Introduction

Managing your job application process or incentivizing early sign-ups often requires closing forms at specific times. While Google Forms allows for manual closures, it lacks built-in automatic closing features.

This guide will show you how to manually close your forms and use third-party applications like formLimiter to automate the process, ensuring you can close your Google Forms at precise times or after specific submission counts.

Method 1: Manually Close Your Google Form

When it comes to closing forms in Google Forms, the manual approach reigns supreme. Although it may not be the epitome of convenience, this method requires you to personally oversee the closure process by either setting a fixed deadline or closely monitoring the number of responses received. It's a case of making the most out of the tools at your disposal.

Here’s how you can manually close Google Forms:

Accessing the Google Form Editor

To begin, either select the form you want to close or create a new one. Once you're in the form editor, navigate to the "Responses" tab located at the top of the page.

Closing the Form Manually

By default, the "Accepting responses" button is turned on, indicating that the form is open for submissions. To close your Google Form, simply toggle the button off. Once closed, anyone who attempts to access the form will be met with a message stating that it is no longer accepting responses. For a personal touch, you can customize the closure message by adding a personalized note.

Reopening the Form

If you decide to reopen the form for new submissions, it's as simple as navigating back to the form editor and toggling the "Accepting responses" button back on.

Method 2: Automatically Close Your Google Form

Closing your Google Form manually may seem straightforward, but the need to personally remember and manage the submission shutdown process can be quite inconvenient. If you're seeking to alleviate the burden and minimize your workload, it's time to embrace automation by implementing closing limits. Fortunately, there are two effective approaches you can adopt.

The first method involves leveraging time limits, allowing you to schedule the closure of your form precisely on a designated date and time. Alternatively, you can establish a maximum threshold for submissions, automatically closing the form once this limit is reached. Unfortunately, Google Forms lacks native functionality for automatic closure. However, by installing the formLimiter add-on, developed by New Visions Cloudlab, you can effortlessly achieve this desired automation.

With formLimiter, not only can you define specific closing times and submission thresholds, but you can also trigger form closure based on the value of a Google Sheets cell. Although the setup process may initially appear convoluted and time-consuming, fear not! We are here to provide comprehensive guidance every step of the way. Let us navigate the intricate path together, enabling you to seamlessly automate the closure of your Google Form.

How to Install the Addon?

To unleash the full potential of formLimiter and automate the closure of your Google Form, follow these straightforward installation steps:

1. Launch your Google Form and navigate to the top right corner of the editor, where you'll find the three-dot menu. Click on it to reveal a dropdown menu.
2. From the dropdown menu, select "Add-ons." This action will redirect you to the Google Workspace Marketplace, an extensive hub for various add-ons.
3. Locate formLimiter among the available add-ons. By default, it should be prominently displayed. However, if you encounter any difficulties finding it, utilize the search bar located above the add-ons list.
4. Click on formLimiter, and a detailed add-on page will open. Confirm your selection by clicking the "Install" button.
5. Upon installation, you will be prompted to grant permissions to formLimiter. It is essential to review the permissions carefully before proceeding. These permissions include accessing, editing, and deleting your Google Drive files, sending emails on your behalf, and running in the background even when you are not actively using the form.

Setting Up Automatic Closing Limits

Time-based Closure: Once installed, you can configure the date and time limit for form closure, ensuring that submissions are no longer accepted beyond the specified deadline.

Submission-based Closure: In cases where you have a specific number of submissions you want to accept, formLimiter can help you close the form automatically. Configure the maximum number of submissions desired, and once that limit is reached, the form will automatically close, preventing any further submissions.

Customizing the Closure Message

When respondents attempt to submit the form after closure, it's helpful to have a customized closure message in place. Take the opportunity to express your appreciation for their interest and inform them about the next registration opening or any relevant details.

Enabling Email Notifications

To stay informed about the closure of your form, it's recommended to enable email notifications. By doing so, you'll receive alerts when the form reaches its closing conditions, ensuring timely awareness of the form's status.

Note: If your form is connected to Google Sheets, formLimiter allows you to close the form based on a specific cell value. However, it's important to note that this feature has experienced technical issues, so it's advisable to proceed with caution when implementing it.

Effortlessly close and reopen forms with BoloForms

Are you tired of the limitations and lack of control offered by traditional form management tools? Look no further, because BoloForms is here to redefine the way you create and manage forms. With our Timer+Proctor addon, you can unlock a whole new level of functionality and flexibility that will elevate your form experience to unprecedented heights.

One of the standout features of BoloForms is its ability to add a timer to your forms. This feature brings efficiency and fairness to your form submissions, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and saving you precious time.

But that's not all. BoloForms takes form management to the next level by offering the unique ability to set closure times for your forms. Say goodbye to the frustration of late submissions or the need to manually disable a form at a specific time.

With BoloForms, you have complete control over when your form opens and when it closes. Participants will not be able to start the form before the designated opening time or submit it after the closure time, ensuring data integrity and streamlining your data collection process.

Upgrade to BoloForms today and experience the power of the Timer+Proctor addon. Say goodbye to limitations and embrace the future of form management.

FAQs

• Does Google Forms have an automatic closure feature?
  • No, Google Forms itself does not offer automatic closure features; third-party add-ons like formLimiter are necessary for this functionality.
• How do I manually close my Google Form?
  • Access the form editor, go to the "Responses" tab, and toggle the "Accepting responses" button to close the form.
• What is formLimiter, and how does it automate form closure?
  • formLimiter is an add-on that enables automatic closures based on set times or submission counts, offering features like custom closure messages and email notifications.

Conclusion

Managing to Close your Google Forms can greatly enhance your form-building experience, whether you want to set specific deadlines for job applications or offer exclusive incentives to early customers. While Google Forms lacks an inbuilt feature for automatic form closure, there are effective methods available to overcome this limitation.

The manual approach, although not the most convenient, allows you to personally oversee the closure process by setting a fixed deadline or monitoring the number of responses received. By accessing the Google Form editor and toggling the "Accepting responses" button, you can easily close or reopen the form as needed.

Alternatively, you can automate the closure of your Google Form by leveraging third-party applications like formLimiter. This add-on enables you to set time-based closure or submission-based closure limits. By configuring the desired date and time or the maximum number of submissions, the form will automatically close once these conditions are met. Additionally, formLimiter allows you to customize the closure message and enable email notifications for timely updates on the form's status.

You can also try BoloForms and get access to its advanced features to make your workflow process much simpler and easier.

Whether you choose to manually close your Google Form, automate it with formLimiter, or upgrade to BoloForms for enhanced form management capabilities, there are options available to optimize the closure of your forms and improve your overall form-building experience.