> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.knotie-ai.pro/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Phone approvals for agent actions

> Make AI agents ask for the customer's approval on their phone before taking risky actions.

Phone approvals add a safety check before an AI agent does something risky, such as sending an email, deleting a record, or taking a payment. The agent stops, the customer's phone shows exactly what the agent wants to do, and nothing happens until the customer approves it with Face ID or their fingerprint.

This works for any agent or tool that uses the customer's connected apps — Knova, Retell, and VAPI voice agents, n8n automations, and AI assistants like Claude that connect over MCP.

## Who sets what

| Who | What they do | Where |
| - | - | - |
| **You (partner)** | Choose default rules for all customers, and lock rules customers can't turn off | **Settings → Approval Defaults** — see [Approval defaults](/partner-portal/settings/approval-defaults) |
| **Your customer** | Pair a phone and choose which actions need their approval | **Approvals** in their portal — see [Customer approval app](/customer-management/approval-app) |

Customers need **MCP Access & Approvals** turned on to see the Approvals page.

## What happens during a call

1. The agent tries an action that needs approval.
2. The action is paused, and every paired phone gets a notification with a short code. The agent gets the same code, so it can tell the caller what to look for — for example, *"I've sent a request to your phone. Please approve it and I'll carry on."*
3. The customer checks the request and approves or denies it. If several phones are paired, the first answer counts.
4. If approved, the agent tries the action again and it goes ahead. If denied, nothing happens.

Each approval covers one action, exactly as shown on the phone. If the agent changes any details — a different recipient or amount, for example — the customer is asked again.

If no phone is paired, or the approval can't be checked, the action is blocked rather than allowed through.

## Common questions

**Does the customer have to approve every time?**
Yes. Each approval is used once. If an action needs to run often without interruption, don't require approval for it.

**Can I stop customers turning off approval for an action?**
Yes. Lock the rule in [Approval defaults](/partner-portal/settings/approval-defaults).

## Related pages

* [Approval defaults](/partner-portal/settings/approval-defaults)
* [Customer approval app](/customer-management/approval-app)
* [Connected app tools](/agents/connected-app-tools)


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