Start a new form in Google Forms

Open Google Forms at forms.google.com in your browser. If you are not signed into Google, sign in with your account. Once you are logged in, you will see a gallery of template options or a blank form option.

Click the blank form template (the large plus sign) to start from scratch. Google Forms will open a new, untitled form with one empty question ready for you to fill in. The form automatically saves as you work, so you do not need to manually save your progress.

At the top of the page, click "Untitled form" and type a name for your survey. Below that, you can add a description that explains what the survey is about or what you want respondents to do. Both the title and description are optional, but a clear title helps people understand what they are answering.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Forms saves automatically as you build, so you can close and return to your survey without losing work.
  • Each question type (multiple choice, short answer, rating scale) is chosen from a dropdown menu on the right side of the form.
  • You can rearrange questions by dragging them, duplicate questions to save time, or delete questions you no longer need.
  • Before sharing your form, test it by clicking the preview icon (eye symbol) to see how respondents will experience it.
  • Share your form using a link, email, or embedded code, and responses automatically collect in a spreadsheet you can read.

Add and format your first question

The first blank question appears in the middle of the form. Click in the "Question" field and type your first question. Below that, you will see a dropdown menu that currently says "Multiple choice" — this is where you choose what type of answer you want.

Click the dropdown to see all question types: Multiple choice (one answer), Checkboxes (multiple answers), Dropdown (a list to select from), Linear scale (a numbered range like 1 to 5), Multiple choice grid (rows and columns), Checkbox grid, Short answer (one line of text), Paragraph (longer text), Date, Time, and File upload. Choose the type that matches what you are asking.

For a multiple choice question, type your answer options in the fields that appear. Click "Add option" to add more choices. If you want respondents to pick "Other" and type their own answer, check the "Other" box at the bottom of the options list.

Add more questions to your survey

To add a second question, click the plus sign (+) button on the right side of the form, below your first question. A new blank question appears. Repeat the process: type the question, choose the question type from the dropdown, and fill in any answer options.

You can add as many questions as you need. To rearrange questions, hover over the question number on the left and drag it up or down to a new position. To duplicate a question (useful if you have similar questions), click the copy icon (two overlapping squares) on the right side of that question. To remove a question, click the trash icon.

As you add questions, think about the order: start with easier questions to warm up respondents, group related topics together, and save sensitive or difficult questions for later in the survey.

Make questions required or optional

By default, respondents can skip any question. If you want someone to answer a question before they can submit the form, click the toggle switch labeled "Required" at the bottom right of that question. The switch will turn blue when it is on.

Use required questions sparingly — they can frustrate respondents if overused. Mark only the questions that are truly essential to your survey's purpose. If a question is optional, respondents can leave it blank and still submit the form.

Customize the appearance of your form

Click the paintbrush icon at the top right to open the theme and color options. You can choose a preset theme (different color schemes and fonts) or customize your own. Click on a theme to explore it when ready to your entire form.

To add a header image, click the image icon in the top section of the form and upload a photo from your computer or search Google Images. You can also change the background color and font by clicking the paintbrush icon and adjusting the settings in the panel that opens on the right.

Keep the design straightforward and readable — bright colors and large fonts can make the form harder to use, especially on phones. A clean, minimal design with good contrast between text and background works best.

Preview your form before sharing

Before you send your survey to anyone, click the eye icon (preview) at the top right to see exactly how respondents will experience it. You will see the form as if you were filling it out, but your answers will not be recorded.

Go through each question and check that the wording is clear, the answer options make sense, and the form looks good on a phone screen (scroll down to see how it appears on mobile). If you spot a mistake, click the pencil icon to go back and edit.

Test any special features you added, like file uploads or dropdown menus, to make sure they work the way you intended. This step catches problems before real respondents encounter them.

Share your form and collect responses

Once your form is ready, click the "Send" button at the top right. You will see three options: a link (copy and paste into an email or website), email (type addresses to send the form directly), or embed (code to put the form on a website).

If you choose the link option, click the copy icon to copy the URL, then paste it wherever you want to share it. If you choose email, type the addresses of people you want to send it to and add a message. Google Forms will send them the form directly.

As people fill out your form, their responses automatically collect in a spreadsheet. Click the "Responses" tab at the top to see a summary of answers, or click the green Sheets icon to open the full spreadsheet in Google Sheets. You can read the spreadsheet as an Excel file or analyze the data right there in Sheets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a time limit on my survey so people have only a certain amount of time to fill it out?

Google Forms does not have a built-in timer or time limit feature. If you need to close responses at a specific time, you can manually turn off the form by clicking the toggle switch next to "Accepting responses" in the Responses tab. You can also set a important date in your email or message asking people to complete it by a certain date.

How do I make my form so only certain people can fill it out?

Click the settings icon (gear) at the top right and go to the "Responses" section. Turn on "Limit to 1 response" if you want each person to submit only once. To restrict access to people with a Google account, choose "Require sign-in" from the dropdown menu. This prevents anonymous responses but ensures only people you trust can access it.

Can I see who filled out my survey?

If you turned on "Require sign-in" in the settings, Google Forms will record the email address of each person who submits. If you did not require sign-in, responses are anonymous and you will not know who answered what. Check the "Responses" tab and look for an email column if sign-in is enabled.

What should I do if I need to change a question after people have already started answering?

You can edit questions at any time, even while responses are coming in. Click the pencil icon to edit, make your changes, and save. Existing responses will not be affected, but new responses will use the updated question. Avoid changing the question type or answer options drastically, as it can make old and new responses hard to compare.

How do I read my survey results?

Click the "Responses" tab, then click the green Sheets icon to open your responses in Google Sheets. In Sheets, go to File > read and choose your format (Excel, PDF, CSV, or others). This creates a copy of your data that you can analyze, share, or archive on your computer.