Google Forms are the go-to for many people who want simplicity, accessibility, and powerful data management, without the need for any coding knowledge. Since they are free to use, they typically suit small businesses, individuals, and not-for-profit organizations on limited budgets.
One drawback with Google Forms is that they are limited to the level of storage the owner has signed up for. Limits can be reached very quickly on a free plan, especially with forms containing a file upload section. Additionally, there are certain settings will restrict submissions, too.
This guide shows you how to navigate and avoid the issue of a Google Form not accepting responses.
Is the Fix the Same for Every Situation?
The way you fix this issue depends on whether you are the owner who created the form or the user filling the form in. If you own the form, you will need to make sure it is open for responses and that you have enough storage space. As a respondent, you will need to check that you’ve filled in every required question and also that the form hasn’t been closed for responses.
How to Check and Fix a Google Form as the Owner
If you created the form, there are four main things you’ll need to check (and fix where necessary) to ensure you’re receiving all responses properly.
1. Ensure the Form Is Open for Responses
Step 1. Open your Google Form.
Step 2. Click the “Published” button at the top right of the page.
Step 3. Ensure that “Accepting responses” is toggled to “On.”
2. Check Account and Storage Limitations
Next, you should check that the account has enough free storage and that the form isn’t located in a shared folder on the drive.
Step 1. Check your Google Drive’s available storage.
Form submissions count towards your drive storage limit. If your form contains a file upload section, the storage limit can be reached quickly. If you reach your limit, you can free up space by deleting things, or optionally pay for extra storage.
Step 2. Check the sharing status of folders on your drive.
If your form is located in a shared folder and it has a file upload question, you won’t receive responses. File uploads are currently incompatible with shared folders. Fix this by moving the form into a standard folder in your “My Drive.”
3. Review Response Restrictions
If your form is set to “Limit to 1 response,” only users signed in to a Google account will be able to respond, and only one response will be allowed per account. If you want multiple submissions from users with and without their own Google account, you will need to disable this setting.
Step 1. Go to the “Settings” tab in the form editor.
Step 2. Under the “Responses” section, toggle “Limit to 1 response” to off.
4. Check the Question Validation Rules
A user may find they are unable to submit the form. If this happens, it might be due to specific rules set for certain questions. If a form has too strict a validation path to submission, it may be worth relaxing some of its rules to minimize the risk of respondents getting stuck. Logic used to determine progression from one question to the next needs to be simple enough, while still capturing the data required.
What to Check if You Are the Respondent
When attempting to fill out a form, here are the key things to consider:
- Check for any red text that indicates a required question. You won’t be able to submit the form if any of these are not answered.
- Make sure you are meeting validation criteria for each question (answer must be a number or in a specific date format).
- Check that the form is still open for responses by the owner.
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Last updated on 13 October, 2025
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