Require approval and auto-publish
There is no separate Auto-publish switch. Require approval on a brand decides whether AI posts wait in Approvals or can go out on schedule.
PostlessSeptember 3, 20263 min read
Postless does not have a control labeled Auto-publish. The brand switch Require approval is what holds or releases AI posts.
- On (default): AI posts need your approval before they can publish, including scheduled auto-publish.
- Off: new AI posts are approved when created. If they have a time, they go to Scheduler and publish when due.
Copy on the switch: “AI-generated posts need my approval before auto-publish.”
AI content planning is a different switch. That one generates weekly idea cards (and can generate that week’s posts). It does not bypass approval.
Turn approval on or off
- Open Brands and the brand (or pick it in the switcher, then open it from Brands).
- Open the Workflow accordion.
- Toggle Require approval.
- Toast: Automation settings saved.
The change applies to new AI posts for that brand only.
What still goes out
Require approval on
These wait in Approvals with Needs approval:
- Generate Post from Planner
- Create Post from Brand Inbox
- Generate draft / Regenerate in the editor when the result is AI-generated
- Posts created by weekly auto-planning
They publish only after Approve (scheduled time) or Publish now / Approve & Publish Now.
Require approval off
New AI posts are already approved. Approvals explains: “New posts are published automatically (scheduled when a time is set).”
Due, approved, Scheduled posts are sent by the publisher. You still need connected accounts and to meet platform media rules (for example Instagram needs media).
Always true, either setting
- Posts you write with header Create Post (not AI-generated) are approved. Use Publish → Schedule… or Publish now.
- Publish now and the scheduled sender both require the post to be approved if it is AI-generated.
- Disconnecting a platform or missing publishing defaults causes publish to fail (Failed on Posts).
When to keep review on
Keep Require approval on if you want to edit, regenerate, or drop drafts before they can go live. That is the default for Build My Brand.
Turn it off only if you are comfortable with approved AI posts publishing at their planned times without a stop in Approvals. You can turn it back on anytime; older unapproved posts remain in Approvals until you handle them.
AI content planning vs auto-publish
| Switch | Location | If on |
|---|---|---|
| AI content planning | Brand Workflow | Weekly auto-planner may generate idea cards and later that week’s posts |
| Require approval | Brand Workflow | Those AI posts still stop in Approvals until you approve |
Use As Scheduler starts with AI content planning off. You can still schedule your own posts. Enabling planning later does not publish until posts exist and are approved (or approval is off).
If this fails
- Posts still sitting in Approvals after you turned approval off: those rows were created earlier. Approve or delete them.
- Scheduled time passed, status Missed: use Approve & Publish Now or Reschedule.
- Nothing publishes with approval off: check Scheduler for a time, Settings → Connections, and Instagram/TikTok/YouTube media requirements.
- Week ready email is not the same as publishing. It only emails when a week’s posts have been generated, and needs Email notifications in Settings.