1---
2stage: Create
3group: Source Code
4info: 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
5type: reference, concepts
6---
7
8# Merge request approvals **(PREMIUM SELF)**
9
10> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/39060) in GitLab 12.8.
11
12Merge request approval rules prevent users from overriding certain settings on the project level.
13When enabled at the instance level, these settings [cascade](../project/merge_requests/approvals/settings.md#settings-cascading)
14and can no longer be changed:
15
16- In projects.
17- In groups. Cascading to groups was [enabled by default](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/285410)
18  in GitLab 14.5.
19
20To enable merge request approval settings for an instance:
21
221. On the top bar, select **Menu > Admin**.
231. On the left sidebar, select **{push-rules}** **Push Rules**, and expand **Merge request approvals**.
241. Choose the required options.
251. Click **Save changes**.
26
27## Available rules
28
29Merge request approval settings that can be set at an instance level are:
30
31- **Prevent approval by author**. Prevents project maintainers from allowing request authors to
32  merge their own merge requests.
33- **Prevent approvals by users who add commits**. Prevents project maintainers from allowing users
34  to approve merge requests if they have submitted any commits to the source branch.
35- **Prevent editing approval rules in projects and merge requests**. Prevents users from modifying
36  the approvers list in project settings or in individual merge requests.
37
38See also the following, which are affected by instance-level rules:
39
40- [Project merge request approval rules](../project/merge_requests/approvals/index.md).
41- [Group merge request approval rules](../group/index.md#group-approval-rules) available in GitLab 13.9 and later.
42