How to Fix Missing Start and End Timestamps in Microsoft Forms
Question details
Users are unable to find or view the start and completion timestamps for their form responses.
- Product
- Microsoft Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and analyzing form response data.
- Observed behavior
- Start and end times appear blank or are completely missing in the Microsoft Forms response interface or the connected workbook.
Ensure you have the necessary permissions to view and export the responses for the form, and log into your Microsoft account on a supported, up-to-date web browser.
Check Timestamps by Exporting Responses to Excel
Often, the timestamps are hidden in the Forms interface but are fully captured and available in the exported Excel workbook.
The Microsoft Forms web interface provides a simplified overview of responses. Detailed metadata, including precise start and completion timestamps, is typically routed directly to the back-end response file.
Go to Microsoft Forms and click to open the specific form you are troubleshooting.
Click on the 'Responses' tab located at the top of the form design page.
Click on the 'Open in Excel' button to download or view the detailed response workbook.
Once the file opens, check the 'Start time' and 'Completion time' columns to see if the timestamp data is populated.
Perform Cross-Browser and Connection Tests
Rule out browser caching issues and verify if the missing timestamp issue is isolated to a single form or a broader account glitch.
View and Analyze Exported Form Data in WPS Office
Once you download your Microsoft Forms responses as an Excel file, you can easily open, view, and analyze the timestamp data using WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office offers full compatibility with Microsoft Excel formats and provides powerful data analysis tools for free.
- 1. Download response data: Export your response data from Microsoft Forms as an .xlsx file to your local computer.
- 2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Spreadsheet' from the main workspace screen.
- 3. View your timestamps: Open your downloaded .xlsx file to securely view, sort, and analyze the Start and Completion time columns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do start and end times show up in Excel but not in the Microsoft Forms interface?
Microsoft Forms displays a simplified summary view in its web interface to prioritize core survey data. Detailed tracking metadata, like precise start and completion timestamps, is reserved for the exported Excel file to keep the web interface clean.
How can I fix a corrupted response workbook connection?
You can try forcing a fresh data export by syncing all responses to a new workbook. In the Forms Responses tab, click the More options (...) button and select 'Sync all responses to a new workbook'.
Do timestamps adjust to my local time zone?
Yes, when you export Microsoft Forms data to Excel, the timestamps generally adjust to the regional settings and time zone of the computer or Office account opening the file.
What if timestamps are completely blank even in the Excel file?
If the timestamps are entirely blank in the back-end response file for every single entry, there may have been a service glitch during submission or a sync error. Try testing another form, and contact support if the problem persists across new forms.
