Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover Deleted Responses in Microsoft Forms

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover 15 form responses that were unexpectedly lost after deleting responses from a duplicated version of the form.

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user created a duplicate of an existing Microsoft Form and deleted the responses from the copy to start fresh.
Observed behavior: Deleting the responses from the duplicate form also deleted the 15 original responses from the primary form, resulting in data loss.

Before you start

Determine if your Microsoft Forms responses were automatically syncing to an Excel workbook in OneDrive or SharePoint, as this is required to perform the recovery.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore the Excel Workbook from OneDrive Recycle Bin

Use this method if the Excel file containing your synced Microsoft Forms responses was accidentally deleted along with the form data.

Log in to OneDrive or SharePoint

Navigate to the OneDrive or SharePoint online portal using your web browser and log in with the Microsoft account associated with the form.

Open the Recycle Bin

Click on the 'Recycle bin' option located in the left-hand navigation pane to view recently deleted files.

Locate the Responses File

Search for the Excel workbook that shares the name of your Microsoft Form (e.g., 'FormName_Responses.xlsx').

Restore the File

Select the checkbox next to the Excel file and click the 'Restore' button at the top of the page to recover your form responses.

Solution 2

Roll Back Excel Workbook Version History

Use this method if the Excel file storing your responses is still in your OneDrive, but the data inside was cleared out during the deletion process.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage and Analyze Form Data Seamlessly with WPS Office

While recovering cloud-synced Microsoft Forms responses requires OneDrive, managing and backing up your exported response data is easier with WPS Office. It is a lightweight, fully compatible suite for handling all your spreadsheet analysis securely on your local device.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open Your Response Data: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and click 'Open' to load your recovered Excel or CSV form responses.
3. Analyze Securely: Use built-in pivot tables and charts to analyze your data locally without worrying about complex cloud sync errors.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV formats.Free and lightweight spreadsheet tool for efficient data analysis.Built-in local backup features to help prevent accidental data loss.Easy-to-use interface that is highly familiar to Microsoft Office users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did deleting responses from a duplicate Microsoft Form affect the original?

Typically, duplicating a form creates a completely independent copy. If deleting data affected the original, it is highly likely that the duplicate was still linked to the same underlying Excel workbook, or the form was shared as a collaborative template rather than fully duplicated.

Can I recover Microsoft Forms responses if they were not synced to an Excel file?

Unfortunately, if your Microsoft Forms responses were only stored natively within the Forms web interface and not continuously synced to an Excel workbook in OneDrive or SharePoint, they cannot be recovered once they are permanently deleted.

How do I check where my Microsoft Forms responses are being saved?

Open your original form in Microsoft Forms, navigate to the 'Responses' tab, and look for the Excel icon. Clicking it will either download a local copy or open a live Excel file in OneDrive/SharePoint. If it opens in the browser, your data is being synced and version-tracked there.

Migration & Recovery