All articles How to Make a Google Form Public: A Step-by-Step Guide
Last Updated: Tue Aug 13 2024
By: Matt Hayes
In 5 simple steps, this guide will show you how to make a Google Form public.
Ensuring your form is accessible to everyone can significantly increase its reach and response rate.
So let’s dive in and make your Google Form public!
Steps:
- Open Your Google Form Settings
- Ensure "Limit to 1 Response" is Off
- Optional - Turn Off "Collect Email Addresses"
- Share Your Google Form
- Test If Your Google Form is Public
Step 1: Open Your Google Form Settings
Open Google Forms and log into your Google account. Open the form you want to make public or create a new one by clicking the plus sign under "Start a new form."
Step 2: Ensure "Limit to 1 Response" is Off
Click on the Settings tab at the top of the form.
Click on the drop down arrow right to the ‘Responses.
Under the Responses section, ensure the "Limit to 1 response" option is turned off.
This setting ensures that anyone can submit responses without signing into a Google account.
Step 3: Turn Off "Collect Email Addresses"
Under the Responses section in the Settings tab, you should choose to “Do not collect” in the "Collect email addresses" option.
While this is not necessary for making the form public, turning it off ensures that respondents can fill out the form without providing their email addresses, which can increase response rates.
Step 4: Share Your Google Form
Click the Send button located at the top right corner of the form.
Choose how you'd like to share your form:
Email: Send the form directly to email addresses. You can include a subject line and message with your invitation.
Link: Google Forms will generate a custom link that you can copy and share. You can shorten the link for convenience.
Embed HTML: Copy the HTML code to embed your form directly onto a webpage.
Step 5: Test If Your Google Form is Public
To ensure your Google Form is public, follow these steps:
Click the Send button and copy the link.
Open a browser where you are not signed into your Google account or open an incognito window. Paste the copied link into the URL field.
If the form opens without requiring a sign-in, your form is public. If it prompts for a sign-in like the image below.
Check your settings to ensure "Limit to 1 response" is off and the "Collect email addresses" option is “Do not collect”.
Finished!
Why Make a Google Form Public?
Making your Google Form public removes accessibility barriers, allowing anyone with the link to view and submit responses. This is particularly useful for:
Educational surveys: Collecting feedback from students, parents, or faculty members.
Customer feedback forms: Gathering insights from a broader audience to improve products or services.
Event registrations: Allowing easy sign-ups for public events without requiring users to log in.
Public opinion polls: Engaging with a wider community for opinions on various topics.
Conclusion
Making a Google Form public is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance its accessibility and response rate.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your form reaches a wider audience, whether for educational purposes, customer feedback, event registrations, or public opinion polls.
Remember to test your form to confirm it is public, and utilize the sharing options that best suit your needs.
