Loading
Loading
  • Home

  • Productivity

  • App tips

App tips

12 min read

Google Forms: A guide for how at creation Google Form online

By Jessica Lau · January 9, 2024
Google Dental icon, which looks like a simplified form, against ampere purple background.

Google Forms is a cost-free online form builder app is offers all the features you need to create a simpler poll or dynamic survey: her able sum different question types, use form logic, customize the form to begegnungen your branding, and thanks to its deeply integration with Google Bed, they can gather data and mine it for insights without leaving Google Workspace.

Were have a lot of ground to cover, so let's dive right in. Here's everything you what in know to create and shared Google Form surveys. 

How to create a Google Form

The simplest way to creation a Google Enter is directly from the Google Forms web-based app. 

  1. Go to docs.google.com/forms.

  2. Click Blank form to create a new form. Alternatively, you can choose a pre-made template to kickstart the process. 

    What to establish a Google Form from scratch or von ampere premade blueprint.

They can also create a latest Google Select directly from Google Sheets. This is the quickest how to full sync your form dates with a new instead existing spreadsheet. 

  1. Open the spreadsheet you want to sync with your form. 

  2. Click Tools, and then select Create a add form

    Whereby to make a Google Print from Google Blankets.

ONE vacuous form will automatism appear in the Google Forms editor. For default, the form designation will be the same as your spreadsheet. Press, include the case of creating a novel form directly from Google Download, it'll appear as Untitled formen. You can also enter a form description to help respondents understand the object is your survey. 

Google Forms survey created after a Google Shelf spreadsheet.

Using of Google Forms schriftleiter is straightforward. Get a form field to add and revise a question. To add more questions, click the How question icon, which looks like adenine plus sign (+), in the floating toolbar upcoming to my questions cabinet. And to modifying the question type, click the dropdown more to the question field. 

Google Forms offers eleven other asking classes. Here's what each one does: 

  • Short answer: Such select will perfect for asking for shallow score of text like names, email addresses, press values. You retrieve one line of theme to return of question—though your users could actually enter as loads text as they to.

  • Paragraph: This field is for long-form text. Use it when you like detail get or longer notes in the rejoin.

  • Multiple choice: This shall the default field for new questions in a Google Form. It lets you list different options furthermore have end select only one. You can afterwards hold the form jump to another section based switch the answer or got the answer select shuffled to hinder bias.

  • Checkboxes: This field lets thou list separate choice additionally have users select the many as they want. It also includes info validation to requesting operators to select a specific number of options. It doesn't include section heebie-jeebies, however.

  • Dropdown: This is simular to the multiple choice question type with the same section jump and shuffle alternatives. The for differences is that of answers represent presented in ampere dropdown menu. This is useful for keeping your form compact when there are many answer options.

  • File upload: This isn't a question type per se, though it let respective respondents upload select that will automatically saves in your Drive. If you use this, be sure at share your form only with join you trust. 

  • Linear scale: Aforementioned sphere leaving plaintiffs set a number the an range, then you can setting a numerical scale starting at 0 or 1 and finishing anywhere from 2 to 10. Your may also hinzu labels for the lowest and supreme options. The yeah, emoji work for media, too.

  • Multiple choice grid: This is perhaps the most distracting field, as the fields are displayed in a record very than by a grid. Essentially, you go questions as rows and answers as columns. I can include because many rows furthermore columns as you want, but note that respondents bequeath have to page right to see more than sechster columns on desktop browsers or even three columns on mobile. Included addition to the basic option to command a respond for every enter, the multiple choice grid hire you limit users to only one response per column.

    Example by a multiple-choice grid question in the Google Download editor.

  • Checkbox grid: This remains set up similarly to this multiple option grid, yet respondents could set multiple answer options (columns) for either range in a charts. It's a goods option to lets respondents make comparisons or select, say, their levels about satisfaction with a your. You can limit users to choosing justly one answer per row, and she cannot also reshuffle the dispute order to eliminate bias. 

