--- stage: Create group: Source Code info: "To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments" type: reference, concepts --- # Merge request approval settings **(FREE)** You can configure the settings for [merge request approvals](index.md) to ensure the approval rules meet your use case. You can also configure [approval rules](rules.md), which define the number and type of users who must approve work before it's merged. Merge request approval settings define how those rules are applied as a merge request moves toward completion. ## Edit merge request approval settings To view or edit merge request approval settings: 1. Go to your project and select **Settings > General**. 1. Expand **Merge request (MR) approvals**. In this section of general settings, you can configure the settings described on this page. ## Prevent overrides of default approvals By default, users can override the approval rules you [create for a project](rules.md) on a per-merge request basis. If you don't want users to change approval rules on merge requests, you can disable this setting: 1. Go to your project and select **Settings > General**. 1. Expand **Merge request (MR) approvals**. 1. Select the **Prevent users from modifying MR approval rules in merge requests** checkbox. 1. Select **Save changes**. TODO This change affects all open merge requests. ## Reset approvals on push By default, an approval on a merge request remains in place, even if you add more changes after the approval. If you want to remove all existing approvals on a merge request when more changes are added to it: 1. Go to your project and select **Settings > General**. 1. Expand **Merge request (MR) approvals**. 1. Select the **Require new approvals when new commits are added to an MR** checkbox. 1. Select **Save changes**. Approvals aren't reset when a merge request is [rebased from the UI](../fast_forward_merge.md) However, approvals are reset if the target branch is changed. ## Prevent authors from approving their own work **(PREMIUM)** > - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/3349) in GitLab 11.3. > - Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9. By default, the author of a merge request cannot approve it. To change this setting: 1. Go to your project and select **Settings > General**. 1. Expand **Merge request (MR) approvals**. 1. Clear the **Prevent MR approval by the author** checkbox. 1. Select **Save changes**. Authors can edit the approval rule in an individual merge request and override this setting, unless you configure one of these options: - [Prevent overrides of default approvals](#prevent-overrides-of-default-approvals) at the project level. - *(Self-managed instances only)* Prevent overrides of default approvals [at the instance level](../../../admin_area/merge_requests_approvals.md). When configured at the instance level, you can't edit this setting at the project or individual merge request levels. ## Prevent committers from approving their own work **(PREMIUM)** > - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/10441) in GitLab 11.10. > - Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9. By default, users who commit to a merge request can still approve it. At both the project level or [instance level](../../../admin_area/merge_requests_approvals.md) you can prevent committers from approving merge requests that are partially their own. To do this: 1. Go to your project and select **Settings > General**. 1. Expand **Merge request (MR) approvals**. 1. Select the **Prevent MR approvals from users who make commits to the MR** checkbox. If this checkbox is cleared, an administrator has disabled it [at the instance level](../../../admin_area/merge_requests_approvals.md), and it can't be changed at the project level. 1. Select **Save changes**. Even with this configuration, [code owners](../../code_owners.md) who contribute to a merge request can approve merge requests that affect files they own. To learn more about the [differences between authors and committers](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Basics-Viewing-the-Commit-History), read the official Git documentation for an explanation. ## Require authentication for approvals > - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/5981) in GitLab 12.0. > - Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9. You can force potential approvers to first authenticate with a password. This permission enables an electronic signature for approvals, such as the one defined by [Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 11](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=11&showFR=1&subpartNode=21:1.0.1.1.8.3)): 1. Enable password authentication for the web interface, as described in the [sign-in restrictions documentation](../../../admin_area/settings/sign_in_restrictions.md#password-authentication-enabled). 1. Go to your project and select **Settings > General**. 1. Expand **Merge request (MR) approvals**. 1. Select the **Require user password for approvals** checkbox. 1. Select **Save changes**. ## Security approvals in merge requests **(ULTIMATE)** You can require that a member of your security team approves a merge request if a merge request could introduce a vulnerability. To learn more, see [Security approvals in merge requests](../../../application_security/index.md#security-approvals-in-merge-requests). ## Related links - [Instance-level merge request approval settings](../../../admin_area/merge_requests_approvals.md) - [Compliance Dashboard](../../../compliance/compliance_dashboard/index.md) - [Merge request approvals API](../../../../api/merge_request_approvals.md)