circleci run approve approves an approval job on hold
Introduced 2026-10-20 · score 0.97
HOW TO USE IT
When a run has an approval job on hold, use `circleci run approve` with its run number or UUID; add `--job` to select among multiple holds, and use `--force` to skip confirmation. Add `--json` for structured output.
circleci run approve <run-number-or-id>circleci run approve <run-number-or-id> --job <job-name-or-UUID> --forcecircleci run approve <run-UUID> --force --jsonWHY THIS HELPS
Approve a CircleCI approval job that is on hold in a run.
BEFORE THIS CHANGE
The release note says the CLI previously required `circleci api` against the v2 endpoint to approve a hold.
REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
- Version: v1.8.0
- <run-number-or-id> (required): Run UUID or run number from `circleci run list`; a number is looked up in the git remote’s project or `--project`.
- --force: Skip the confirmation prompt; required outside a terminal per the release note.
- --job <name-or-UUID>: Name or UUID of the approval job to approve; use to choose a specific hold.
- --json: Output JSON with `run_id`, `workflow_id`, `workflow_name`, `job_id`, and `job_name`.
- --project <slug>: Project slug, used when approving by run number.
- Prerequisite: Install the CircleCI CLI and log in with `circleci auth login`.
- Searches every workflow in the run that hasn't ended for approval jobs on hold.
- With one job on hold, a terminal prompts for confirmation; outside a terminal, `--force` is required.
- With several jobs on hold, `--job` selects one; without it, a terminal presents a list to pick from, while outside a terminal the command errors and lists the UUIDs.
- Structured errors: nothing on hold (exit 2), `--job` not matching (exit 5), or the job being approved by someone else in between (exit 5).
- `--json` returns `run_id`, `workflow_id`, `workflow_name`, `job_id` and `job_name`.
FIRST-PARTY EVIDENCE
- https://github.com/CircleCI-Public/circleci-cli/releases/tag/v1.8.0
- https://github.com/CircleCI-Public/circleci-cli/pull/1930
- https://github.com/CircleCI-Public/circleci-cli/blob/v1.8.0/internal/cmd/root/testdata/help/circleci/run/approve.txt
- https://cli.circleci.com/reference/
- https://github.com/CircleCI-Public/circleci-cli/blob/v1.8.0/README.md
Check the installed version and the source before using it. Entry JSON