logo
search
Others

Fix Microsoft Forms Branching Not Jumping to Linked Question

Kushani NimanthikaKushani Nimanthika Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know why branching in Microsoft Forms returns the preview to the beginning of the form instead of automatically scrolling down to the targeted linked question.

Why Microsoft Forms Branching Does Not Jump to the Linked Question
Product
Microsoft Forms
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
Testing or previewing a form with branching logic applied.
Observed behavior
Instead of scrolling directly to the selected branched question, the view returns to the start of the form in preview mode.
Before you start

Verify that your branching logic is accurately set up and mapped to the correct follow-up questions before testing it in preview mode.

Solution 1Recommended

Understand Default Branching Behavior and Provide Feedback

Recognize that the current auto-scroll behavior is an intentional design choice to preserve form context, and submit a feature request to Microsoft.

In Microsoft Forms preview mode, branching logic does not automatically auto-scroll the user to the linked question. Instead, it may return the view to the top of the form.

Microsoft designed this behavior intentionally so respondents retain the overall context of the form and experience a consistent layout. Currently, there is no built-in setting to change this auto-scrolling behavior.

1
Verify branching setup

Click on the 'More options' (three dots) on your form question and select 'Add branching' to ensure the correct 'Go to' target is selected.

2
Test the form

Click the 'Preview' button at the top of the screen to observe the form as a respondent would see it.

3
Navigate to the Feedback Community

Since this is an unchangeable default setting, go to the Microsoft Forms Feedback Community portal at feedbackportal.microsoft.com.

4
Submit a feature request

Submit a new feature request or vote for existing requests asking for an auto-scroll functionality when branching is triggered.

Understand Default Branching Behavior and Provide Feedback
Design Limitation: Because this behavior is an intentional design choice by Microsoft, clearing your browser cache or modifying local settings will not change how the page scrolls.
Free Microsoft Office alternative

Boost Your Productivity with WPS Office

While specific form branching behaviors are managed within Microsoft Forms, you can optimize your overall document workflow with WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for all your word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation needs.

  1. 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
  2. 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software on your device.
  3. 3. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office files with zero formatting loss.
Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Lightweight installation with a familiar, easy-to-use tabbed interface.Create, edit, and collaborate on documents seamlessly without expensive subscriptions.Built-in robust PDF editing and conversion tools for complete document management.
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Microsoft Forms jump to the next question automatically?

Microsoft Forms is designed to maintain the context of the entire form. When branching is triggered, returning the user to the top of the view prevents jarring scroll jumps and ensures a consistent visual experience.

Can I use custom code to force Microsoft Forms to scroll to the branched question?

No, Microsoft Forms does not support custom CSS or JavaScript injection. You cannot alter the default scrolling behavior manually.

Does this branching behavior affect actual respondents or just the preview mode?

This jump-to-top behavior is most commonly observed in Preview mode. Depending on the length of the form and the device being used (mobile vs. desktop), actual respondents may experience similar visual resets.

How do I correctly set up branching in Microsoft Forms?

Click on the question you want to apply branching to, click the three dots (More settings) in the bottom right corner of the question block, select 'Add branching', and choose the specific destination question for each answer option.