# Pause workflows for approval with Chat SDK

DevFeed: [Pause workflows for approval with Chat SDK](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/pause-workflows-for-approval-with-chat-sdk-852.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://vercel.com/changelog/chat-sdk-durable-approvals>)

Author: Ben Sabic

Published: 2026-08-06T00:00:00Z

Content type: release

Language: en

Sources: [Vercel News](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/vercel-news.md>)

Topics: [SDKs](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/sdks.md>)

Tags: [audit-trail](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/audit-trail.md>), [deployment](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deployment.md>), [workflow](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/workflow.md>)

## AI overview

Chat SDK adds human-in-the-loop approval cards that pause Workflow SDK workflows until an authorized person approves or denies a request.

## Source excerpt

You can build human-in-the-loop approvals with Chat SDK through the new chat/workflow subpath. One requestApproval call posts a card with Approve and Deny buttons and suspends a Workflow SDK workflow until someone decides. The wait can last seconds or days and survives deploys and restarts. You don't need an approvals table, an onAction handler, or a polling loop: Start the workflow from any handler, and Thread instances serialize across the workflow boundary automatically. The card handles the rest: Scoped approvers: Pass approvers to restrict who can decide. Clicks from anyone else post a notice, and the workflow keeps waiting. Verified decisions: Chat SDK checks the platform's signature on every click, so the user.id on the result is the person who decided. Audit trail: Once a decision lands or the timeout elapses, the card is edited in place with an outcome line, preventing stale clicks. Get started by reading the approvals documentation. Read more