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How to Use Microsoft Forms Multiple-Choice Responses in Power Automate

Partner Editor Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to process multiple-choice responses from Microsoft Forms within Power Automate, specifically when the data does not appear as dynamic content for a Select action.

How to Use Microsoft Forms Multiple-Choice Responses in Power Automate

Product: Microsoft Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a Power Automate flow to process multiple-choice questions from Microsoft Forms.
Observed behavior: The multiple-choice response does not appear as dynamic content in the Power Automate Select action, preventing the creation of a valid json() expression.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active Microsoft Power Automate account and a submitted Microsoft Forms form containing at least one multiple-choice question to test the flow execution.

Solution 1Recommended

Initialize a Variable to Process the Forms Response

Storing the multiple-choice response in a variable allows Power Automate to recognize and format the data properly before passing it to the Select action.

Microsoft Forms passes multiple-choice responses as stringified JSON arrays. Because the Select action requires a strict array format, the raw dynamic content often will not appear. Initializing a variable converts the data into a usable format for downstream actions.

Add an Initialize Variable step

Open your flow in Microsoft Power Automate and locate the step immediately following your 'Get response details' action. Click 'New step' and search for 'Initialize variable'.

Configure the variable

Provide a descriptive 'Name' for your variable. Click the 'Type' dropdown and select 'Array' (or 'String' if you plan to manually parse it later). In the 'Value' field, insert the multiple-choice question from the dynamic content pane.

Apply a JSON expression if needed

If the array still throws an error, switch to the Expression tab in the dynamic content pane, type 'json()', and place your Forms dynamic content inside the parentheses to parse the stringified array.

Use the variable in the Select action

Add a 'Select' action in the next step. Click the 'From' field and choose the variable you just initialized from the dynamic content instead of pulling directly from the Forms response.

Initialize a Variable to Process the Forms Response

Seek Community Support: If your custom flow still cannot be configured after applying these changes, post your complete flow design and specific error details in the Microsoft Power Automate Community for expert assistance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Microsoft Forms response missing in Power Automate dynamic content?

Power Automate filters dynamic content based on the expected data type of the selected action. The 'Select' action expects an array, but Forms multiple-choice responses are often formatted as stringified JSON arrays. Initializing a variable helps bypass this strict filtering.

How do I convert a stringified array from Forms into an actual array in Power Automate?

You can use the json() expression in Power Automate. By wrapping the Microsoft Forms dynamic content in the json() function within an 'Initialize variable' or 'Compose' step, Power Automate will properly parse the string into a usable array.

Where can I get expert help for complex Power Automate flows?

You can visit the official Microsoft Power Automate Community forums. Posting detailed screenshots of your flow design, the expressions used, and the exact error messages will help the community experts provide accurate solutions.

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