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---
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stage: Create
group: Source Code
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info: 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
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type: reference, concepts
---
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# Merge request approval rules **(PREMIUM SELF)**
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> Introduced in [GitLab Premium](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/39060) 12.8.
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Merge request approval rules prevent users from overriding certain settings on the project
level. When enabled at the instance level, these settings are no longer editable on the
project level.
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To enable merge request approval rules for an instance:
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1. On the top bar, select **Menu >** ** {admin}** **Admin** .
1. In the left sidebar, select ** {push-rules}** **Push Rules** , and expand **Merge request (MR) approvals** .
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1. Set the required rule.
1. Click **Save changes** .
## Available rules
Merge request approval rules that can be set at an instance level are:
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- **Prevent approval by author**. Prevents project
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maintainers from allowing request authors to merge their own merge requests.
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- **Prevent approvals by users who add commits**. Prevents project
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maintainers from allowing users to approve merge requests if they have submitted
any commits to the source branch.
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- **Prevent editing approval rules in projects and merge requests**. Prevents users from
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modifying the approvers list in project settings or in individual merge requests.
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Also read the [project level merge request approval rules ](../project/merge_requests/approvals/index.md ), which are affected by instance level rules.
