---
title: Send a file for review
type: how-to
section: drive
summary: Choose Send for review on the item, then name the reviewers and what you expect of each. The review exists only once a reviewer is named.
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-review-reviewer-dialog.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-review-reviewers-panel.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-review-status-panel.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-item-preview-page-client.tsx
verified:
  at: 2026-09-04
  env: code
  by: content-lane-drive
ttl_days: 45
related: [drive/my-tasks, drive/publish-an-item, drive/invite-people-to-a-managed-folder]
---

Open the file, choose **Send for review** from its actions, then name the reviewers in **Invite reviewers** and choose **Add reviewers**. Naming a reviewer is what creates the review: closing the picker without one leaves the file in **Draft**.

## Send it

1. Open the file.
2. Choose **Send for review**. On a draft, the status panel offers **Submit for review** for the same thing.
3. In **Invite reviewers**, search the field prompting **Invite people, groups, or collaborations**. It matches people, workgroups and collaborations.
4. Set **Expectation** for the reviewers you are adding: **Decision**, **Review** or **Make changes**. **Decision** is the default.
5. Choose **Add reviewers**. It reads **Sending** while it saves.

The file's status becomes **Pending review**, and the item appears in each reviewer's **My tasks**.

## Reviewers must already be able to read the file

A reviewer who cannot open the file cannot review it. When that happens the dialog refuses the assignment and says so: share the item with them first, then assign. Use **Share** on the file, or add them to the managed folder holding it. See [Invite people to a managed folder](/help/drive/invite-people-to-a-managed-folder).

## Manage reviewers afterwards

The item's **Reviewers** panel lists everyone assigned, grouped as **Approved**, **Change request**, **Rejected** and **Pending**, with a count of how many of the assigned people have approved. **Add reviewers** adds more; the remove control beside a name drops one. A group with nobody in a given state reads **Nobody in this state.**

An item with nobody assigned reads **No reviewers assigned.**, and decisions on it are refused until you assign someone.

## After a decision

- **Approved** means every required reviewer approved. The status panel names who.
- **Changes requested** returns the work to you. Upload a corrected version with **Upload new version**, which appears under **Versions** on the status panel.
- **Rejected** closes the review. Send the item for review again to reopen the question.

## If it did not work

- **Couldn't assign these reviewers.** means nothing was saved. Try again.
- **Add reviewers** stays disabled until at least one recipient is chosen.
- A reviewer who cannot see the item in **My tasks** was probably added to a group rather than named. Check the **Reviewers** panel.
- To record your own decision on someone else's file, see [Review a file someone sent you](/help/drive/my-tasks).