diff --git a/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource.php b/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource.php
index 5848c3dc..ffc80ca2 100644
--- a/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource.php
+++ b/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource.php
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ public static function form(Schema $schema): Schema
                             ->label('Demo Video (required)')
                             ->content(fn (?Plugin $record) => match (true) {
                                 $record?->hasDemoVideo() => '✅ '.$record->demoVideo()->providerLabel().' — attested '.$record->demo_video_attested_at->diffForHumans(),
+                                $record?->requiresDemoVideo() === false => '✅ Not required — submitted before demo videos were required',
                                 $record?->demoVideo() !== null => '❌ Not attested by developer',
                                 default => '❌ Missing',
                             }),
@@ -608,7 +609,11 @@ public static function table(Table $table): Table
                             $lines = collect([
                                 ['License file *', $checks['has_license_file']],
                                 ['Release version *', $checks['has_release_version'] ? $checks['release_version'] : false],
-                                ['Demo video *', $record->hasDemoVideo() ? $record->demoVideo()->providerLabel() : false],
+                                ['Demo video *', match (true) {
+                                    $record->hasDemoVideo() => $record->demoVideo()->providerLabel(),
+                                    ! $record->requiresDemoVideo() => 'not required',
+                                    default => false,
+                                }],
                                 ['iOS support', $checks['supports_ios']],
                                 ['Android support', $checks['supports_android']],
                                 ['JS support', $checks['supports_js']],
@@ -632,7 +637,7 @@ public static function table(Table $table): Table
                                 'supports_ios', 'supports_android', 'supports_js',
                                 'requires_mobile_sdk',
                                 'has_ios_min_version', 'has_android_min_version',
-                            ])->filter()->count() + ($record->hasDemoVideo() ? 1 : 0);
+                            ])->filter()->count() + ($record->meetsDemoVideoRequirement() ? 1 : 0);
 
                             Notification::make()
                                 ->title("Review checks complete ({$passed}/9 passed)")
diff --git a/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource/Pages/EditPlugin.php b/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource/Pages/EditPlugin.php
index 052ee945..eec8078e 100644
--- a/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource/Pages/EditPlugin.php
+++ b/app/Filament/Resources/PluginResource/Pages/EditPlugin.php
@@ -53,9 +53,22 @@ protected function getHeaderActions(): array
                 ->icon('heroicon-o-check')
                 ->color('success')
                 ->visible(fn () => $this->record->isPending())
-                ->disabled(fn () => ! $this->record->passesRequiredReviewChecks())
-                ->action(fn () => $this->record->approve(auth()->id()))
+                ->action(function (): void {
+                    if (! $this->record->passesRequiredReviewChecks()) {
+                        Notification::make()
+                            ->title('Required review checks are failing')
+                            ->body(implode(', ', $this->record->getFailingRequiredChecks()))
+                            ->danger()
+                            ->send();
+
+                        return;
+                    }
+
+                    $this->record->approve(auth()->id());
+                })
                 ->requiresConfirmation()
+                ->modalSubmitAction(fn (Actions\Action $action): Actions\Action|false => $this->record->passesRequiredReviewChecks() ? $action : false)
+                ->modalCancelActionLabel(fn (): string => $this->record->passesRequiredReviewChecks() ? 'Cancel' : 'Close')
                 ->modalHeading('Approve Plugin')
                 ->modalDescription(fn () => ! $this->record->passesRequiredReviewChecks()
                     ? "Cannot approve '{$this->record->name}' — required checks are failing: ".implode(', ', $this->record->getFailingRequiredChecks())
diff --git a/app/Livewire/Customer/Plugins/Show.php b/app/Livewire/Customer/Plugins/Show.php
index f9de3970..2add408d 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/Customer/Plugins/Show.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/Customer/Plugins/Show.php
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ public function submitForReview(): void
             return;
         }
 
