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Fix Microsoft Forms Save and Edit Later Button Missing

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user has enabled the option to save a response for later, but respondents cannot see the Save and edit later button while completing the form.

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Respondents are trying to save their progress partway through filling out a Microsoft Forms survey.
Observed behavior: The Save and edit later button does not appear midway through the form; it is unavailable during the actual completion process.

Before you start

Verify that the 'Allow respondents to save their responses' feature is actually toggled on in your form's settings, as it is disabled by default.

Solution 1Recommended

Understand the Designed Behavior of the Save Feature

Microsoft Forms does not natively support saving progress midway through a survey. The button only appears after submission.

Many users find the feature unintuitive because it implies you can save partial progress. However, Microsoft Forms is designed so that a response can only be saved for editing after the respondent reaches the end of the form.

Fill out the required fields

Instruct respondents to fill in all mandatory fields to reach the end of the survey.

Submit the form

Respondents must click the 'Submit' button at the end of the form.

Save for later

On the confirmation page after submission, the 'Save your response to edit and submit later' button will finally appear.

System Limitation: There is currently no built-in way in Microsoft Forms to save a partially filled form and resume it later.

Solution 2

Create a Custom Solution Using Power Apps

If your organization absolutely requires users to save progress midway through long forms, you can build a custom application.

Solution 3

Verify Settings if Button is Missing After Submission

If respondents still do not see the save button after submitting the form, the setting may not be properly enabled.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can respondents save a partially completed Microsoft Form?

No, Microsoft Forms does not currently support saving progress partway through a survey. The 'Save and edit later' feature only applies after the form is fully completed and submitted.

How do respondents edit their answers after saving?

If the form creator enabled the save setting, respondents will receive a link or can access their saved response via their Microsoft account after their initial submission, allowing them to return and make edits.

Is there any Microsoft alternative to allow partial saves?

Natively within Microsoft Forms, there is no way. However, organizations can utilize Microsoft Power Apps to build custom forms that allow users to save draft progress, though this requires development effort and may need extra licenses.

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