Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover Microsoft Forms Data After Account Deactivation

Nimra Malik Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover data, responses, and attachments from a Microsoft Form after the original form owner's account has been deactivated or deleted.

How to Recover Microsoft Forms Data After an Account Is Deactivated

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A team member leaves the organization or their account is deactivated, causing the Microsoft Forms they created to become inaccessible to the rest of the team.
Observed behavior: The form link stops working, and collaborators can no longer access the form's response data or the file attachments stored in the deactivated user's OneDrive.

Before you start

Verify exactly when the account was deactivated, as Microsoft 365 typically only retains deleted account data (including OneDrive and Forms) for a 30-day restoration period.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact the Microsoft 365 Administrator to Restore the Account

Because Forms data is tied to the creator's OneDrive, the most effective method is having an administrator restore the account within the retention window to transfer form ownership.

Microsoft Forms stores all form data and uploaded file attachments directly in the original owner's associated OneDrive. Once an account is deactivated, that OneDrive becomes inaccessible.

To regain access, your organization's IT admin must temporarily restore the user account. Once restored, the ownership of the critical forms can be transferred to an active user or a Microsoft 365 Group.

Identify your Administrator

Reach out to your organization's IT department or the global administrator for your Microsoft 365 environment immediately.

Request Account Restoration

Ask the administrator to log into the Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to 'Users' > 'Deleted users', select the deactivated account, and click 'Restore user'.

Transfer Form Ownership

Once the account is active again, the administrator or the user can log into Microsoft Forms, click the 'More options' (three dots) on the form, and select 'Move' to transfer it to a shared Microsoft 365 Group.

Contact the Microsoft 365 Administrator to Restore the Account

Time-Sensitive Action: If the account was deleted more than 30 days ago, it is permanently purged from Microsoft's servers, and the Forms data cannot be recovered.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

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1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
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3. Open Your Files: Drag and drop your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files directly into WPS Office to continue working seamlessly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly are Microsoft Forms attachments stored?

When respondents upload files to a Microsoft Form, those attachments are automatically saved in the original form creator's OneDrive for Business, typically under a folder path like 'Apps' > 'Microsoft Forms'.

How long is a deleted Microsoft 365 account retained before permanent deletion?

Microsoft retains deleted accounts and their associated data (including emails, OneDrive files, and Forms) for 30 days. After this retention period, the data is permanently erased and cannot be recovered.

How can I prevent data loss before an employee leaves the company?

Before an account is deactivated, the form owner should move their important forms to a Microsoft 365 Group. This changes the ownership from the individual to the group, ensuring the form and its data remain accessible to the team regardless of the original creator's account status.

Migration & Recovery