Permission & Access Issues

How to Transfer Microsoft Forms Ownership for a Deleted User

Adam Davis Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to know how an administrator can recover and transfer Microsoft Forms created by an employee whose account has been disabled or deleted.

How to Transfer Microsoft Forms Ownership for a Deleted User

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An employee has left the organization and their account has been deleted. The organization needs to retain access to the forms they created.
Observed behavior: The forms are at risk of being permanently deleted if ownership is not transferred to an active user or group within the data retention period.

Before you start

Ensure you have a Global Administrator or Forms Administrator role and a valid Microsoft Forms license. The ownership transfer must be completed within 30 days of the user's account deletion to prevent permanent data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Transfer Forms via the Administrator Portal

Use the specialized Microsoft Forms administrator URL to access the deleted user's forms and move them to an active account or group.

Microsoft provides a dedicated administrative workflow to recover forms from deleted or disabled accounts. Once the 30-day retention window passes, forms cannot be recovered.

Log in as an Administrator

Access the specialized Administrator URL

Navigate to the Microsoft Forms administrator delegate page by appending the deleted user's email address to the specialized admin URL (as detailed in Microsoft's Forms ownership-transfer documentation).

Select the forms to transfer

On the user's forms portal, locate the specific forms or quizzes you wish to retain.

Move the forms

Click the 'Move' option on the form. Select your own administrator account or a Microsoft 365 Group portal as the new destination for the form.

Transfer Forms via the Administrator Portal

Time Restriction: The transfer process must be initiated and completed within exactly 30 days of the original account deletion.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Microsoft Forms if the user was deleted more than 30 days ago?

No, the transfer must occur within 30 days of the account deletion. After this period, the user's data, including their Microsoft Forms, is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Who has the permission to transfer forms for a deleted user?

Only users with the Global Administrator or Forms Administrator role assigned in Microsoft 365 have the necessary permissions to access the specialized portal and transfer a deleted user's forms.

Where can I move the recovered Microsoft Forms?

Administrators can move the recovered forms either to their own personal active account or to a Microsoft 365 group portal for shared access across a team.

Does the administrator need a specific license to perform the transfer?

Yes, the administrator performing the transfer must have a valid Microsoft Forms license assigned to their own account to access the administrative portal and complete the move.

Document & File Issues