Close your survey when you stop wanting responses
To close a survey in SurveyMonkey, open the survey, click the Collect Responses tab at the top, then click the toggle next to Open to turn it off. The survey moves to closed status when ready. People who try to access the link will see a message that the survey is no longer accepting responses, but you keep all the data you collected.
Closing a survey is different from deleting it. When you close, the survey stays in your account and you can reopen it later if you want more responses. When you delete, the survey and all its data are gone for good. Most people close rather than delete, because closed surveys let you review results without the survey still collecting stray responses from old emails or shared links.
You do not need to close a survey at any particular time. You can leave it open indefinitely, close it after a set date, or close it once you reach a certain number of responses. The choice depends on what you are measuring and how you plan to use the data.
Key Takeaways
- Closing a survey stops new responses but keeps all data you already collected in your account.
- The close toggle is in the Collect Responses tab, and takes effect when ready when you flip it.
- Closed surveys can be reopened later if you decide you want more responses.
- Deleting a survey removes it and all its data permanently, so close instead if you might need the results later.
- You can set an automatic close date when you first create the survey, or close it manually whenever you choose.
Where to find the close toggle
Log into your SurveyMonkey account and find the survey you want to close. Click on the survey name to open it. At the top of the page, you will see several tabs: Design, Collect Responses, Analyze Results, and others depending on your plan. Click the Collect Responses tab.
In the Collect Responses tab, look at the top left. You will see a toggle switch labeled Open with a blue circle. The blue circle means the survey is currently accepting responses. Click the toggle once to turn it off. The circle will turn gray, and the label will change to Closed. Your survey is now closed.
If you want to reopen the survey later, return to the same toggle and click it again. The survey will accept responses again, and the toggle will turn blue. You can open and close a survey as many times as you want.
What happens when you close a survey
When you close a survey, anyone who has the survey link will see a message saying the survey is no longer accepting responses. The exact wording depends on your account settings, but the message is clear that responses are not being collected. People cannot submit new responses, but they can still see the questions if they have already started the survey.
All the data you collected before closing stays in your account. You can view results, read responses, create reports, and share the data with others. Closing does not erase anything. The survey straightforward stops collecting new entries.
If you shared the survey link in an email, on social media, or embedded it on a website, those links still exist after you close the survey. They just do not work anymore. If you want to prevent people from even seeing the closed message, you can delete the survey instead — but remember that deleting also removes all the data.
Setting an automatic close date when creating a survey
You can tell SurveyMonkey to close your survey automatically on a specific date without you having to remember to do it manually. When you first create a survey, before you send it out, look for the survey settings or collection settings. The exact location varies by plan, but it is usually in the Collect Responses tab or in a settings menu.
Look for an option called Survey Expiration, Close Date, or Auto-Close. Click it and enter the date and time you want the survey to stop accepting responses. SurveyMonkey will close the survey automatically at that moment. You do not have to do anything else.
If you did not set an automatic close date when you created the survey, you can still add one later by going to the survey settings. The process is the same: find the close date option, enter a date, and save. If you change your mind, you can remove the automatic close date and the survey will stay open until you manually close it.
Reopening a closed survey
If you closed a survey and later decide you want more responses, you can reopen it. Go to the survey, click the Collect Responses tab, and click the Closed toggle to turn it back on. The toggle will turn blue and say Open. The survey link works again and people can submit new responses.
When you reopen a survey, all your old data stays. New responses are added to the same dataset. This is useful if you want to collect responses in waves — for example, closing after the first month to review results, then reopening for a second round of feedback.
There is no limit to how many times you can open and close a survey. You can also change the automatic close date if you set one. Just go back to the settings and pick a new date.
Closing versus deleting: which one to choose
Closing and deleting are not the same. Closing stops new responses but keeps the survey and all its data in your account. You can reopen it, view results, read data, and share findings. Deleting removes the survey and all its data permanently. You cannot undo a deletion.
Close a survey if you might want to review the results later, if you think you might collect more responses in the future, or if you want to keep a record of the survey itself. Close if you are uncertain whether you will need the data again.
Delete a survey only if you are certain you will never need it or its data. Some people delete surveys after they have downloaded all the results and no longer need the original file in their account. Others delete test surveys they created while learning SurveyMonkey. If you delete by accident, contact SurveyMonkey support — they may be able to recover it within a short window, but there is no may provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people still see my survey after I close it?
People who have the survey link will see a message that the survey is closed and no longer accepting responses. They cannot submit new answers. If you want to hide the survey completely, delete it instead of closing it — but deleting also removes all your data.
What happens to my data when I close the survey?
Your data stays in your account. You can view it, read it, create reports, and share results with others. Closing does not erase or hide any responses you collected before closing.
Can I reopen a survey after closing it?
Yes. Go to the Collect Responses tab and click the toggle to turn it back on. The survey will accept responses again, and new answers will be added to your existing data.
If I set an automatic close date, can I change it?
Yes. Go to the survey settings, find the close date option, and enter a new date. You can also remove the automatic close date entirely and the survey will stay open until you manually close it.
Is there a way to recover a survey I deleted?
SurveyMonkey support may be able to recover a deleted survey within a limited time after deletion, but recovery is not may provide. Contact support when ready if you delete a survey by accident. To be safe, close surveys instead of deleting them unless you are certain you will never need the data.