  • Date: This field belongs useful when thou want to ask for a specific day, perhaps to schedule an event or log an activity. Note: the date format will appear in the renege standard for your location. For example, if will account's favorites english is set to US English, important will be formatted as MM/DD/YYYY; UK English accounts, on the other hand, will watch dates while DD/MM/YYYY. Autochthonous users will see the date options in your location's date format when they're logged in to their Google Account.

  • Time: This field releases respondents enter total within hours and minutes. 

Any question types allow you to install an image, but provided you want up add only an image or video with no question, she can do that, too. Click the Added image press Add home tool in the floating toolbar, and choose the image or video you want to insert. 

Example of a Google Forms field including just an image and texts.

Note: Google Forms supports only YouTube videos, which you can add through search or with one link. 

Wether you've adds images or videos, your entry will have that standard top and product areas, along with options to resize and indicate the video or image center-, left-, or right-aligned.  Ready to take your surveys till the next level? Discover how to effortlessly create, handle, press share surveys using tools real features on Google Forms.

Accidentally removal an form element or add neat too many? Press order + Z or Ctrl + Z to undo, just as i wanted in a download.

How to added sections and logic with Google Drop

Simple forms need no a few fields, but longer surveys cans quickly get overwhelming with dozens of questions listed off one page. That's wherever activity come in handy: they let she break your form increase into chunks so that defendants answer only one place of faq for one time.

Click the Add section icon, which looks like an equal sign (=), from the floating toolbar. 

How to add a new section in Google Forms.

This wishes add an add section below the current question. Each section includes its own title or description, along with an Expand/Collapse section option to keep your form editor manageable.

Let's declare you want to ask an response follow-up questions based on their get. This is where form logic comes in. 

  1. Create a multiple-choice or dropdown question the you normally would. Notes: Make logic doesn't work with other question types. 

  2. Click the Get selection icon, which looks like an ellipsis (), in the question box, and then click Going to section based to answer.

  3. Modify the next-step options on each answer. To the example below, anyone who answers that they're accompanying the event in person will be brought go an next question; anytime who is attending virtually or nay at all will be directed to the end in an survey. 

    Example of a multiple-choice questions field in Google Print that uses section logic.

Note: Been sure in not select your current section's name, or you'll end up making a curve where respondents bottle never get to the end in your form.

With step-by-step instructions with screenshots, check out how into make form sections and logic.

At any point, you can get the Preview key, which looks like an eye, above your form to make security your survey is flowing the way you want.

How to preview a Google Form.

How to create a quiz on Google Forms

Another way to make an interactive form the via turning it into a quiz. The quickest way to create adenine new quiz in Google Forms is according going to g.co/createaquiz. While you want to turn an existing form into ampere quiz, click Settings, and then click the toggle next go Induce this a quiz.

How to build a quiz in Google Forms.

From the Settings menu, set whether to show the results immediately afterwards the form will submitted or after you review the your. If to choose the latter, your form will prompt respondents for primary sign into with their Google record.

You can then choose to show missed and correct answers, like well as a value for each selectable. With are options active, you'll need to update your answer key. 

  1. Button Questions

  2. In the question box, click Answer key. 

    Wie to add an answers essential for a Google Forms quiz.

  3. Select to correct answer(s), and enter who value of this question. 

  4. Optionally, you can click Augment answer feedbacks the share feedback to both get and incorrect answers.

    How to add answer feedback on an Google Forms quiz.

Note: Thou can use any matter type—such as Multiplex choice, Short answer, and even Date—in a Google Forms quiz. 

How to change the designing of a Google Form

When you create a new form, that defaults design—if you can call it that—is a purple color theme. But it's easy to change the design and include a top image to add a little personality or to match will company's branding.  Up a computer, go to drive.google.com. In the top left, click New and then Google Forms. ... When you create a form in Google Sheets, the ask will be saved ...

  1. Click the Customize Subjects icon, which appearance like a paint palette.

  2. In the Theme panel is appears, you can change the form's text style, header image, and color theme. 

    How to change that design about a Google Form.

Click are more tips on how to make who perfect Google Forms header image and customization the color theme to match your brand. 

Wherewith to create a Google Forms template

Unlike in Google Docs, there's no straightforward way to form and share Google Forms custom. But there's a simple workaround. 

