How to Create a Google Form, Step by Step

A Google Form can collect answers for a survey, sign-up, quiz, feedback request, or other simple data-gathering task. Responses are saved to your Google account, and you can review them in Forms or connect them to a spreadsheet. The steps below use the browser version; button names and menu locations can differ slightly by version or device.

What You’ll Need

A Google account that you can access. You do not need a paid account for basic forms.
A computer or mobile device with an internet connection and a web browser. A computer is often easier for editing longer forms.
A clear idea of what information you need and who should be able to respond. Avoid collecting information you do not need.

Step-by-Step

Open Google Forms. Go to forms.google.com and sign in to your Google account if prompted. You can also open Forms from the Google apps menu when signed in. If the page does not load, check that you are using the intended account and that your internet connection is working.
Start a form. Select Blank form to build one from scratch, or choose a template that is close to your purpose. A template provides a starting layout, but review every question and setting rather than assuming it fits your needs. The form editor usually opens with an untitled form and an initial question.
Name the form and explain its purpose. Click the title area and enter a short, recognizable name. Add a description underneath that tells respondents what the form is for, what they should do, and any relevant deadline or context. Keep the explanation neutral and clear; do not promise confidentiality unless the access and data-handling arrangements support that claim.
Add your first question. Select the question field and type a direct prompt. Use the question-type menu to choose a format such as short answer, paragraph, multiple choice, checkboxes, or a drop-down list. The available formats may vary slightly. Pick the format that matches the answer: multiple choice allows one selection, while checkboxes allow several.
Set answer choices and requirements. For choice questions, enter each option and add or remove choices as needed. Turn on Required for questions respondents must answer. Use required sparingly: making optional details mandatory can frustrate people or cause them to abandon the form. For short-answer questions, use response validation where appropriate, such as requiring an email-format answer; check the rule by testing it yourself.
Build and organize the rest. Use the add-question control to create each new question. Keep related questions together and arrange them in a logical order, starting with simple, relevant items. Use sections to divide a long form or route respondents to different sections based on an answer, if the form editor offers that option. If you use branching, check every possible route so nobody reaches a dead end.
Adjust the form settings. Open Settings; the exact layout may differ slightly by version. Review options for collecting email addresses, limiting responses, allowing edits, showing a progress bar, or presenting a confirmation message. Enable only what you need. If a form is restricted to people in an organization or requires sign-in, people outside that group may not be able to respond.
Preview and test it. Select the preview control, often shown as an eye icon, and complete the form as a respondent would. Check spelling, answer choices, required questions, instructions, and any section routing. Test it on a phone-sized screen too if your audience may use mobile devices. Submit a test response, then confirm it appears in the Responses area; remove the test response if you do not want it included in your results.
Share the form. Use the Send or Share control and choose an appropriate method, such as copying a respondent link or sending an email invitation. Check the audience or access restrictions before distributing it. If the form is intended for anyone with the link, confirm it is not limited to a specific organization. Share the respondent link, not an editing or collaboration link.
Review responses. Open the Responses tab to see summaries and individual submissions. Use the spreadsheet control, when available, to create or link a Google Sheets response file. Check that the spreadsheet is shared only with people who should see the answers, especially if responses contain personal information.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong question type: Respondents may give inconsistent answers if a question allows multiple selections when you need one, or only one when you need several.
Making too many questions required: Mandatory questions should be essential to the form’s purpose. Marking every item required can block people who do not have an answer or do not want to provide optional details.
Sharing an editor link: An editing or collaboration link can give others access to change the form. Use the link intended for respondents and check who has permission to edit.
Forgetting access restrictions: A form that requires a particular work or school account may reject outside respondents. Test the link in a browser or account that reflects your audience, if possible.
Skipping the test submission: A form can look correct in the editor but contain a confusing instruction, incorrect route, or unavailable choice. Previewing and submitting a test catches many problems before launch.

Tips

Ask only for information you need, and explain why you are collecting it when that is not obvious.
Use plain, specific wording. For example, ask “Which session will you attend?” rather than “Select an option.”
Keep answer choices distinct and cover likely responses. Add “Other” when respondents may reasonably have an answer you did not list.
Use sections to make a longer form easier to follow, but avoid adding pages that do not help respondents.
Set a clear confirmation message so people know their response was submitted and what happens next.
After sharing, check the Responses tab periodically and pause or stop accepting responses when you no longer need submissions, if that option is available.

Troubleshooting

People cannot open the form: Check the form’s respondent access and sign-in requirements. If it is meant for people outside your organization, revise any restriction that limits access, then test the link again. Organization administrators may control some sharing options.

The link opens the editor: Copy the link from the form’s Send or respondent-sharing controls. Do not copy the browser address while editing or a collaborator invitation link.

Responses are not appearing: Submit a test response and check the Responses tab. Confirm the form is accepting responses and that you are viewing the correct Google account and form. If responses are sent to Sheets, check that you opened the linked spreadsheet rather than a different file.

A question behaves unexpectedly: Preview the form and inspect its type, required setting, response validation, and branching rules. Simplify the rule or question, then test every relevant answer path again.

You cannot edit or share the form: Make sure you are signed into the account that owns it or has editing permission. If someone else created it, ask them to grant the correct access. Menu names and controls may differ slightly between the web and mobile versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Google account to fill out a Google Form?

Not always. The form creator can allow responses without sign-in, but may also restrict access or require sign-in. If you cannot open a form, ask its owner whether your account is permitted.

Can I make a Google Form with a phone?

Yes. You can open Google Forms in a mobile browser and create or edit a form. For detailed editing, a computer may be more convenient, and controls can look different on a smaller screen.

Can I change a form after sharing it?

Yes, you can usually edit questions and settings after sharing. Preview the updated form and consider telling respondents if a change affects instructions or answers they have already submitted.

Where do Google Forms responses go?

They appear in the form’s Responses tab. You can also create or connect a Google Sheets spreadsheet to organize responses in rows and columns.

Can I stop people from submitting more responses?

Open the Responses area and turn off the option to accept responses, if available in your version. You can also update the confirmation message to explain that submissions are closed.

Can I make a Google Form anonymous?

You can avoid asking for names or email addresses, but check settings for automatic email collection and sign-in restrictions. Do not promise anonymity unless your settings and organization’s policies ensure that responses cannot identify respondents.

Further reading: Google Help. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.