Microsoft Forms: “This form is not accepting responses” Why it happens and how to fix it

Getting the message "this form is not accepting responses" when you're ready to collect data is a real turn-off, especially if the form is in the middle of launching. In practice, this message means the form is closed or blocked due to some condition, and it can happen in both cases. Google Forms as in Microsoft Forms, each with their own own causes and solutions.

To save you time, here's a comprehensive guide that covers the most common causes, how to diagnose them, and how to resolve them on both platforms. We've relied on recommendations from the Microsoft community, university documentation for Google Forms, and technical tutorials.

What exactly does the message "This form is not accepting responses" mean and when does it appear?

In Google Forms, the "This form is not accepting responses" warning usually appears when the option to accept responses is disabled, when the form includes file uploads and there are storage or shared drive restrictions, or when a collaborator has changed settings without notifying them. This results in the form being "closed" and users seeing the message that no responses are allowed.

In Microsoft Forms, the message arises due to active date windows (start/end), unchecking the response acceptance box, exceeding the response limit based on your account type, restrictions on who can respond, or service issues. Sometimes, duplicating the form or adjusting the visibility settings resolves the issue immediately. blocking shipments.

Google Forms: Typical Causes and How to Fix Them

In Google Forms, there are several important reasons why a form closes and the message "This form is not accepting responses" appears. We explain each one and how to get it back to normal so that the tool works again. collect hot responses.

A contributor disabled replies

If you work with editors, it's possible someone has turned off the response switch. Before you touch anything, talk to your team to coordinate the change and avoid stepping on each other's toes. Then, reactivate the option so the form returns to its default state. be available to send.

1. Open your Google Form. Look for the section Replies.
2. Locate the switch "Accepting responses" and turn it ON.
3. If your interface displays a button "Published" at the top right, review it and confirm that the status indicates that responses are accepted.

That's usually enough. Sometimes the interface changes, but the idea is always the same: there's a control that decides whether the form is open or closed.

Forms with file uploads and shared drives

When a form allows file uploads, Google applies additional rules. If that form is moved to a Shared drive, the upload option is not supported and the system may automatically lock the form to prevent storage and permission errors, causing stop accepting answers.

Possible solutions for this specific case:

• Remove the option of file upload of the affected questions.
• Or move the form back to My Drive or somewhere where uploads are allowed.

Once the form no longer violates that restriction, you can reactivate response collection normally and continue collecting files and data without cuts.

Your account (or the account of the superior owner) is out of space

Google shuts off the storage if there isn't enough storage left to save uploaded files or responses. This can affect you even if you're the form owner if it resides within a folder structure whose parent is at the limit of their quota. The lock can prevent you from adding or editing files, also affecting forms with uploads.

What to check and how to act in this scenario:

• Confirms if the form is in a shared folder whose owner has exhausted storage.
• Reduce space in the account that stores the answer files or transfer ownership to someone with sufficient capacity.
• Adjust the maximum upload size to avoid exceeding the limit if someone tries to upload a large file.

When the quota is back under control, Google Forms stops blocking submissions and the form is back in operation. operating mode.

Essential configuration checks in Google Forms

If you don't use file uploads or there are no quota issues, check the general form settings. A few misplaced settings can prevent users from accessing the form. can complete the shipment.

1. Open the form and enter Configuration (gear icon).
2. On the General tab, decide if you want collect email addresses and whether to limit to one response per user.
3. Go to the Responses tab and verify that the toggle is set to "Accepting responses" It is active.

Also check if you have set a response limit on your own. If this has been reached, you'll need to expand it (if you're using an add-in), adjust the logic, or debug old responses by exporting them to spreadsheets first so you don't lose them. valuable information.

User-side issues in Google Forms

There are situations where it's not the form itself, but the participant's browser. Extensions, corrupted cookies, or unstable connections cause failed attempts that are interpreted as the form is not accepting answers.

1. Asks users to delete cache and cookies of the site.
2. Suggest trying another browser or opening the link in incognito mode.
3. Please verify a stable internet connection before completing the questionnaire and submitting. your answers.

Microsoft Forms: Settings that block submissions and how to fix them

In Microsoft Forms, the "This form is not accepting responses" warning can come from a very specific configuration. Start with the basics and work your way up to service and limit checks. The idea is for the form to accept responses without forcing users to take more steps than necessary or encountering any problems. unexpected vetoes.