-        if (! $this->plugin->hasDemoVideo()) {
+        if (! $this->plugin->meetsDemoVideoRequirement()) {
             Flux::toast(variant: 'danger', text: 'Please add a demo video showing your plugin working and confirm it before submitting for review.');
 
             return;
diff --git a/app/Models/Plugin.php b/app/Models/Plugin.php
index 598cb033..b44d72f1 100644
--- a/app/Models/Plugin.php
+++ b/app/Models/Plugin.php
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\BelongsToMany;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\HasMany;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\HasOne;
+use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Notification;
@@ -501,7 +502,7 @@ public function passesRequiredReviewChecks(): bool
         return ! empty($checks['has_license_file'])
             && ! empty($checks['has_release_version'])
             && $this->webhook_installed
-            && $this->hasDemoVideo();
+            && $this->meetsDemoVideoRequirement();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -512,6 +513,42 @@ public function hasDemoVideo(): bool
         return $this->demoVideo() !== null && $this->demo_video_attested_at !== null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Plugins first submitted for review before demo videos became a requirement
+     * (#534) are grandfathered in and can be approved without one.
+     */
+    public function requiresDemoVideo(): bool
+    {
+        $firstSubmittedAt = $this->firstSubmittedAt();
+
+        return $firstSubmittedAt === null
+            || $firstSubmittedAt->gte(Carbon::parse(self::DEMO_VIDEO_REQUIRED_FROM, 'UTC'));
+    }
+
+    public function meetsDemoVideoRequirement(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->hasDemoVideo() || ! $this->requiresDemoVideo();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * When the plugin was first sent for review. Plugins that left draft before
+     * submissions were logged as activity fall back to when they were created.
+     */
+    public function firstSubmittedAt(): ?Carbon
+    {
+        $submittedAt = $this->activities()
+            ->reorder()
+            ->where('type', PluginActivityType::Submitted)
+            ->oldest()
+            ->value('created_at');
+
+        if ($submittedAt !== null) {
+            return Carbon::parse($submittedAt);
+        }
+
+        return $this->status === PluginStatus::Draft ? null : $this->created_at;
+    }
+
     public function demoVideo(): ?DemoVideo
     {
         return DemoVideo::fromUrl($this->demo_video_url);
@@ -547,7 +584,7 @@ public function getFailingRequiredChecks(): array
             $failing[] = 'Webhook configured';
         }
 
-        if (! $this->hasDemoVideo()) {
+        if (! $this->meetsDemoVideoRequirement()) {
             $failing[] = 'Demo video showing the plugin working';
         }
 
@@ -693,6 +730,11 @@ public function hasCustomIcon(): bool
      */
     public const DEFAULT_ICON_NAME = 'cube';
 
