# Remind an approver who does not answer

> In Weplanify, automatically remind a silent approver, then hand the request to the substitute or move on to the next step after a delay you choose.

- Product: Weplanify (https://weplanify.io)
- Section: Approvals & automations
- Web page: https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.relances?lang=en
- Other language: https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.relances.md
- Last updated: 2026-09-30

In Weplanify, the **If nobody answers** part of each step of the [circuit](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.circuit?lang=en) keeps a request from getting stuck with an absent or overloaded approver.

![If nobody answers: reminder after 1 day, then the substitute approves after 2 days without an answer](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/weplanify/o/docs%2Fvalidations%2Fmaj-2026-09-28%2Fva-relances-2e515d86.webp?alt=media&token=dea15a84-9758-4bfe-a66a-26b86bb66884)

## Steps

1. Open the circuit (the form's **Validation** tab, the leave **Approval circuit**, or **Settings → Approvals**) and click the step.
2. In **Remind the approver**, choose the delay: after 4 h, 8 h, 1 day… or never.
3. In **Then**, choose **the substitute approves** or **go to the next step**, then the delay **without an answer**.
4. Click **Save**.

## Good to know

- The reminder is a notification sent to the approver; it changes nothing on the request. The delay without an answer must be longer than the reminder.
- **The substitute approves** needs a [substitute](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.remplacant?lang=en) chosen in For the whole circuit. On the last step, going to the next step also hands the request to the substitute.
- In [To handle](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.a-traiter?lang=en), a request past its step's reminder delay becomes **Overdue**.

## Related guides

- [Configure an approval circuit](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.circuit?lang=en) — In Weplanify, build the approval steps of a leave request, an expense, an advance or a form: the order, the name, the approver and when each step applies.
- [Choose a substitute and people in copy](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.remplacant?lang=en) — In Weplanify, a substitute approves instead of an absent, silent or missing approver; people in copy follow every request and decision without approving.
- [Handle the requests waiting for you](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.a-traiter?lang=en) — In Weplanify, Requests → To handle gathers the leave, expense claims, advances and forms waiting for your decision, with the overdue ones first.
- [Request approval circuits](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations?lang=en) — In Weplanify, a leave request, an expense claim, an advance or a form answer moves from one approver to the next, following its circuit, until the decision.