the Get file metadata action in your flow. Pass the page’s file identifier to retrieve the latest ETag. Adding a short delay before this action ensures SharePoint has committed the latest version.

Can I use a custom Power Automate flow instead of the default SharePoint page approval?

Yes, but custom flows require manually constructing the Item Link + encoded ETag. Without this, SharePoint cannot open the approval panel from the command bar. The default approval feature handles this automatically.

Why does the approval email work even when the approval panel doesn't load?

Power Automate still sends approval emails successfully because the workflow logic is intact. The issue lies only in how SharePoint displays approval metadata specifically missing ETag data in the Item Link.

How do I ensure consistent approval rendering across multiple sites?

Use a standardized flow structure: Delay: 10-15 sec, Get file metadata, Compose page URL, Start and wait for an approval (with encoded ETag) If you're managing multiple intranet sites, consider using SharePoint Designs’ prebuilt intranet templates and workflow best practices for consistency.