+    /**
+     * When #534 made a demo video required for review (UTC).
+     */
+    public const DEMO_VIDEO_REQUIRED_FROM = '2026-09-25 16:23:52';
+
     /**
      * Whether the given name matches an outline Heroicon we can actually render.
      *
diff --git a/app/Notifications/PluginReviewChecksIncomplete.php b/app/Notifications/PluginReviewChecksIncomplete.php
index cf05cdc1..6aa826e3 100644
--- a/app/Notifications/PluginReviewChecksIncomplete.php
+++ b/app/Notifications/PluginReviewChecksIncomplete.php
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ private function isCheckPassing(string $key, array $checks): bool
     {
         return match ($key) {
             'webhook_configured' => (bool) $this->plugin->webhook_installed,
-            'demo_video' => $this->plugin->hasDemoVideo(),
+            'demo_video' => $this->plugin->meetsDemoVideoRequirement(),
             default => ! empty($checks[$key]),
         };
     }
diff --git a/resources/views/livewire/customer/plugins/show.blade.php b/resources/views/livewire/customer/plugins/show.blade.php
index abaa2ff9..23b81ba1 100644
--- a/resources/views/livewire/customer/plugins/show.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/livewire/customer/plugins/show.blade.php
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
                         @php
                             $isPassing = match ($check['key']) {
                                 'webhook_configured' => $plugin->webhook_installed,
-                                'demo_video' => $plugin->hasDemoVideo(),
+                                'demo_video' => $plugin->meetsDemoVideoRequirement(),
                                 default => $plugin->review_checks[$check['key']] ?? false,
                             };
                         @endphp
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Filament/PluginApproveActionTest.php b/tests/Feature/Filament/PluginApproveActionTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7988c095
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/Filament/PluginApproveActionTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\Feature\Filament;
+
+use App\Enums\PluginActivityType;
+use App\Enums\PluginStatus;
+use App\Filament\Resources\PluginResource\Pages\EditPlugin;
+use App\Models\Plugin;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Filament\Facades\Filament;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Notification;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Queue;
+use Livewire\Livewire;
+use Spatie\Permission\Models\Role;
+use Tests\TestCase;
+
+class PluginApproveActionTest extends TestCase
+{
+    use RefreshDatabase;
+
+    protected function setUp(): void
+    {
+        parent::setUp();
+
+        Notification::fake();
+        Queue::fake();
+        config(['filament.users' => ['env-admin@test.com']]);
+        Filament::setCurrentPanel('admin');
+    }
+
+    public function test_super_admin_role_can_approve_a_pending_plugin_that_passes_review(): void
+    {
+        $superAdmin = User::factory()->create();
+        $superAdmin->assignRole(Role::findOrCreate(config('filament-shield.super_admin.name')));
+
+        $this->assertApproves($superAdmin, $this->reviewablePlugin());
+    }
+
+    public function test_filament_users_admin_can_approve_a_pending_plugin_that_passes_review(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertApproves(User::factory()->create(['email' => 'env-admin@test.com']), $this->reviewablePlugin());
+    }
+
+    public function test_approve_stays_clickable_and_explains_failing_checks(): void
+    {
+        $superAdmin = User::factory()->create(['email' => 'env-admin@test.com']);
+        $plugin = $this->pluginWithoutDemoVideo();
+        $this->recordSubmission($plugin, $this->afterRequirement());
+
+        Livewire::actingAs($superAdmin)
+            ->test(EditPlugin::class, ['record' => $plugin->getRouteKey()])
+            ->assertActionVisible('approve')
+            ->assertActionEnabled('approve')
+            ->mountAction('approve')
+            ->assertMountedActionModalSee('required checks are failing')
+            ->assertMountedActionModalSee('Demo video showing the plugin working')
+            ->callMountedAction();
+
+        $this->assertSame(PluginStatus::Pending, $plugin->fresh()->status);
+    }
+
+    public function test_plugin_submitted_before_demo_videos_were_required_can_be_approved_without_one(): void
+    {
+        $plugin = $this->pluginWithoutDemoVideo();
+        $this->recordSubmission($plugin, $this->beforeRequirement());
+
+        $this->assertFalse($plugin->requiresDemoVideo());
+        $this->assertTrue($plugin->passesRequiredReviewChecks());
