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How to Add an 'Other' Text Option in Microsoft Forms

Guest Writer Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to allow form respondents to input custom text by adding an 'Other' option to a choice question in Microsoft Forms.

How to Add an 'Other' Text Option in Microsoft Forms

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating or editing a survey or questionnaire where predefined choices are insufficient, requiring a custom answer field.
Observed behavior: The user needs to add the built-in 'Other' option so respondents can select it and type their own unique response in the provided text field.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your Microsoft account with editing permissions for the form, and verify that the question you are modifying is set to the 'Choice' format.

Solution 1Recommended

Adding the Built-in 'Other' Option to a Choice Question

Enable the native 'Other' option in Microsoft Forms to automatically provide respondents with a text box for custom answers.

Microsoft Forms includes a native feature that allows you to append an 'Other' choice to any multiple-choice question. While form designers cannot rename or format the 'Other' label itself, respondents who select this option will automatically be prompted with a text entry field to type their custom answer.

Open your Microsoft Form

Log into Microsoft Forms and open the specific survey or quiz you want to edit.

Select a Choice question

Click on an existing 'Choice' question to edit it, or click the '+ Add new' button and select 'Choice' to create a new one.

Add the 'Other' option

Scroll to the bottom of your list of choices and click on the 'Add "Other" option' text link. The 'Other' choice will instantly appear at the end of your list.

Preview the text field

Click 'Preview' at the top right of the screen. Select the 'Other' option in your question to verify that a blank text field appears for custom data entry.

Adding the Built-in 'Other' Option to a Choice Question

Label Editing Restriction: You cannot change the text of the 'Other' label in Microsoft Forms. If you need a specifically named custom field (e.g., 'Please specify your department'), you must add a separate text-based question using branching logic.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the word 'Other' to 'Please specify' in Microsoft Forms?

No, Microsoft Forms does not currently allow you to edit or rename the built-in 'Other' label. If you need a customized prompt, you should create a standard choice option like 'Please specify' and use branching logic to direct users to a separate Text question.

Why can't I see the 'Add Other option' button in my form?

The 'Add "Other" option' feature is strictly available for the 'Choice' question type. If you are using a Likert scale, Rating, or Ranking question, this option will not be visible.

Is the 'Other' text field included when I export Microsoft Forms data to Excel?

Yes. When you export your form responses to an Excel spreadsheet, any custom text entered by respondents in the 'Other' field will be recorded and displayed in the column corresponding to that choice question.

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