To close a Google Form, open it, click Published at the top right and switch off Accepting responses. Anyone who opens the link then sees a message that the form is closed. You can also set it to close automatically on a date or after a set number of responses, and write your own closing message.
Sign-up full? Deadline passed? Spotted a typo in a question you've already sent? Closing a Google Form takes a couple of clicks, and the best part is that nothing is deleted: your responses stay safe and you can reopen it whenever you like. Here's how to close it now, how to make it close itself, and how to tell people kindly that they've missed the boat.
Close a Google Form right now
- Open your form in Google Forms.
- At the top right, click Published.
- Switch off Accepting responses.
- Click Save.
That's it. Anyone who opens your link now sees a message that the form is no longer accepting responses. To reopen it later, switch Accepting responses back on.
Make your form close automatically
If you know your deadline or your capacity in advance, let Google close the form for you. It's one less thing to remember on a busy day.
- Open the form and click Published.
- Under Accepting responses, click Set close date or response limit.
- To close on a date, choose On a date, then Choose date and time, pick it and click OK.
- To close after a number of replies, choose After a number of responses and enter the maximum.
- Click Save.
Two response limit rules people miss
- The limit must be higher than what you've got. Google says that if the form already has responses, the number you enter must be greater than the number already received.
- It isn't perfectly strict. Google says that if several people respond at exactly the same time, the form accepts their responses regardless of the limit.
That second point matters for things like limited event places or giveaways. If you have exactly twenty seats, set the limit a little lower, or be ready to handle one or two extra sign-ups gracefully.
Write a friendly closing message
The default message is functional but cold. You can change it: under the heading about the message responders see when the form is closed, click Edit and type your own. Google's example is "This form is no longer receiving responses. Thanks!" I'd go further and tell people what to do next, such as joining a waiting list, following you for the next intake, or emailing you directly.
| Situation | A better closing message |
|---|---|
| Event is full | We're fully booked, thank you! Join the waiting list by emailing us. |
| Deadline has passed | Applications have now closed. Watch our newsletter for the next round. |
| Survey finished | Thanks so much, we've got all the answers we need for now. |
Pausing a form to fix a mistake
Sent a form with a wrong date or a broken question? Close it, fix the question, then reopen it. Responses that already came in stay where they are, so you don't lose anything. If the mistake affects earlier answers, add a note at the top of the form when you reopen it so new respondents know it's been updated.
Removing an automatic close date
If you set a close date and then extend your deadline, go back to Published, click Manage under Accepting responses, then Remove Expiration and OK. Google also notes you can't accept responses in an unpublished form, so if responses aren't arriving, check the form is published as well as accepting responses.
Closing a quiz
Quizzes made in Google Forms close the same way, through Published and Accepting responses. Teachers and trainers often set a close date so a quiz shuts at the end of a session automatically. If you release scores after reviewing answers, you can still do that once the quiz is closed, because closing only stops new submissions, not your marking.
What happens to your responses
Closing a form doesn't touch the answers you've collected. Click Responses to see the summary charts or individual replies, link the form to a spreadsheet, or download everything as a CSV file. If you want to be told when new replies arrive while the form is open, turn on email notifications from the Responses tab. My guide on how to see responses on Google Forms goes into the detail.
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One thing worth knowing for long-running forms: Google has announced new limits of 1 GB of total storage and 500k responses per form. Closing old forms and starting new ones for each event or campaign keeps you well clear of that and makes the data easier to read too. If you run a lot of giveaways, my guide to running a raffle online pairs nicely with a form that closes itself on the draw date.
My verdict
Click Published, switch off Accepting responses, done. For anything with a deadline or a capacity, set a close date or response limit up front, keep the limit slightly under your real maximum, and write a closing message that tells people what to do next. Your responses are always safe when you close a form.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop a Google Form from accepting responses?
Open the form, click Published at the top right and switch off Accepting responses.
Can a Google Form close automatically?
Yes. Under Accepting responses, choose Set close date or response limit and pick a date or a maximum number of responses.
Does closing a Google Form delete the responses?
No. All the answers you've collected stay in the Responses tab and any linked spreadsheet.
Why did my form accept more responses than the limit?
Google says that if several people respond at exactly the same time, the form accepts them regardless of the limit.
Can I change the message people see when the form is closed?
Yes. Edit the message responders see when the form is closed and click Save.
