How to retrieve deleted responses from google forms?

This is a common question from Google Workspace users who deleted a form response by mistake or deleted all of them. That can be every order or survey answer you have collected. Google Docs and Sheets let you go back to an older version, so it is natural to look for the same option in Google Forms. Google Forms does not have version history like Google Docs or Sheets. When you delete responses in Google Forms, it will be deleted permanently. The workaround is to sync responses to Google Sheets before that happens. With Formfacade, you can do this from the Responses tab. Even better, deleting the responses in Google Forms will not affect the responses already synced, so your team keeps its copy in Sheets.

Let's start. Create your form and follow the steps below.

How to sync responses to Google Sheets?

  • On the page that opens, name your form, click Embed form and click Proceed. It can take about a minute.
  • You will land on the form's "Share" tab, on Embed. The top bar may say "Blank Formfacade form" until you reload the page.
The tabs Edit, Preview, Share and Responses, with Share marked
  • Click Link, then click Open to open your form
  • Fill the form and submit it, so that you have a response to sync
  • Click on "Responses" tab
The tabs Edit, Preview, Share and Responses, with Responses marked
  • Click Google Sheets
  • Click Link to Sheets
The Google Sheets tab under Responses with Response Id, Date, Status, Name, Phone and Best time to call columns and two responses, with the Google Sheets tab and the Link to Sheets button marked
  • "Sync all responses to sheets" popup will be displayed. Click Proceed
  • When your responses have synced, click View sheets to open your Google Sheet
The Sync all responses to sheets popup asking Create a Google Sheet with all your responses?, with Proceed marked
The button will now say Sync to Sheets. A new response reaches your Google Sheet only when you click Sync to Sheets, so click it when you want your sheet up to date.
The Google Sheets tab under Responses, with the Sync to Sheets button marked
Deleting the responses in Google Forms will not affect the responses already synced to Google Sheets.

Summary

If you delete responses in Google Forms, they cannot be restored later. The workaround is to click Responses > Google Sheets > Link to Sheets in Formfacade and sync your responses to Google Sheets, as deleting the responses in Google Forms will not affect the responses already synced. Create your form and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.

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