# Force post approval for specific users only?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 17, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648 "2026-03-17T14:28:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@haydenjames](https://meta.discourse.org/u/haydenjames)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/1 "2026-03-17T14:28:47Z")
I’m looking for a way to require manual approval for _all future posts_ from a specific user (or a small set of users), without changing their trust level or moving them into a different group.
The goal is to essentially “flag” certain users so that every post they make goes into the moderation queue until a staff member approves it, and then be able to toggle that behavior off later if needed.
Is there a built-in way to do this per-user? Or would this require a plugin or custom solution?
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### Author:  [@chapoi](https://meta.discourse.org/u/chapoi)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/2 "2026-03-17T14:29:54Z")
No built-in way.
Could take a look at this maybe [Force specific users through moderation](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-specific-users-through-moderation/58179)
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### Author:  [@haydenjames](https://meta.discourse.org/u/haydenjames)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/3 "2026-03-17T14:39:48Z")
Thanks. I noticed the plugin hasn’t been updated in about 7 years, so I’m a bit hesitant to install it.
In the meantime, what’s the recommended setting to require approval for all new users (TL0)? I’d like every post from new members to go into the moderation queue until approved by staff.
Which site setting(s) control this?
I think I found it, yes?:
Edit 2:
I’m a bit confused by these settings:
Do I need to remove “trust\_level\_0” from these two settings? The wording has my head in a spin/over my head.
Edit 3:
Also any additional reading/documentation on this setting? (what are “staged” users?):
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/4 "2026-03-17T14:52:59Z")
I wrote this overview a while back:
> [@Configuring automatic post review triggers](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configuring-automatic-post-review-triggers/328584):
>
> This guide explains the various settings and options for requiring post approval in Discourse. You’ll learn how these settings interact and best practices for implementation. Summary Requiring approval for posts can be beneficial in several scenarios, such as: Preventing spam and inappropriate content Maintaining quality control in professional or academic forums Moderating discussions in sensitive or controversial topics Managing communities with strict content guidelines Discourse offers s…
Staged users are users created when a user posted via email but didn’t sign up. This usually happens through email-in (you can also create one by sending a PM to an email address).
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### Author:  [@haydenjames](https://meta.discourse.org/u/haydenjames)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/5 "2026-03-17T14:53:38Z")
Thanks.
Is this the better approach than setting an `Approve post count` #?:
This works perfectly.
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/6 "2026-03-17T15:01:52Z")
I think I’d use the group-based approval setting and [Discourse Dynamic Groups](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-dynamic-groups/365342).
You create a group of users whose posts should always require approval - e.g. watched\_users.
Then you create a dynamic group with all users of the trust-level-0 group\[1\] but without the members of watched\_users and name that group, for example, trusted\_users.
Adding that group to the `approve unless...` settings should result in posts of watched\_users requiring approval without limiting other users.
Of course, you could also use, for example, the tl1 group, but not watched\_users, if you also want new users to require approval. But since invited users often start with TL1 and you can reach TL1 without posting, the setting for the fixed number of posts that need approval is more reliable to track activity of new users.
* * *
1. everyone who signed up
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### Author:  [@haydenjames](https://meta.discourse.org/u/haydenjames)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/7 "2026-03-17T15:35:04Z")
Thanks! That said, the current setting I have (in most recent above screenshot) will require new posts/topics by TL0 members to be approved first correct?
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### Author:  [@ToddZ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ToddZ)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2026, 4:56am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/8 "2026-03-21T04:56:53Z")
> [@haydenjames](#):
>
> the current setting I have (in most recent above screenshot) will require new posts/topics by TL0 members to be approved first correct?
> [@haydenjames](#):
>
> This works perfectly.
I see you figured out this is correct. Just noting that if you allow staged users, you may also want to enable **Approve unless staged**. Discobot says “It is distinct from trust-level-based approval settings, specifically targeting the pre-registration state.”
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2026, 4:57am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/force-post-approval-for-specific-users-only/398648/9 "2026-04-20T04:57:16Z")
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