---
schema_version: "1"
id: 62f053f9b4348c8675be61b4e7cb71d58840d278e822818bda8927bc1305b2e3
title: Steps in Flow Approval Processes
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/automate_automated_approvals_concepts_steps.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_automated_approvals_concepts_steps.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 20ce3569a1140536e568212c95b1b33928dc709d483d5cb4e8fc2e9c85b8b9ff
description: Steps are grouped in stages and can be run sequentially, concurrently, or when specified requirements are met. Approval steps assign the completion of an active screen flow to a person, group, or queue and require user intervention. Background steps run an active autolaunched flow synchronously or asynchronously and have no user interaction.
products:
  - Flow Builder
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Steps in Flow Approval Processes

Steps are grouped in stages and can be run sequentially, concurrently, or when specified requirements are met. Approval steps assign the completion of an active screen flow to a person, group, or queue and require user intervention. Background steps run an active autolaunched flow synchronously or asynchronously and have no user interaction.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col style="width:100%"></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_automated_approvals_about_supported_editions.htm&amp;release=264.0.0&amp;type=5" title="Review the supported products and editions for Flow Approval Processes.">View supported editions for Flow Approval Processes.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_note.png)

Note The Step resource in Flow Approval Processes isn't related to the discontinued Step element in flows.

## Status

When an orchestration run associated with an approval submission is running, it manages the status for each step.

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d299533e73">Step run Status</th>
            <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d299533e76">Description</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Step run Status" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e73 ">Not Started</td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e76 ">The step hasn't met its entry condition.</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Step run Status" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e73 ">In Progress</td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e76 ">The step was started.</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Step run Status" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e73 ">Completed</td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e76 ">
              <ul>
                <li>The approval step met its exist condition</li>

                <li>The background step's flow was completed.</li>

                <li>The step was completed when its associated stage encountered an error.</li>

              </ul>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Step run Status" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e73 ">Discontinued</td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e76 ">
              <ul>
                <li>The step was in progress when its associated stage completed.</li>

                <li>The step was in progress when the orchestration run associated with the
                  approval submission encountered an error.</li>

                <li>The step was in progress when its associated stage encountered an error.</li>

              </ul>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Step run Status" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e73 ">Error</td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d299533e76 ">
              <ul>
                <li>The step encountered an error.</li>

                <li>The autolaunched flow associated with a background step encountered an
                  error.</li>

                <li>The screen flow associated with an approval step encountered an error.</li>

              </ul>
            </td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

- **[Approval Steps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_automated_approvals_concepts_approval_step.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Approval steps require user interaction and create approval actions that assigned approvers or delegates can complete asynchronously. Approvers can complete reviews without running the associated flow, so include only actions directly relevant to the approval work item. Use a background step after the approval step to update related records or send other notifications.
- **[Background Steps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_automated_approvals_concepts_background_step.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    A background step launches an active autolaunched flow and has no user interaction. You can control when a background step is ready to start. Use background steps to carry out actions that are related to an approval submission but aren’t part of an approval work item. For example, use a background step to update records or trigger other notifications related to the approval.