Close a Google Form in three steps

To stop collecting responses on a Google Form, open the form in Google Forms, click the Responses tab at the top, then toggle the switch next to "Accepting responses" to the off position. The form will no longer accept new answers, though people who have the link can still see it — they just cannot submit anything.

The form stays in your Google Drive and you keep all the responses you collected. You can reopen it later by toggling that same switch back on, or delete it entirely if you no longer need it.

If you want to prevent people from even seeing the form, you have a separate option: delete the form itself. This removes it completely and people who try to access the link will see an error message.

Key Takeaways

  • Closing a form (turning off responses) takes one click on the Responses tab and does not delete your data.
  • A closed form still exists and people can view it, but they cannot submit new answers.
  • You can reopen a closed form at any time by toggling responses back on.
  • Deleting a form removes it entirely and breaks the link for anyone who tries to access it.
  • Your response data is safe until you manually delete individual responses or the entire form.

Where to find the Responses toggle

Open your form in Google Forms and look at the tabs across the top of the page. You will see Questions, Responses, and sometimes Settings. Click Responses.

At the top right of the Responses tab, you will see a toggle switch labeled "Accepting responses" with a checkmark icon next to it. The switch is on (blue) when the form is collecting answers. Click it once to turn it off (gray). That is all you need to do to close the form.

If you cannot find the toggle, make sure you are logged into the Google account that owns the form. You cannot close a form you do not own, even if someone shared it with you.

What happens when you close a form

When you turn off "Accepting responses," the form stops collecting new submissions when ready. Anyone who tries to fill it out will see a message saying the form is no longer accepting responses. The exact wording depends on your form settings, but it typically says something like "This form is no longer accepting responses."

All the responses you collected before closing remain in the Responses tab. You can still view them, read them as a spreadsheet, or share them with others. Closing the form does not erase any data.

People who have the form link can still open and view the form itself — they just cannot submit answers. If you want to hide the form completely, you need to delete it instead.

Reopen a closed form

To start collecting responses again, go back to the Responses tab and click the same toggle switch to turn it back on. The form will when ready begin accepting answers again, and the message will disappear.

When you reopen a form, all your old responses stay in place. New responses will be added to the same list, so you can see both old and new data together in the Responses tab.

Delete a form completely

If you no longer need the form at all, you can delete it. In Google Forms, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the form and select Delete. Google will ask you to confirm, and once you do, the form is gone.

Deleting a form removes it from your Google Drive and breaks the link. Anyone who tries to open the link will see an error message. You cannot recover a deleted form, so make sure you have downloaded or saved any responses you need before you delete.

If you only want to delete some responses but keep the form, go to the Responses tab, click the response you want to remove, and click the trash icon. You can delete individual responses without closing the entire form.

read your responses before closing

Before you close or delete a form, consider downloading your responses as a spreadsheet. Go to the Responses tab, click the three-dot menu icon, and select read responses (.csv). This creates a file you can open in Google Sheets, Excel, or any spreadsheet program.

A CSV file is a plain text format that works with almost any program. Downloading gives you a backup copy of your data that stays on your computer even if something happens to the form in Google Drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people still see my form after I close it?

Yes. Closing a form (turning off responses) does not hide it. People with the link can still open and view the form and all its questions — they just cannot submit answers. If you want to hide the form completely, you must delete it.

What happens to my responses if I close the form?

Your responses stay in the Responses tab. Closing the form does not delete any data. You can view, read, or share your responses at any time, even after the form is closed.

Can I reopen a form after closing it?

Yes. Click the Responses tab and toggle "Accepting responses" back on. The form will start collecting answers again, and all your old responses will still be there.

What is the difference between closing and deleting a form?

Closing stops new responses but keeps the form in your Drive. Deleting removes the form entirely and breaks the link. You cannot recover a deleted form, so read your responses first if you need them.

Can I delete just one response instead of closing the whole form?

Yes. Go to the Responses tab, find the response you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it. The form stays open and keeps collecting new answers.