How to limit responses in Google Forms
Limit each person to one answer in Google Forms: open Settings, expand Responses, and turn on Limit to 1 response, which requires respondents to sign in.
Quick answer
To limit responses in Google Forms, open your form, go to the Settings tab, expand the Responses section, and turn on Limit to 1 response. Respondents will then be required to sign in to Google before they can submit, so each person can answer only once.
Steps at a glance
- Open your form in the editor.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Expand the Responses section.
- Turn on Limit to 1 response.
- Confirm the checkbox is checked.
Interactive demo
Summary
Google Forms can restrict each respondent to a single submission. The option sits in the Responses section of Settings and works by requiring a Google sign-in. It keeps duplicate answers out of your results without extra tools.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Open the Settings tab
Open your form in the editor. Click the Settings tab, next to Questions and Responses at the top of the form. The Settings page lists the options for how the form collects and presents answers.
Step 2
Expand the Responses section
In Settings, find the Responses section, which manages how responses are collected and protected. Click its arrow to expand it and show the response options.
Step 3
Turn on Limit to 1 response
Under the Requires sign in heading, click the Limit to 1 response checkbox. The description beside it says respondents will be required to sign in to Google.
Step 4
Check that the setting is on
Confirm the Limit to 1 response checkbox is checked. Forms saves the change automatically, so there is no separate save button to press.
Why this matters
You are running a sign-up, vote, or feedback form and need one answer per person. Turning on this setting before you share the link keeps duplicate submissions out of your results, so the counts you report are trustworthy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set a maximum number of total responses?
The Settings page in this capture showed no option for capping the total number of responses. The option available is Limit to 1 response, which applies per respondent.
Does the form need to be published first?
No. The setting was turned on in the Settings tab while editing the form, before any publishing step.
Related guides
Continue with more step-by-step guides for getting work done.
How to collect emails with Google FormsLearn how to collect respondent email addresses in Google Forms: open Settings, pick a Collect email addresses option, and check the Email field on your form.
How to share a Google FormPublish a Google Form and copy its responder link so anyone with the link can fill it in. Covers naming the form, publishing, and sharing the link.
How to see Google Form responsesSee Google Form responses in three views: a summary chart, question by question, or one submission at a time, plus the Link to Sheets option.
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