Data Import & Export

Fix Microsoft Forms Responses Remaining in Linked Excel File

John Wilson Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove deleted Microsoft Forms test responses from the linked Excel workbook and correctly reset the response ID sequence.

How to Fix Microsoft Forms Responses Remaining in a Linked Excel File

Product: Microsoft Forms and Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Deleting test responses in Microsoft Forms to prepare for actual data collection.
Observed behavior: Deleted responses disappear from Forms but remain in the real-time connected Excel workbook, and new response IDs do not restart from the beginning.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting the synchronization connection, manually download a copy of your current Excel workbook to ensure you do not lose any valid response data.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact Microsoft 365 Administrator for Backend Support

Since the Forms-to-Excel connection is managed server-side, a backend investigation by Microsoft Support is often required to fix the synchronization bug.

Manually deleting rows in the linked Excel workbook may clean up the visual data, but it does not fix the broken synchronization link or reset the response ID sequence. The issue requires elevated permissions to investigate the environment.

Contact IT Help Desk

Reach out to your organization's IT help desk or Microsoft 365 Administrator and explain the sync issue.

Open a Support Ticket

Request your administrator to open a support ticket through the Microsoft 365 business support admin center.

Provide File Details

Supply the support team with the URL of your Microsoft Form and the SharePoint or OneDrive location of the linked Excel file for backend investigation.

Contact Microsoft 365 Administrator for Backend Support

Solution 2

Duplicate the Form to Reset Response IDs

If you need an immediate workaround to reset response IDs to 1 and start with a clean Excel sheet, duplicating the form is the most effective method.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Spreadsheet Management

If you frequently encounter synchronization errors or heavy backend issues with Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative for managing complex spreadsheets, data analysis, and forms without the typical cloud-sync overhead.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
2. Install the Application: Run the installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly; your formatting and formulas will carry over perfectly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) file formats.Lightweight application design ensuring fast startup and smooth data handling.Includes built-in Form features allowing easy data collection directly into your spreadsheets.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface that requires zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do deleted Forms responses still show up in Excel?

This occurs when the real-time synchronization link between Microsoft Forms and the Excel workbook gets interrupted or lags. The backend server fails to push the deletion command to the spreadsheet, leaving the old data intact.

Can I fix the response IDs by manually deleting rows in Excel?

No. While manually deleting the rows in Excel removes the data visually, it does not reset the internal Response ID sequence in Microsoft Forms. Any new submissions will continue counting up from the last used ID number.

How do I completely reset my Microsoft Form response IDs to zero?

The only guaranteed method to reset response IDs to zero in Microsoft Forms is to create a copy of the form. The duplicated form will start fresh, and the first new submission will be logged as Response ID 1.

Excel & Data Problems