Data Backup Problems

How to Recover Missing Microsoft Forms Responses After an Error

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover previously submitted responses that went missing and fix an issue where the form stopped recording new submissions after enabling specific respondent edit permissions.

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A user modified form settings to allow respondents to edit their responses, resulting in a system error that disrupted data collection.
Observed behavior: Previously submitted responses are missing from the form data, and the form has completely stopped recording any new submissions.

Before you start

Verify whether you have Microsoft 365 administrator privileges in your organization, as standard users cannot access the necessary support channels for backend data recovery.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Support Ticket via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Because backend data recovery cannot be performed through community forums, a Microsoft 365 administrator must contact Microsoft Support to run system diagnostics and restore the missing forms data.

Backend data recovery for Microsoft Forms requires specialized diagnostic tools that are only available to the official support team. Standard users and community members do not have the clearance or tools to perform this action.

Determine your admin status

Check if you have Microsoft 365 administrator credentials. If you are not an administrator, you must reach out to your IT department or organization admin to perform the following steps.

Log in to the Admin Center

Have the administrator navigate to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and log in using their admin credentials.

Open a new support ticket

Go to the 'Help & support' section in the Admin Center. Clearly describe the issue, noting that responses went missing immediately after enabling the 'Allow respondents to edit their responses' setting.

Work with the diagnostics team

Submit the ticket and wait for the Microsoft backend team to run diagnostics on your specific form to recover the missing submissions.

Important Notice for Non-Admins: Do not attempt to recreate the form or delete the corrupted form while waiting for support, as this could result in permanent data loss.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover missing Microsoft Forms responses by myself?

No. When responses go missing due to a backend error, standard users cannot restore the data themselves. You must have a Microsoft 365 administrator submit a support ticket to run backend diagnostics.

Why did my Microsoft Form stop recording submissions?

This issue is often triggered by a glitch when enabling the 'Allow respondents to edit their responses' feature, which can interrupt the backend data collection process for that specific form.

Who is considered a Microsoft 365 administrator?

A Microsoft 365 administrator is typically someone in your organization's IT department who manages user accounts, licenses, and global security settings within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

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