Data Import & Export

How to Restore Deleted Columns in a Microsoft Forms Excel Export

Amos Gikunda Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to restore default Microsoft Forms response columns in an exported Excel workbook to resume data synchronization.

How to Restore Deleted Columns in a Microsoft Forms Excel Export

Product: Microsoft Forms and Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user deleted default columns (such as start time, completion time, email, and name) in an exported response workbook, causing sync failures.
Observed behavior: The Excel response workbook fails to synchronize new form responses and cannot be automatically regenerated by the system.

Before you start

Do not delete your original response workbook. Keep it intact until the data is fully protected and a new synchronization connection is successfully established.

Solution 1Recommended

Force Generate a New Workbook via InPrivate Browsing

Use an InPrivate or incognito browser window to bypass cache issues and force Microsoft Forms to generate a fresh Excel response workbook.

When default columns are deleted, the active session cache may prevent Microsoft Forms from realizing it needs to create a new workbook. Opening the form in a private window forces a fresh connection.

Open a Private Window

Launch your web browser and open a new InPrivate window (Edge) or Incognito window (Chrome).

Log into Microsoft Forms

Navigate to the Microsoft Forms website and sign in with your organizational account.

Access the Form Responses

Open the affected form, click on the 'Responses' tab, and select 'Open in Excel' to trigger the creation of a new, synchronized workbook with all default columns restored.

Force Generate a New Workbook via InPrivate Browsing

Data Safely Restored: A new Excel file will be downloaded or opened in SharePoint/OneDrive containing all past responses and the properly restored default columns.

Solution 2

Contact IT Admin for Microsoft Support

If generating a new workbook fails, escalate the issue to your IT team to request backend restoration from Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Excel Response Data Offline with WPS Office

While Microsoft Forms live synchronization requires strict adherence to Microsoft's default Excel formatting, you can safely manage and analyze your static exported data using WPS Office. It is a completely free, lightweight suite that handles Excel files effortlessly without risking cloud sync errors.

1. Download the Exported Data: Download a static copy of your Microsoft Forms responses as an .xlsx file to your local computer.
2. Open with WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office, select 'Spreadsheet', and open your downloaded response file.
3. Analyze Without Risk: Safely delete columns, run pivot tables, and filter your data locally without any risk of breaking the live cloud synchronization.

100% compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV formatsSafely edit, delete, or rearrange columns without breaking online formsLightweight application with blazing fast loading timesFamiliar user interface with zero learning curve required

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does deleting columns in Excel break my Microsoft Forms sync?

Microsoft Forms relies on specific default columns (Start time, Completion time, Email, Name) as data anchors to push live updates. Deleting these columns disrupts the mapping structure, causing the synchronization to fail.

How can I hide columns without breaking the synchronization?

Instead of deleting columns, you should hide them. Open your Excel response workbook, select the column letter at the top, right-click, and choose 'Hide'. This removes the column from view while keeping the backend data connection intact.

Are my existing form responses permanently lost if the Excel sync breaks?

No, your response data is safely stored on the Microsoft Forms servers. The issue only affects the exported Excel view. Once you successfully generate a new workbook, all past responses will repopulate.

Excel & Data Problems