As communicated in MC816207 Microsoft Forms now supports live data sync to Microsoft Excel with more functionality (July 2024), Microsoft Forms has introduced a new data sync solution with higher reliability to sync Forms response data to Microsoft Excel for the web. Before this rollout. Forms supported an older version of live data sync to Excel. The older version of live data sync has been replaced by the newer solution on January 13, 2025 and for GCC will be on February 13, 2025. This message describes the support that Microsoft will provide for migrating from the older solution to the newer solution.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 410988.
When this will happen:
General Availability (Worldwide): Support for migrating the older data sync to the new solution has been rolled out out in late October 2024 (previously early October).
General Availability (GCC) Support for migrating the older data sync to the new solution will begin rolling out in early January 2025 (previously late November). This is expected to be completed by late January 2025 (previously mid-December 2024).
How this will affect your organisation:
Users who rely on the older version to sync data from Forms to Excel will need to manually update the data sync to the new solution before January 13, 2025 (previously October 20, 2024). After this date, existing Excel files with the older data sync will be retained but will no longer receive automatic data updates from Forms.
The older version of the data sync exists in two types of Forms:
- Forms created from Microsoft OneDrive and Excel for the web
- Group forms created with SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups.
For these two types of Forms, Microsoft will provide this support to migrate to the new solution:
- Users who own Forms with the older version of the data sync will get notifications through email, Forms, and Excel for the web.
- In Forms, users will be able to recreate the data sync with the new solution. The data sync will be created to the same table in the existing workbook as the older data sync. The new worksheet will be connected to the latest data from Forms.
- After the older solution is retired, the user can still recreate a new data sync to the Excel workbook.
For workflows that connect to Excel data from Forms responses (such as Power Automate workflows), users will need to update the workflow to the Forms connector for new response updates. Learn more: Create an automated workflow for Microsoft Forms – Microsoft Support
The new data sync solution will be on by default and available to all Forms and Excel for the web customers.
Notification in Forms to update workbook to continue syncing with Forms.
Notification in Excel for the web to update the data sync to new solution:
Excel workbook is successfully updated to new solution
What organisations need to do to prepare:
- Send a notification to impacted users and groups to migrate their data syncs to new solution.
- Share the migration solution if users report they cannot get Forms data updated in Excel.
- Learn more: Introducing Forms data sync to Excel – Microsoft Community Hub
This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation.
- Create an automated workflow for Microsoft Forms – Microsoft Support
- Use Power Automate to help you create an automated workflow for Microsoft Forms.