How to close a Google Form

Close a Google Form to stop new responses: turn off Accepting responses in Published options, add a closed message, and confirm the change.

Quick answer

To close a Google Form, open it, go to the Responses tab, and click Published. In the Published options dialog, turn off Accepting responses, optionally edit the message people see, and click Save. A banner then confirms that the form isn't accepting responses, and the form stops taking new answers.

Steps at a glance

  1. Open the form and click the Responses tab.
  2. Click Published in the top right.
  3. Turn off Accepting responses.
  4. Edit the message responders will see.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Check the banner on the Responses tab.

Interactive demo

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Summary

Closing a Google Form stops it from collecting new responses without deleting the form or the answers you already have. You do it from the Published options dialog, and you can choose what responders see when they open the link.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Step 1

    Open the Responses tab

    Open your form in the editor and click Responses in the tab row under the form title. This tab shows the response count for the form, and it is where Forms warns you when a form is closed.

  2. Step 2

    Open the published form menu

    Click Published in the top right of the editor. The Published options dialog opens with the settings for who can respond and whether the form is accepting answers.

  3. Step 3

    Turn off Accepting responses

    In the dialog, click the Accepting responses toggle so it switches off. The label changes to Not accepting responses, which means the form is now set to close.

  4. Step 4

    Edit the closed message

    Click Edit next to the message to change what responders see once the form is closed. The default text is "This form is no longer accepting responses." Replace it with your own note, such as a thank-you or a pointer to a contact.

  5. Step 5

    Save the change

    Click Save at the bottom of the dialog. The change does not apply until you save, so use Cancel instead if you want to leave the form open.

  6. Step 6

    Check that the form is closed

    Back on the Responses tab, a banner reads "This form isn't accepting responses." The banner includes a Manage button, which is where you go to reopen the form later.

Why this matters

You ran a survey or sign-up that has reached its deadline, and late answers would muddy your results. Closing the form freezes the response set and shows anyone with the link a clear message instead of an open form.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can I change the message people see when the form is closed?

    Yes. After you turn off Accepting responses, click Edit next to the message, type your own text, and click Save.

  • How do I know the form is closed?

    The Responses tab shows a banner that says the form isn't accepting responses, along with a Manage button.

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