+        $this->assertNotContains('Demo video showing the plugin working', $plugin->getFailingRequiredChecks());
+
+        $this->assertApproves(User::factory()->create(['email' => 'env-admin@test.com']), $plugin);
+    }
+
+    public function test_plugin_submitted_after_demo_videos_were_required_still_needs_one(): void
+    {
+        $plugin = $this->pluginWithoutDemoVideo();
+        $this->recordSubmission($plugin, $this->afterRequirement());
+
+        $this->assertTrue($plugin->requiresDemoVideo());
+        $this->assertFalse($plugin->passesRequiredReviewChecks());
+        $this->assertContains('Demo video showing the plugin working', $plugin->getFailingRequiredChecks());
+    }
+
+    public function test_resubmitting_after_the_cutoff_keeps_the_original_submission_date(): void
+    {
+        $plugin = $this->pluginWithoutDemoVideo();
+        $this->recordSubmission($plugin, $this->beforeRequirement());
+        $this->recordSubmission($plugin, $this->afterRequirement(), PluginActivityType::Resubmitted);
+
+        $this->assertFalse($plugin->requiresDemoVideo());
+    }
+
+    public function test_old_pending_plugin_without_a_logged_submission_falls_back_to_its_creation_date(): void
+    {
+        $plugin = $this->pluginWithoutDemoVideo(['created_at' => $this->beforeRequirement()]);
+
+        $this->assertFalse($plugin->requiresDemoVideo());
+    }
+
+    public function test_old_draft_that_was_never_submitted_needs_a_demo_video(): void
+    {
+        $plugin = $this->pluginWithoutDemoVideo(['status' => PluginStatus::Draft, 'created_at' => $this->beforeRequirement()]);
+
+        $this->assertTrue($plugin->requiresDemoVideo());
+    }
+
+    private function assertApproves(User $user, Plugin $plugin): void
+    {
+        Livewire::actingAs($user)
+            ->test(EditPlugin::class, ['record' => $plugin->getRouteKey()])
+            ->assertActionVisible('approve')
+            ->assertActionEnabled('approve')
+            ->callAction('approve')
+            ->assertHasNoActionErrors();
+
+        $plugin->refresh();
+
+        $this->assertSame(PluginStatus::Approved, $plugin->status);
+        $this->assertSame($user->id, $plugin->approved_by);
+    }
+
+    private function reviewablePlugin(): Plugin
+    {
+        return Plugin::factory()->pending()->free()->create([
+            'webhook_installed' => true,
+            'review_checks' => ['has_license_file' => true, 'has_release_version' => true, 'release_version' => '1.0.0'],
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param  array<string, mixed>  $attributes
+     */
+    private function pluginWithoutDemoVideo(array $attributes = []): Plugin
+    {
+        $plugin = $this->reviewablePlugin();
+        $plugin->forceFill(['demo_video_url' => null, 'demo_video_attested_at' => null, ...$attributes])->save();
+
+        return $plugin->fresh();
+    }
+
+    private function recordSubmission(Plugin $plugin, Carbon $at, PluginActivityType $type = PluginActivityType::Submitted): void
+    {
+        $plugin->activities()->create([
+            'type' => $type,
+            'from_status' => PluginStatus::Draft,
+            'to_status' => PluginStatus::Pending,
+            'causer_id' => $plugin->user_id,
+            'created_at' => $at,
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    private function beforeRequirement(): Carbon
+    {
+        return Carbon::parse(Plugin::DEMO_VIDEO_REQUIRED_FROM, 'UTC')->subDay();
+    }
+
+    private function afterRequirement(): Carbon
+    {
+        return Carbon::parse(Plugin::DEMO_VIDEO_REQUIRED_FROM, 'UTC')->addDay();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Feature/PluginDemoVideoTest.php b/tests/Feature/PluginDemoVideoTest.php
index 1c357b71..096ec71e 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/PluginDemoVideoTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/PluginDemoVideoTest.php
@@ -312,6 +312,7 @@ public function test_required_checks_fail_without_demo_video_even_when_repo_chec
         $plugin = Plugin::factory()->pending()->withoutDemoVideo()->create([
             'review_checks' => self::PASSING_REPO_CHECKS,
             'webhook_installed' => true,
+            'created_at' => now(),
         ]);
 
         $this->assertFalse($plugin->passesRequiredReviewChecks());
@@ -365,6 +366,7 @@ public function test_review_checks_email_lists_missing_demo_video(): void
         $plugin = Plugin::factory()->pending()->withoutDemoVideo()->for($user)->create([
             'review_checks' => self::PASSING_REPO_CHECKS,
             'webhook_installed' => true,
+            'created_at' => now(),
         ]);
 
         $rendered = (string) (new PluginReviewChecksIncomplete($plugin))->toMail($user)->render();