# Approve or decline a change

> See exactly what Continual wants to run, then approve it or decline it.

Continual stops at a change a policy holds, such as issuing an invoice, and waits for your
decision. Nothing changes until you choose **Approve**. See [approvals](/docs/concepts/approvals)
for which changes wait and why.

## Decide a held change

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the change">
    In the thread where Continual asked, the header says **Waiting for your
    approval**, and Continual's message shows a card for the held change with a
    **Decide** button. The change also waits as a to-do, counted on **To-dos**.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Open it">
    Choose **Decide** on the card. The thread of the to-do that decides the
    change opens, with the approval card under the to-do. You can also open that
    to-do from **To-dos**.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Read what Continual wants to run">
    The card says "Continual wants to run" and names the Action, such as
    `finance.invoices.issue`. Below it, **Input** shows the exact values it
    would use.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Approve or decline">
    Choose **Approve** to run the change as shown. Choose **Decline** to stop
    it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If you approve, the change runs for the person Continual worked for, and Continual carries on its
work. If you decline, the change does not run, and Continual does not try it again unless you ask.
Either way, the to-do closes, the card says **Approved** or **Declined**, and the approval records
who decided.

Continual cannot decide for you, but it can tell you what waits:

<TryAsking
  prompts={[
    "Which changes are waiting for my approval?",
    "Why is this change held, and who can approve it?",
  ]}
/>

## If something goes wrong

- **The approved change fails.** The card shows the reason, for example because the record changed
  since Continual asked. The approval stays open, so you can decide again or ask Continual to redo
  the work.
- **You want a different change.** Write a message instead of deciding. The held change does not
  run. Continual reads your message and asks again if the change is still needed.

<Callout type="note">
  Only a person decides an approval. Continual, another agent, or an integration
  cannot approve a change, even when acting for you.
</Callout>

## Next steps

<Cards>
  <Card
    title="Choose what Continual asks before doing"
    href="/docs/guides/set-continual-policies"
    icon="shield"
  >
    Add or remove the policies that hold changes.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Approvals" href="/docs/concepts/approvals" icon="book">
    Who decides, and what an approval keeps.
  </Card>
</Cards>