Who manages your forms and surveys depends on what tool you are using

Most forms and survey tools have an admin — the person who created the form, controls who can see it, and decides what happens to the responses. If you need to change a question, add a respondent, or fix a broken link, you are looking for that person. The admin is not always obvious, especially if the form has been passed around or shared across a team.

The person who created the form is usually the admin, but not always. Some tools let the creator hand off admin duties to someone else. Others automatically make the form owner an admin without asking. A few tools have no single admin at all — they let anyone with the link make changes. Knowing which situation you are in saves you from asking the wrong person.

Start by looking at who sent you the form or survey. That person almost certainly has admin access, even if they did not create it originally. If you cannot reach them, the next step depends on what tool was used to build the form.

Key Takeaways

  • The person who sent you the form or survey link is usually the admin, or knows who the admin is.
  • Different tools store admin information in different places — Google Forms shows it in the settings, Typeform buries it in the account menu, SurveyMonkey lists it on the responses page.
  • If the form was created years ago or passed between multiple people, the original creator may no longer work there or have access.
  • Some organizations keep a shared spreadsheet or document listing who manages each form, which saves time when the original admin is unavailable.
  • If you cannot find the admin and the form is broken or outdated, ask your manager or IT department whether the form should stay live or be taken down.

How to find the admin in Google Forms

Open the form and look for the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Click it and select Settings. At the top of the Settings panel, you will see the email address of the person who created the form. That is your admin.

If you have edit access to the form, you can also click the Responses tab and look at the top of the page. Google shows you the form owner there as well. If the owner's email is grayed out or shows a deleted account, the original creator no longer has access to Google Workspace at your organization — you will need to contact your IT department or the person who currently maintains the form.

Google Forms does not let you transfer ownership easily. If the admin has left your organization, you may need to recreate the form under a new owner or ask IT to restore access to the old account temporarily.

How to find the admin in Typeform and SurveyMonkey

Typeform stores admin information in the account settings, not in the form itself. If you have a Typeform link but do not have a Typeform account, you cannot see who created it from the link alone. You will need to ask the person who sent you the link, or contact your organization's Typeform account holder — usually someone in marketing or HR.

SurveyMonkey is easier. Open the survey and click the Analyze Results tab. At the top of the page, SurveyMonkey shows the owner's name and email. If you need to contact them and the email is not clickable, copy it and send them a message through your normal email system.

Both tools let the account owner add other admins, so there may be more than one person with full control. If the listed admin is unavailable, ask them who else has admin access before you assume the form is unmaintained.

What to do if the admin is no longer at your organization

If the form was created by someone who has left, the first step is to check whether anyone else in your department has admin access. Ask your manager or the person who currently uses the form most often. They may have been given access when the original admin departed.

If no one in your department has access, contact your IT department or the person who manages user accounts at your organization. They can often restore access to the old account temporarily, transfer ownership to a current employee, or help you decide whether the form should stay live. Do not assume a form is abandoned just because the creator is gone — it may still be collecting important responses.

Some organizations keep a shared document or spreadsheet listing every active form, who created it, and who currently maintains it. If your organization has one, that is the fastest way to find the right person. If it does not exist, consider suggesting that your manager or IT department create one. It saves time and prevents forms from becoming orphaned.

How to find the admin if you only have a form link

If someone sent you a form link but you do not know who manages it, start by asking the person who sent it to you. They may not be the admin, but they know who is or can find out quickly.

If that person is unavailable, try opening the form and looking for contact information. Some forms include a note at the top or bottom saying "Questions? Contact [name]" or listing an email address. That person may be the admin or can point you to them.

If the form has no contact information and you cannot reach the person who sent it, you have reached the limit of what you can do from outside. At that point, contact your manager, your department's administrative assistant, or your IT department. They can often trace the form back to its creator through email records or shared drive history.

Setting up a system so admins are straightforward to find

If you manage forms for your organization, make it straightforward for others to find you. Include your name and email in the form itself — either in the title, in the first question's instructions, or in a note at the end thanking respondents. This takes thirty seconds and prevents confusion later.

If your organization uses multiple forms across different departments, ask your manager whether you should maintain a central list. This can be as straightforward as a shared Google Sheet with columns for form name, tool used, creation date, current admin, and contact email. Update it whenever a form is created or an admin changes. This one document prevents hours of searching when someone needs to modify a form or troubleshoot a broken link.

If you are handing off a form to someone else, send them a message that explicitly says "I am giving you admin access to [form name]" and confirm they can log in and make changes. Do not assume they will figure it out or remember later. A two-minute conversation now prevents confusion months from now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out who created a form if I only have the link?

Not always. Google Forms shows the creator in the settings if you have edit access. Typeform and SurveyMonkey do not display this information in the form itself. Your best option is to ask the person who sent you the link, or contact your IT department if the form is used by your organization.

What if the admin account has been deleted?

Contact your IT department. They may be able to restore the account temporarily, transfer the form to a current employee, or help you decide whether to keep the form live. Do not delete the form without checking with your manager first — it may still be collecting responses people depend on.

Can I become an admin if I am not the creator?

Yes, but only if the current admin gives you access. Ask them to add you as an editor or co-owner, depending on what the tool allows. If the current admin is unavailable, your IT department may be able to help, though this varies by organization and tool.

Should I keep a form live if no one remembers who created it?

Check whether anyone is still using it. Look at the response dates — if the last response was months or years ago, ask your manager whether the form should stay live or be archived. If people are still responding, find the current admin or ask IT to help you take over maintenance.

What is the difference between an admin and an editor?

An admin can change settings, delete the form, and control who else has access. An editor can change questions and see responses, but usually cannot delete the form or add other editors. If you only need to fix a question, editor access is enough. If you need full control, ask for admin access.