Others

How Long Can a Microsoft Forms Survey Remain Open?

Muhammad Talha Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know the maximum duration a Microsoft Forms survey can stay active and how to adjust its expiration date.

How Long Can a Microsoft Forms Survey Remain Open?

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing response settings to establish a specific timeframe for users to submit form or quiz answers.
Observed behavior: Form creators need a way to keep surveys open indefinitely or set automated deadlines for data collection.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your Microsoft 365 account and have ownership or editing permissions for the form or quiz you want to modify.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust the Expiration Date in Form Settings

By default, a Microsoft Forms survey remains open indefinitely. You can set a specific deadline by configuring the End Date in the settings menu.

Microsoft Forms does not have a strict time limit for how long a survey can remain active. If left untouched, respondents can continue submitting answers via the form link forever.

However, as a form owner, you have full control over the response window. You can establish automated start and end dates to ensure you only collect data during a specified period.

Open your Microsoft Form

Navigate to the Microsoft Forms dashboard and click on the specific form or quiz you want to manage.

Access the Settings menu

Click the 'More form settings' icon (represented by three dots) in the top right corner of the screen, and select 'Settings' from the dropdown menu.

Enable the End Date

In the settings pane, scroll down to the 'Options for responses' section and check the box next to 'End date'.

Select your deadline

Choose the exact date and time you want the survey to close. The form will automatically stop accepting responses once this deadline is reached.

Adjust the Expiration Date in Form Settings

Manual Closure: If you prefer to manually close the survey immediately without scheduling a date, simply uncheck the 'Accept responses' box in the same settings menu.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Upgrade Your Workflow with WPS Office

While Microsoft Forms handles your online surveys, your everyday document, spreadsheet, and presentation tasks require a reliable office suite. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, designed to streamline your productivity without the hefty subscription fees.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the quick on-screen prompts to set up the suite on your device.
3. Open existing files seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft documents with perfect formatting preservation.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsLightweight application that loads quickly and saves system resourcesFamiliar, tabbed user interface for seamless migrationBuilt-in PDF editor and powerful document management tools

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reopen a Microsoft Form after the expiration date has passed?

Yes, you can reopen an expired form at any time. Go to the form settings and either change the 'End date' to a future date or uncheck the 'End date' box entirely.

What message do respondents see when a form is closed?

When someone clicks the link to a closed or expired form, they will see a default message stating, 'This form is currently not accepting responses.' You can customize this message in the settings under the 'Accept responses' checkbox.

Can I automatically close a form after a certain number of responses?

Microsoft Forms does not currently support automatically closing a survey based on a response quota. You must either set a specific date and time limit or manually disable the 'Accept responses' option.

Do people need a Microsoft account to fill out my survey?

No. If you configure the share settings to 'Anyone can respond', users can access and complete the form anonymously without logging into a Microsoft account.

Office Quick Solutions