Yes — approvers can hand off an approval request to another user via the Reassign button on the approval work item, provided the approval step is configured to allow it. Reassignment doesn’t reset the approval chain; it just changes who handles this specific step.
The mechanism
When an approver opens an item from their approval queue:
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Approve | Move to next step or final approved state |
| Reject | Fire rejection actions |
| Reassign | Pick another user; the item moves to their queue |
After reassign, the new user has the same approve/reject/reassign options. The original approver is no longer in the loop for this step.
Where the option is configured
In Setup → Approval Process → edit the process → for each step, the step approver settings include the option “The approver’s manager” vs “Manually choose” etc. Independently, on each step there’s a checkbox or radio:
Approver can re-assign request to another user
If enabled, the Reassign button appears. If not, the approver can only Approve or Reject.
Reassign vs delegated approver
This is a common interview confusion point:
| Reassign | Delegated Approver | |
|---|---|---|
| Who initiates | The approver, manually | Pre-configured on the User record |
| When it kicks in | After the approver gets the request | Automatically — items go to the delegate the moment they arrive |
| Why use it | One-off: “I’m out today, send to Sarah” | Permanent: “Sarah always handles my approvals” |
A user can have both a delegated approver set up AND use reassign — they’re not mutually exclusive.
Why allow reassignment
- Vacations and out-of-office — quick handoff when delegated approver wasn’t set up
- Workload balancing — approver realises someone else is better positioned
- Subject-matter expertise — the original approver doesn’t have context; passes to someone who does
Limitations
- The reassign target user must have permission to approve (be in the approval-process’s allowed-approvers list or be a delegated approver)
- Reassign does not restart the step — it picks up where it is
- Audit trail captures the reassignment — the Approval History shows both the original and new approver
What interviewers want
- The crisp “yes, if configured”
- The distinction between reassign (manual, one-off) and delegated approver (permanent, configured on User)
- Bonus: that the reassign is auditable in the Approval History
Related
Verified against: Salesforce Help — Approval Process Approver Options. Last reviewed 2026-05-17 for Spring ‘26 release.