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+---
+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
+
+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)