Data Import & Export

Fix Microsoft Forms Sync to New Excel Workbook Stuck on Loading

Partner Editor Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to sync Microsoft Forms responses to a new Excel workbook in SharePoint because the synchronization process remains stuck on a loading screen.

How to Fix Microsoft Forms Sync to Excel Stuck on Loading

Product: Microsoft Forms and Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving a Microsoft Form to a company group SharePoint folder and attempting to sync all existing responses to a new Excel workbook.
Observed behavior: The 'Sync all responses to a new workbook' option gets stuck indefinitely on 'Loading', causing concerns about the potential loss of existing form data.

Before you start

Do not delete the original Excel workbook or Microsoft Form while troubleshooting to ensure your existing response data is securely preserved.

Solution 1Recommended

Troubleshoot Browser Session and Cache

Use this solution to rule out local browser cache corruption or extension conflicts causing the sync script to hang.

Open a Private Browsing Window

Launch your web browser and open a new Private or Incognito window. Log into your Microsoft account and attempt the 'Sync all responses' action again.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

If the private window fails, go to your browser's settings, clear the cache and cookies for all time, restart the browser, and try syncing the form to the new workbook.

Test on a Different Web Browser

Open a completely different web browser (such as Edge, Chrome, or Firefox) to determine if the continuous loading issue is browser-specific.

Restart Your Computer

If the issue persists across different browsers, restart your computer to clear any lingering network or memory glitches.

Submit a Support Ticket: If these browser steps fail, capture a screenshot of the loading screen and contact Microsoft Support with your form and workbook details.

Solution 2

Verify SharePoint Background Synchronization

Check if the synchronization is actually completing in the background despite the browser interface being stuck on loading.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Spreadsheet Management

While WPS Office does not natively host Microsoft Forms, it serves as a powerful, free, and lightweight alternative for all your document and spreadsheet needs. You can easily export your form data directly as an Excel file and analyze it locally in WPS Office without relying on cloud synchronization.

1. Export Form Data: Open your Microsoft Form, navigate to Responses, and select 'Open in Excel' to download your response data directly.
2. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
3. Open and Analyze Data: Open the downloaded .xlsx file using WPS Spreadsheet to manage and analyze your form responses offline.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and (.csv) formats for exported form dataProcess and analyze exported form response data securely offlineFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn interfaceLightweight application that runs smoothly on almost any device

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose existing responses if the Excel sync is stuck on loading?

No, your responses are safely stored within Microsoft Forms itself. As long as you do not delete the original form or workbook, your existing data remains intact even if the new Excel synchronization is stuck.

How do I export Microsoft Forms data without syncing to SharePoint?

You can directly download a static copy of your responses by going to the 'Responses' tab in Microsoft Forms and clicking 'Open in Excel'. This downloads a local copy of your data up to that moment without requiring a live SharePoint connection.

Can I manually relink an existing Microsoft Form to a completely new Excel workbook?

Yes. If your form is stored in a Group or SharePoint, you can typically disconnect the old workbook and click 'Sync all responses to a new workbook'. If it hangs, following browser cache troubleshooting usually resolves the linking process.

Why does Microsoft Forms say 'Loading' indefinitely when moved to a Group?

This can happen due to permission propagation delays in SharePoint, browser cache conflicts, or temporary Microsoft server outages. Verifying permissions in the destination SharePoint folder and using an Incognito window can often bypass the issue.

Excel & Data Problems