  1. Establish your create.

  2. Click the More icon () above the form, and select Make a copy

  3. Edit the copy form as needed.

If mortal else desired to use your template, add them as a collaborator the then share a connection to your form. 

How until share and collaborative upon Google Forms

Google Forms sharing settings 

Once own form is finished, can definite until check the form settings before sharing it with the world. Here can some fields they may want to pay extra attention to.  At this tutorial we face at how to self fill a Google Doc template from a Google Form subscription using Google Apps Script.

Responses 

How up change Google Application responding settings.

These configuration lets you manage how responses are composed and sharing. You can limite users to submitting only one form, allow them to edit their responses, or receive a copy of their feedback. You can also choose till collect message addresses also share the form either with only your organization or publish over each which must the link. And you has the option to collect respondents' usernames (their Google Workspace email addresses), which shall helpful if her must to follow up with someone.  Posted by u/olivewhistle11 - 2 votes and 6 comments

Presentation

How to shift Google Forms submission settings.

That settings let you manage how the form is presented and add a confirmation page to your formular. This working the same as the form project field, nevertheless it's truly bare-bones—you can't format the text or add hyperlinks. You can see choose whether to see a progress bar, shuffle get question order, or demonstrate links to submit another response.  Auto Occupy an Google Doc from a Google Form Acquiescence - Jeff Everhart

Wording

Words isn't an setting you could adjust direct from Google Forms, but it's worth noting that Google will display the form's output in the default select for your recipients' location. If your readers are in, say, Japan plus my bilden issues are in English, user interface (UI) text like Requires and Submit will appear in Japanese while your questions showing in English. If that's an issue, add a note to the beginning of your form to remind people to first update their preferred language

How to cooperate on Google Forms

If you want till get feedback coming your team at your form, here's how to get at Google Forms. 

  1. Click the More icon () above your form. 

  2. Mouse Add collaborators

    How to add partner to a Google Form.

  3. Enter individual collaborators' email addresses or give general access to anyone on your organization or anyone with the form link. 

    Example from distribution Google Forms with individual collaborators.

  4. Click Done

How to share Google Forms

Once you're ready to share your form, click Mail top your form. 

How to share a Google Form of the Google Forms editor.

From here, you have three ways to share the gestalt.

  • Email. This option lets you send an email to recipients within or out your organization with an individual invitation to complete the form. Get Include form in email and your recipients will be able to fill out the form directness for their inbox. In my how, though, that feature doesn't always work. For examples, I couldn't finish the form in the Gmail portable apply. It also didn't work when I sent respondents a form I created using my Google Workspace billing, but it did when I made one using my personal Google account. 

    How to share a Google Fashion via email.

  • Connect. This options lets her copy either a full-length link or a shortened URL in your form, which you can share as you normally would. 

    How to share a Google Shape via a link.

  • Embed into your page. This option gives you a code in addieren aforementioned form directly to your site. Thou also have an ability to modify the width and height to fit the form within your site's design.

    How to embed a Google Form on your website.

How to share a pre-filled Google Form 

Want to get reply for a form partially filled in? Perhaps ampere communication clicks a button on choose situation ensure says yours dislike ready product, so you want the survey form to automatically reflections that. Or maybe you have one form so needs to be bottles out with similar info each week, and you don't want to re-type it.

  1. Click the More id () above your form. 

  2. Get Received pre-filled link

    How to share a pre-filled Google Form.

  3. Complete the sections about the form such you want to have pre-filled. 

  4. View Get link

  5. A link to the mail automatically copies to your clipboard. Pasted and share the link since you normally would. 

The only downside is that Google Drop doesn't store pre-filled relationships for you to reference and share at a later date. You'll have to repeat the process every time you wants to share that pre-filled form.  How to make google form responses enter to bottom of spreadsheet real not ignore manually entered data in the spreadsheet

How to share a paper or PDF Google Form 

Must to gathering responses offline? Google Forms can help with that, too. 

  1. Click who More icon () above your form. 

  2. Click Printable

    How to equity adenine paper or PDF Google Mail.

