Start a new form in Google Forms

Open Google Forms by going to forms.google.com in your web browser. Sign in with your Google account — if you don't have one, you'll need to create it first at google.com. Once you're signed in, click the plus icon (a blank square) in the top left to start a new form.

Google Forms will open a blank form with one default question already there. You'll see a title field at the top that says "Untitled form" — click it and type the name of your form. Below that is a description field where you can add instructions or context for people filling it out. Neither the title nor description is required, but both help people understand what you're asking.

The form is automatically saved to your Google Drive as you work, so you don't have to manually save it. You can see the file name in the top left corner, and you can change it anytime by clicking on it.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Forms is free and requires only a Google account; you start by going to forms.google.com and clicking the plus icon to create a new form.
  • Each question can be a different type — multiple choice, short answer, checkboxes, dropdown, rating scale, or grid — and you pick the type from the question menu on the right.
  • You share the form by clicking the Send button in the top right and choosing to share a link, email it directly, or embed it on a website.
  • Responses are collected automatically in a spreadsheet-like view, and you can also see them as individual submissions or as a summary with charts.
  • You can make questions required, randomize answer order, or branch the form so different people see different questions based on their answers.

Add and arrange questions

Click the plus icon on the left side of the form to add a new question. A blank question box will appear with a text field for the question itself and a dropdown menu showing the question type. By default it's set to "Short answer" — click that dropdown to see all the types available.

The most common question types are: Multiple choice (one answer from a list), Checkboxes (multiple answers from a list), Dropdown (one answer from a list that saves space), Short answer (a single line of text), Paragraph (multiple lines of text), Linear scale (a rating from one number to another), and Grid (rows and columns where people select one answer per row). Pick the type that matches what you're asking.

Type your question in the text field. If the type is multiple choice, checkboxes, or dropdown, click "Option 1" and type the first answer choice, then click "Add option" to add more. You can delete an option by hovering over it and clicking the trash icon. To reorder questions, click and drag them by the six-dot handle on the left side of each question box.

Set question requirements and display options

At the bottom right of each question box, click the three-dot menu to see additional settings. Check the "Required" box if someone must answer this question before they can submit the form. This is useful for questions you absolutely need answered, like an email address or name.

In the same menu, you can shuffle the answer order so that multiple choice and checkbox options appear in random order each time someone opens the form — this prevents people from guessing patterns. You can also set the form to show one question at a time instead of all questions on one page, which can make long forms feel less overwhelming.

If you want to branch the form — meaning different people see different questions based on their answers — click the three-dot menu and select "Go to section based on answer." This lets you route people to different parts of the form depending on what they choose. For example, if someone answers "No" to "Do you own a car?" you can send them to a different section than someone who answers "Yes."

Customize the form's appearance

Click the paintbrush icon at the top of the form to change colors, fonts, and the header image. You can choose a preset theme or upload your own image to appear at the top. The theme colors will explore to buttons and highlights throughout the form.

In the same design panel, you can change the font for the entire form and adjust the background color. These changes are optional — the default appearance works fine for most forms. If you're using the form for a business or organization, matching your brand colors and logo makes it look more professional.

Share the form and collect responses

Click the Send button in the top right corner. A popup will appear with three ways to share: a link you can copy and paste, an email field where you can type addresses to send it to directly, or an embed code if you want to put the form on a website. Most people use the link option — copy it and paste it into an email, chat message, or social media post.

As people fill out and submit the form, their responses are collected automatically. Click the Responses tab at the top to see them. You can view responses as a summary (showing charts and counts for each question), as individual submissions (one person's answers at a time), or as a spreadsheet by clicking the green Sheets icon to open the responses in Google Sheets.

You can also read responses as a CSV file (a format that opens in Excel or other spreadsheet programs) by clicking the three-dot menu in the Responses tab. This is useful if you want to analyze the data in a different program or share it with someone who doesn't have a Google account.

Control who can respond and when

Click the Settings icon (a gear) at the top right to control who can fill out your form and what happens after they submit. Under "General," you can choose whether anyone with the link can respond, or only people you've invited. You can also set the form to close on a specific date and time, which is useful if you're running a survey for a limited period.

In the same settings, you can choose whether to collect email addresses, allow people to edit their response after submitting, or show a confirmation message after submission. You can also set the form to shuffle the question order so everyone sees questions in a different random sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I require people to sign in with a Google account to fill out my form?

Yes. Click the Settings icon and under "General," toggle on "Sign in required." This means only people with a Google account can respond, and you'll see their email address with their response. This is useful for internal company surveys or classroom assignments where you need to know who answered what.

How do I let people upload files to my form?

Click the plus icon to add a question, then choose "File upload" from the question type dropdown. People can then click to upload a single file (like a photo, PDF, or document). The files are stored in a Google Drive folder that's created automatically, and you can read them from the Responses tab.

Can I use Google Forms on my phone?

Yes. You can create and edit forms in the Google Forms app (available on iPhone and Android) or in your mobile web browser. Creating on a phone is slower than on a computer because the screen is smaller, but it works for quick edits. Filling out forms on a phone works smoothly either way.

What happens if I delete a question after people have already answered it?

The responses to that question are deleted too. If you want to keep the data but remove the question from view, you can hide it instead by clicking the eye icon on the question box. Hidden questions don't appear to new respondents but their data stays in your spreadsheet.

Can I make a form that calculates a score based on answers?

Google Forms doesn't have built-in scoring, but you can use a third-party tool like Formfacade or Flubaroo (an add-on for Google Sheets) to score responses automatically. For straightforward scoring, you can also manually review responses and add a score column in the Google Sheets spreadsheet where your responses are stored.