File Cannot Open

Fix Microsoft Forms Response Workbook Not Found Error in Excel

Phi Hung Vo Nov 4, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user encounters an 'Excel file not found' error after moving a Microsoft Forms response workbook in SharePoint, and group forms are missing from the Power Automate Form ID selection list.

How to Fix Microsoft Forms Response Workbook Not Found Error

Product: Microsoft Forms, Excel, Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving an existing response workbook to a new SharePoint folder or migrating a personal form to a SharePoint group.
Observed behavior: Excel reports that the file cannot be found, form responses stop updating in the workbook, and the moved form disappears from the Power Automate approval flow drop-down list.

Before you start

Ensure you have the appropriate edit permissions for the target SharePoint document library and full access to the Power Automate flow you are configuring.

Solution 1Recommended

Create the Form Directly in the Target SharePoint Folder

Instead of moving an existing response workbook, which breaks the file path link, create the form directly from the desired SharePoint location to maintain live synchronization.

When a form is created and its response workbook is generated, the connection relies on the workbook remaining in its original location. Moving the file causes Excel to lose the path.

Navigate to SharePoint

Open your SharePoint Document Library and navigate to the specific target folder where you want the Excel response workbook to be permanently stored.

Create a new Excel form

Click on the 'New' button at the top of the document library interface and select 'Forms for Excel' from the drop-down menu.

Name and save

Enter a name for your new form and click 'Create'. This ensures the Excel response workbook is generated and securely linked within this designated folder.

Create the Form Directly in the Target SharePoint Folder

Broken Connections: Moving an existing workbook from its default SharePoint document library to another folder will permanently break the connection, causing responses to stop updating and triggering the 'file not found' error.

Solution 2

Manually Enter the Exact Form ID in Power Automate

If a moved group form does not automatically appear in the Power Automate drop-down list, you must manually input the exact Form ID string as a custom value.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Microsoft Forms responses stop updating in Excel?

Responses stop updating if the linked Excel workbook is moved from its original creation location to another folder. The form loses the correct file path, breaking the live synchronization process.

Why am I getting a 'Bad Request' error in Power Automate when entering my Form URL?

A 'Bad Request' error occurs if you paste the entire form URL into the Form ID field. Power Automate requires only the specific Form ID string, which is the unique text found immediately after 'FormId=' in your browser's address bar.

Can I re-link a moved Excel workbook back to my Microsoft Form?

Once a live-connected Excel workbook is moved and the connection is broken, it generally cannot be re-linked to the exact same file path. You will need to sync responses to a newly generated workbook or recreate the form directly in the target folder.

Document & File Issues