Does a Second Microsoft Forms Submission Replace the First?
Question details
The user wants to know if submitting a Microsoft Form for a second time automatically replaces or overrides their initial submission.
- Product
- Microsoft Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A respondent submits multiple responses to the same Microsoft Form and wonders how the data is handled.
- Observed behavior
- By default, Microsoft Forms saves each submission as a completely separate response rather than replacing or deleting the earlier one.
Check with the form owner to see if the 'One response per person' setting is enabled, as this would prevent you from making a second submission entirely.
Understand Default Microsoft Forms Behavior
By default, Microsoft Forms treats every form submission as an independent, new record.
When you fill out and submit a Microsoft Form multiple times, the system does not overwrite your previous entries. Instead, it creates a brand new row in the underlying data sheet.
Unless specific advanced rules or third-party integrations are applied by the form creator, your second submission will safely co-exist alongside your first one.
Fill out the required fields in the Microsoft Form and click 'Submit' at the bottom of the page.
If you are the form owner, open your form and navigate to the 'Responses' tab. You will notice separate, distinct entries for each time the form was completed, even by the same user.
Use Power Automate to Update Existing Records (For Creators)
Form owners can configure Microsoft Power Automate to find and overwrite previous submissions in a spreadsheet or database.
Analyze Your Form Responses Easily with WPS Office
While Microsoft Forms is excellent for collecting data, analyzing those exported responses requires a capable spreadsheet editor. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, making it incredibly easy to open, filter, and analyze your exported Excel data seamlessly.
- 1. Export Responses: In Microsoft Forms, go to the 'Responses' tab and click 'Open in Excel' to download your data.
- 2. Open with WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open the downloaded .xlsx file.
- 3. Analyze Data: Use WPS Spreadsheet's built-in filtering, charts, and pivot tables to summarize your form submissions effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit a Microsoft Forms submission after hitting submit?
By default, Microsoft Forms does not allow respondents to edit their answers after submitting. You will need to submit a brand new response or contact the form owner to manually update your information.
How do I limit Microsoft Forms to one response per person?
As a form creator, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select 'Settings'. Check the box for 'Record name' and then check 'One response per person'. This requires respondents to log in.
Where are my Microsoft Forms responses saved?
Responses are stored securely within the Microsoft Forms platform under the 'Responses' tab. You can view them directly on the web or export them to an Excel spreadsheet for local storage and analysis.
Does Power Automate delete the original form response?
No, Power Automate cannot delete the raw response stored inside the Microsoft Forms interface. However, it can update or delete the corresponding data record pushed to an external Excel file or SharePoint list.