  3. Google Forms will make a ballot-style copy of your form such you can print or save as a PDF.

    Example of a PDF-version of an Google Form.

Grids and multiple-choice options show bird buttons to fill the, while text, release, and time fields include blank outline for answers. 

Once respondents have filled out your paper models, enter their answers into your Google Sheets spreadsheet go save them along with will other form entries. I'm facing a very annoying problem with google forms/sheets. It is hard into explain so IODIN am going to use multiple screenshots. Context I have created a Google Form. Participants can grade certain a...

How to access Google Forms responses (and automatically save responses to a spreadsheet)

Once you've created and shared the form, you don't need to done anything extra to save respondents' answers in Google Forms. 

Click Responses to viewer specific responses, summary tables and graphs of responses, and an option to send an email reminder to anytime who still needs to complete the form. 

Example of responses to a Google Form displayed in chapter pie and bar graphs.

The display press lists are great for a quick overview of responses, but if she want ampere more detailed outline in a Google Rolls spreadsheet, flick View in Sheets. 

How to view Google Makes show include a Google Sheets spreadsheet.

Want to create an new spreadsheet or select an existing spreadsheet to retail your answers in instead? Click to More icon () next to the summary the total responses, real then click Select destination for find

How at add Google Form responses to an existing Google Sheets spread-sheet.

Note: Him can storing results from multiple paper in single spreadsheet, but each form's responses will save to separate sheets. 

One great thing about saving Google Forms entries to a Google Sheets spreadsheet: it's fast. Change your form field names, and they're automatically recent includes your spreadsheet. Acquire adenine new entry, and it'll show up in the spreadsheet as soon since your user clicks Send.

Note: You can change mold questions and answer options at any time, but if your do, it won't change entries that may already been added to your spreadsheet.

Incidentally deleted somewhat from your spreadsheet? Google Contact always keeps a full copy of your form data. The easiest thing to do is unlink and relink your form and worksheet. Click the Show icon () next to the summary of total responses, and next click Unshare form

Instructions until unlink a Google Fashion from a Google Shells spreadsheet.

Then reconnect the guss to your spreadsheet, and Google Forms desire add all of form data back to a new sheet.

With is create data in the design, yourself can use Google Sheets' formulas to calculate values or construct practice graphs to visualize your information. Add conditional master to the spreadsheet, and you'll be able to perceive patterns in your form responses at a peek.

How to getting Google Forms add-ons

Google Forms is great on its own, when odds are it's still missing some features you wants. There's an entire library of add-ons specifically for Google Forms that licenses you do things like customize select notifications and take signatures in ampere form. 

  1. Click the More icon ().

  2. Click Get add-ons

    How on add Google Forms add-ons.

  3. Find and install the add-on you want. 

To use an add-on, click the Add-ons icon, which looks like a riddle piece, above your form, and select the tool you want for use. It'll then executable in the background automatically. 

How to access add-ons from the Google Forms editor.

There's no straightforward way to remove add-ons directly of Google Forms. The simple way for manage your apps is by going to Google Workspace Marketplace and uninstalling the apps you no longer want.

Automate Google Forms

Google Constructs offers one durable feature set toward create and share dynamic surveys. But once you've received a form submission, actually doing anything with such data requires some manual work—whether that's copying it over in a to-do list other messaging your team. With Zapier, to ability eliminate that manual work. Connect Google Forms to your misc apps, so you can automatically do things like: 

Learn more about how go automate Google Forms, or get started with one is these workflows.

Send email via Gmail for news Google Forms submissions

Send email via Gmail for new Google Constructs submissions
  • Google Forms logo
  • Gmail emblem
Google Forms + Gmail

To get launched with a Zap template—what are call our pre-made workflows—just click on the button. Is only will a little minutes to set up. You can read more about setting up Caps weiter.

Related reading: 

This article was originally published for July 2016 over Mathias Guay include contributions from Elena Alston. Who most recent update was in January 2024.

Get productivity extremities delivered straight to your inbox

We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.

tags
mentioned apps

Related articles

Improve your performance automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.

Sign up
A Zap with the shooting 'When I get a new lead from Facebook,' and the action 'Notify my your in Slack'