How to Create a Microsoft Forms Survey with Branching Logic
Question details
The user wants to create a survey using Microsoft Forms with branching logic to direct respondents to specific sections based on their choices, allowing them to skip irrelevant questions.
- Product
- Microsoft Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a multi-section survey for different companies where respondents only answer questions for the companies they use.
- Observed behavior
- The branching logic routes respondents correctly, but Microsoft Forms automatically numbers all questions sequentially across sections, which cannot be hidden or customized.
Before configuring branching logic, outline your survey structure and create all necessary questions and sections in Microsoft Forms.
Use Sections and Branching Logic in Microsoft Forms
Organize your survey into sections and apply branching rules to dynamically route respondents based on their answers.
Branching logic helps keep surveys concise by skipping irrelevant sections. Note that Microsoft Forms automatically numbers all questions sequentially from the beginning to the end of the form, even if some sections are skipped by the respondent. Currently, there is no built-in feature to hide or reset these numbers.
Click 'Add new', select the dropdown arrow for more question types, and choose 'Section'. Create a section for each company or topic you want to cover.
At the beginning of a section, add a 'Choice' question (e.g., Yes/No) asking if the respondent uses the specific company.
Click the three-dot menu (...) at the bottom right of the qualifier question and select 'Add branching'.
Set the branching rules so that selecting 'Yes' directs the respondent to the specific company questions, and 'No' directs them to the next company's section or the end of the form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide question numbers in Microsoft Forms?
No, Microsoft Forms automatically numbers all questions sequentially from start to finish. Currently, there is no built-in option to hide, customize, or reset question numbers per section.
How do I make respondents skip questions they don't need to answer?
You can use Branching logic. Add a 'Choice' question (like Yes/No), click the three dots on the question, select 'Add branching', and configure which section the respondent should jump to based on their selection.
Can I branch to a specific question instead of a section?
Yes, in the branching options, you can choose to direct respondents to either a specific question within the same section, a completely new section, or directly to the end of the form.
