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How to Recover or Access a Deleted Microsoft Form

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to regain access to a Microsoft Form that is currently unavailable, showing an error, or has been deleted.

How to Recover or Access a Microsoft Form That No Longer Exists

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to open an existing Microsoft Form link or retrieve a previously created form and its responses.
Observed behavior: The form link fails to open, displays a permission error, or the form is missing from the user's dashboard.

Before you start

Verify that you are signed into the correct Microsoft account associated with the form, and ensure the URL you are trying to access is complete and hasn't been accidentally truncated.

Solution 1Recommended

Recover a Deleted Form from Your Account

Use this solution if you are the form owner and accidentally deleted the form from your Microsoft Forms dashboard.

When a form is deleted, Microsoft moves it to a temporary recycle bin. You can restore it along with all its existing questions and settings as long as it hasn't been permanently purged.

Access Microsoft Forms

Navigate to the Microsoft Forms website and sign in with the Microsoft 365 account you used to create the form.

Open Deleted Forms

Scroll to the bottom right corner of the "My forms" tab and click on the "Deleted forms" icon.

Restore the Form

Locate the missing form in the list, hover over its tile, and click the "Restore" button. The form will be moved back to your main dashboard.

Recover a Deleted Form from Your Account

Responses Restored: Restoring the form will also restore all previously collected responses, allowing you to view them in the Responses tab.

Solution 2

Resolve Link Access and Permission Issues

Apply this fix if someone else shared the form with you but you receive an error when trying to open it.

Solution 3

Retrieve Form Responses from an Excel Backup

Use this method if the original form is permanently lost but you need to access the data that was already submitted.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

View and Analyze Your Recovered Form Data with WPS Office

If you have recovered your Microsoft Forms data as an Excel file, you don't need a paid Microsoft 365 subscription to view it. WPS Office is a powerful, free alternative that perfectly handles complex spreadsheets.

1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free from the official website on your computer or mobile device.
2. Open Your Form Backup: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open the downloaded .xlsx file containing your Microsoft Forms responses.
3. Analyze the Data: Use WPS Office's powerful charts, pivot tables, and sorting features to analyze your recovered form data effortlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files generated by form responses.Free, lightweight, and easy-to-use Office suite for PC and mobile.Includes built-in PDF tools, a Word processor, and Presentation software.Familiar user interface allowing for seamless migration and zero learning curve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do deleted Microsoft Forms stay in the recycle bin?

Deleted forms are typically kept in the 'Deleted forms' section for 30 days. After this period, they are permanently removed from the server and can no longer be restored by the user.

Can I recover form responses if the form itself is permanently deleted?

If the form was synced to an Excel workbook in OneDrive or a SharePoint site, the submitted data will remain safely in that Excel file even if the form is permanently deleted.

Why does my Microsoft Form link say 'You don't have permission to view or respond to this form'?

The form creator may have restricted the form access to 'Only people in my organization' or specific individuals. You will need to contact the creator to adjust the sharing settings to 'Anyone can respond' or provide you with appropriate access.

Can my organization's IT admin recover a permanently deleted form?

If a form belonged to a deleted user account, Microsoft 365 administrators have up to 30 days after the account deletion to transfer ownership of the forms to another user. If the form itself was permanently deleted from an active account's recycle bin, it generally cannot be recovered.

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