Check who can answer and if the form is open

Microsoft Forms offers several access policies that, if overly adjusted, can create a locked-down form. Review these key settings to open the door to whoever comes:

1. Who can fill out this form: choose Anyone can respond if you want anonymous answers without logging in.
2. If you select Only people in your organization, only users with a corporate account will be able to respond; with One response per person you will be limited to one shipment per person.
3. The option Specific people in your org can respond Restrict access to a specific list; verify that you have added everyone who should have permission.
4. En Options for responses, Mark Accept responses and leave it unactivated Start date y End date if you don't want to limit by date.
5. Decide whether to hide Submit another response; if you activate it, you will prevent retries and some will believe that the form no longer accepting shipments.

From the Microsoft community they recommend also checking that you have not set a end date before todayIf you disable or fix it and still have problems, try duplicate the form to rule out occasional corruption.

Check the status of the service

If everything is correct and it's still not accepting responses, check the service health panel. When Microsoft Forms displays warnings or issues, it's wise to pause use until it returns to a healthy state. Healthy to avoid losses or failures of delivery of responses.

1. If you are a user, check the portal service health publicly available.
2. If you are a Microsoft 365 administrator, go to the admin center and open Service health to check if there is advisories.

When you see warnings (e.g., "1 advisory" or several), wait a few hours and try again. Do not use the form in production until the status is Healthy.

Response Limits in Microsoft Forms

Another common reason is running into platform limits. According to your account, Microsoft imposes limits that, when exceeded, can block further submissions, making participants believe that they are "not accepted." more answers«.

• Microsoft 365 Apps for business and Office 365 Education: up to 5.000.000 answers.
• US GCC, DoD, and GCC High environments: up to 50.000 answers.
• Free accounts (Hotmail, Live, Outlook.com): maximum 200 answers; with paid subscription, up to 1.000.

If you're going to distribute it en masse, divide the distribution into groups or phases and avoid sending the link all at once to more people than your limit allows. If you've already reached the limit, create a duplicate of the form and share that copy with those who couldn't. access the original.

Clear site cache and cookies (for participants)

When the form is configured correctly but a specific user can't submit, it's usually the browser. Clearing site data fixes session conflicts that prevent the form from being submitted. complete the shipment.

1. In the browser bar, click the icon site information next to the URL.
2. Choose Cookies and site data and then Manage data on the device.
3. Remove related entries (trash or delete icons) to clean up cache and cookies.

After that, have them try again. If it's still the same, asking them to open it in private/incognito mode often skips extensions that block scripts.

Try in incognito mode or on another device

Browser extensions often don't work in private windows, so it's a good test. You can also ask them to test from another device in case there's something local that interferes with shipping.

1. Open a window Incognito (Chrome) or Private (Firefox) and paste the form link.
2. If the form requires a login, authenticate; if not, test the submission. without login.
3. If it arrived via mobile messaging, copy the link and try it on the PC, or vice versa, to rule out the device as source of the problem.

Duplicate the form in Microsoft Forms

Sometimes the original link or form object is damaged and it's not worth fighting. Duplicating is usually a miracle because it creates a clean copy that inherits the content but not the possible ones. hidden bugs.

1. Enter the form and press the three-dot menu (More form settings), next to the button Present.
2. Choose Collaborate o Duplicate in the context menu.
3. En Share as a template, press Copy and open that link in a new tab.
4. Click on Duplicate itYou'll see a copy in your account in seconds.

From there, share the new link with those who couldn't get into the original and check that the copy collects responses without incident.

Contact Microsoft Technical Support

If there's no way, you'll need to turn to support. Administrators have a flexible channel through the Microsoft 365 admin center to receive guided help and resolve the issue. complex incidents.

1. Accesses Microsoft 365 admin center.
2. Click on the icon auriculares (about the Give Feedback card).
3. Describe the problem in How can we help? and press the blue Arrow.
4. Choose Contact support, choose Phone Number o Email and complete the form.
5. The button Contact me It is activated when sufficient data is provided; wait for the call or the support email.

Although each platform has its nuances, when faced with the message "This form is not accepting responses," the pattern is repeated: check the accept responses switch and the active dates, confirm access permissions, discard storage or shared drive blocks, and check service limits and health. With these checks, plus the shortcuts of clearing the cache, using incognito, or duplicating the form, it is normal for the "this form is not accepting responses" message to disappear within minutes and you can continue collecting data with total peace of mind.