File Sharing Problems

Will Deleting the Original Excel Workbook Break a Microsoft Form?

WPS Content Manager Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if deleting the original Excel workbook connected to a Microsoft Form will break the form or disrupt a Power Automate flow sending data to another SharePoint workbook.

Will Deleting the Original Excel Workbook Break a Microsoft Form?

Product: Microsoft Forms and Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing Microsoft Forms responses and associated Power Automate flows.
Observed behavior: The user is seeking to understand the potential disruptions or errors caused by deleting the original response-collecting workbook.

Before you start

Before deleting any connected workbooks, verify that your Power Automate flows are successfully routing data to your secondary SharePoint file and download a local backup of your current responses.

Solution 1Recommended

Safely Deleting the Original Connected Workbook

Deleting the original workbook will not break the Form or independent Power Automate flows, but it does stop native automatic response collection.

When the original Excel workbook is deleted, the Microsoft Form remains active and continues to accept submissions. Any Power Automate flow configured to send data to a secondary SharePoint workbook will also continue to function normally. However, the 'Open in Excel' link in the Forms interface may temporarily break or generate a new, unconnected spreadsheet.

Backup current responses

Navigate to the Microsoft Forms web portal, open your specific form, and click on the 'Responses' tab. Click 'Open in Excel' to download a safe local copy of all collected data.

Verify Power Automate flow connections

Open Power Automate, locate the flow that triggers on 'When a new response is submitted', and check the run history to ensure responses are successfully writing to your secondary SharePoint workbook.

Delete the original workbook

Go to the OneDrive or SharePoint folder where the original workbook is stored, select the file, and click 'Delete'.

Safely Deleting the Original Connected Workbook

Restoring Open in Excel functionality: If you need native syncing again, simply click 'Open in Excel' in the Forms Responses tab after deletion. Forms will automatically generate a fresh workbook with all existing responses.

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Easily Analyze Form Responses with WPS Office

While Microsoft Forms handles data collection, you can use WPS Office to view, edit, and analyze the exported Excel response data. WPS Office is a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for all your spreadsheet tasks.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install WPS Office for free.
2. Open exported form data: Locate the Excel (.xlsx) file downloaded from Microsoft Forms or SharePoint.
3. Analyze responses: Right-click the file, select 'Open with WPS Spreadsheet', and begin organizing your form data.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files generated by Microsoft Forms.Lightweight architecture ensures fast loading even for massive response datasets.Free alternative to manage all your spreadsheets without a subscription.Familiar user interface allows you to start analyzing data immediately.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting the original Excel workbook stop my Power Automate flow?

No. As long as your Power Automate flow is configured to send responses to a secondary workbook in SharePoint, deleting the original workbook will not disrupt the flow's execution.

What happens to the 'Open in Excel' link in Microsoft Forms if the file is deleted?

The link will temporarily break. However, clicking 'Open in Excel' again in the Responses tab will typically prompt Microsoft Forms to create a new Excel workbook containing all the latest responses.

Can I recover the deleted original workbook if I make a mistake?

Yes. If the workbook was saved in OneDrive or SharePoint, you can navigate to the site's Recycle Bin and restore the file within 93 days of deletion.

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