Form modification rights problem

Question

i created a poll through Outlook, i sent it to my colleagues except that i need to make some changes. but when i go to Microsoft Form, it tells me: “This form is read-only and cannot be modified.”

even though I'm the creator...

how can i change the rights please to make my changes ????
and apparently you can't change the deadline either, which is 2 days.

Answer 1

Hello Filipe Gomes Ferreira,

Thank you for sharing your experience with us!

It seems you're using the new version of Outlook with a professional email account, and even though you're the owner of the form in Microsoft Forms, you encountered restrictions when trying to change the rights or settings of the form. Ultimately, you resorted to creating a new form and sending the link via Outlook as a workaround.

As you discovered, when a form is shared via Outlook, particularly in the new version, certain editing rights can be locked after it's sent out. This includes restrictions on changing form deadlines or modifying settings once the form has been distributed to others. Microsoft Forms typically locks those settings to ensure that any active polls or forms maintain consistency once they're in use.

The solution you implemented—creating a new form and sharing the link directly via Outlook—was an excellent workaround. In future scenarios, to avoid similar challenges, you might consider:

Editing a Form in Microsoft Forms Before Sharing: Ensure all settings are correct (including deadline and permissions) before distributing the form.

Use the Forms “Share” Link for Greater Control: As you found, sharing the direct link to a form (rather than embedding it through Outlook's quick poll feature) gives you full control over the form’s settings, including the ability to adjust permissions and deadlines after it's been created.

Note

Sharing Permissions: For future forms, consider adjusting the sharing settings before sending them out. You can do this by selecting "Share" and then choosing who can edit or respond to the form.

Contact Support: If you continue to face issues with permissions, reaching out to Microsoft Support may provide additional insights tailored to your account settings.Contact Microsoft Support - Microsoft Support

It seems like you’ve found a practical solution. If you'd like additional help or need further clarification, feel free to reach out!

Appreciate your patience and understanding and thank you for your time and cooperation. Have a great day!

Let me know how it goes! Thank you for being part of the Microsoft Community.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 2

Hello,

I used a professional email with the new version of Outlook.

What's interesting is that on Microsoft Forms, I'm the owner of the form but I can't change the rights.

The solution I used was to create a new form and send the link via Outlook.

Answer 3

Hi Filipe Gomes Ferreira,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community! I appreciate you taking the time to explain your situation in detail.

I completely understand how frustrating it can be to encounter limitations when you’re trying to make quick changes to a poll you created.
From what you’ve shared, it seems you’ve created a poll through Outlook, but when trying to modify it via Microsoft Forms, you’re encountering a "read-only" restriction. Additionally, the deadline for the poll is fixed, and you're unable to extend it.
Thank you for proactively exploring Microsoft Forms to make these adjustments! It shows a clear effort to resolve the issue.

To better understand and investigate your issue,may I get some more detailed information from your side:

1. Will you please share me your Outlook version details? Please follow this article What version of Outlook do I have? - Microsoft Support and follow the steps to check.
2. Are you using Microsoft365 business account(@xxx.onmicrosoft.com/@yourdomain.com) or personal account (which is ended with outlook.com/hotmail.com/live.com/msn.com) or some other 3rd party pop/imap account?

Let me explain why this is happening and provide some practical steps for a workaround.

Understanding the "Read-Only" Status:
When you create a poll directly through Outlook, it’s tied to the email thread and designed for quick and simple use. This integration creates a lightweight version of a form, which unfortunately lacks the full editing capabilities of a standalone form created directly in Microsoft Forms. As a result, the "read-only" limitation prevents modifications to the form, including changing the deadline.

Workaround to Make Changes:
While the original poll cannot be edited, here’s a workaround:

• Create a new poll directly in Microsoft Forms with the updated questions or deadline.
• Share this updated poll link with your colleagues via a follow-up email, explaining the changes.

This approach ensures you maintain control over the form content and timeline.

Check Ownership: Ensure that you are logged in with the same account that created the form. If the form was shared with others for collaboration, they may have limited editing rights.

Transfer Ownership: If you need others to help manage the form, consider transferring ownership to a Microsoft 365 Group. This allows multiple users to edit and manage the form collaboratively3.

Solutions and Workarounds:

• Change Permissions: If you want to adjust who can edit the form, go to the "Share" option in Microsoft Forms and select "Share to collaborate." From there, you can choose specific people or groups within your organization who can view and edit the form.
• Deadline Modification: Unfortunately, once a poll is sent out, changing deadlines directly in Microsoft Forms is not supported. A workaround is to create a new form with the updated deadline and share it with your colleagues again.

Preventing Similar Issues in the Future:

• Next time, if you anticipate needing flexibility, consider creating your poll directly in Microsoft Forms first, rather than through Outlook. This gives you full editing control, including the ability to adjust deadlines.

If you need guidance on creating a new poll or any further support, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re here to help.

Please understand that our initial response may not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

Appreciate your patience and understanding and thank you for your time and cooperation. Have a great day!

Let me know how it goes! Thank you for being part of the Microsoft Community.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Community Moderator