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How to Create a Microsoft Form That Doesn't Require Sign-In

Adam Davis Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure a Microsoft Form to allow anonymous responses without requiring respondents to log into a Microsoft account.

How to Create a Microsoft Form That Does Not Require Sign-In

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Distributing a survey or questionnaire to an external audience where respondents may not have or want to use a Microsoft account.
Observed behavior: The goal is to generate a working sharing link that grants immediate access to fill out the form without prompting the user for any login credentials.

Before you start

Ensure you have owner or edit permissions for the Microsoft Form you want to share, and remember that allowing anonymous responses means the system will not automatically capture respondent names or email addresses.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Form Settings to Allow Anonymous Responses

Adjust the built-in sharing settings in Microsoft Forms to remove the sign-in requirement and generate a fresh link.

By default, Microsoft Forms might be set to only allow people within your organization to respond, which triggers a sign-in prompt. You can change this to accept responses from anyone.

Access Form Settings

Open your Microsoft Form. In the top right corner of the screen, click on the 'More form settings' icon (represented by three dots) and select 'Settings' from the dropdown menu.

Change Response Permissions

In the Settings pane, locate the 'Who can fill out this form' section. Select the option labeled 'Anyone can respond'. This disables the login requirement.

Generate a New Link

Click the 'Collect responses' or 'Share' button in the top right corner. Copy the newly generated sharing link. Do not use any older links you may have previously copied, as they might retain the old permission settings.

Test the Link Privately

Open an Incognito or Private browsing window in your web browser. Paste the new link into the address bar and press Enter to verify that the form opens directly without asking for login credentials.

Configure Form Settings to Allow Anonymous Responses

Important: If you need to know who submitted the form while keeping it anonymous to the system, be sure to add a required 'Text' question asking for the respondent's name.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Configuration Issues with a New Form

If your current form still requires sign-in despite changing the settings, test with a fresh form to rule out file-specific glitches.

Create Forms Easily with WPS

Create and Share Forms Anonymously with WPS Forms

WPS Office offers a robust, free form builder that makes it incredibly easy to create surveys, polls, and questionnaires. You can effortlessly share your WPS Forms via a simple link, allowing respondents to fill them out instantly without needing to create an account or sign in.

1. Open WPS Forms: Launch WPS Office on your device, click on 'Apps' in the sidebar, and select 'Forms' to create a new project.
2. Build Your Questionnaire: Add your questions, multiple-choice options, and customize the form's appearance using the built-in design tools.
3. Access Sharing Settings: Once your form is complete, click the 'Share' or 'Send' button located at the top right of the screen.
4. Set to Anonymous Access: Ensure the sharing permission is set so that anyone with the link can access and reply to the form.
5. Distribute the Link: Copy the generated link or QR code and share it with your audience. They can submit responses immediately without any login hurdles.

Intuitive drag-and-drop form builder requiring no prior experienceShare links directly without forcing respondents to log in or sign upSeamlessly exports form response data directly to Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatCross-platform compatibility across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Microsoft Form still ask for a login after I changed the settings?

This usually happens if you are distributing an older link generated before you updated the settings to 'Anyone can respond'. You must generate and copy a fresh link from the 'Collect responses' menu and share that new link instead.

Can respondents upload files if they don't sign in?

No. Microsoft Forms automatically disables the 'File Upload' question type when a form is set to 'Anyone can respond'. This is a security measure to prevent anonymous users from uploading malicious files to your OneDrive or SharePoint.

Why is the 'Anyone can respond' option greyed out?

If you are using a work or school account, your IT administrator may have restricted external sharing at the organizational level. You will need to contact your IT department to enable the ability to share forms outside of your organization.

How do I know who submitted the form if they don't sign in?

Because the form is anonymous, the system will not capture their Microsoft account details. If you need to identify your respondents, you must manually add a text question to the form asking them to type in their name or email address.

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