Oct 4, 2023

Is there a way to omit the form automatically entering a user's gmail?

I have a feedback form I created with Google Forms that gives a user the option to send feedback/comments anonymously (the NAME and EMAIL fields are designated as "Optional"). However, the user's gmail address automatically appears near the top of the form (see below).

Several users have contacted me demanding to know how I got their email addresses when they wanted to be anonymous. They don't understand that Google is doing it, not me, and it makes me look shady I guess.

Is there a way to leave out that part of the form?

This is what users see at the  top of the form:


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Recommended Answer
Oct 4, 2023
Hi pjfarr,
 
Using any the following settings will require respondents to log in before being able to complete a Form:
  • "Collect email addresses" is set to "Verified".
  • "Allow response editing" is enabled
  • "Limit to 1 response" is enabled
 
Note:
  • When "Collect email addresses" is set to "Responder input", the user can manually enter an email address.
  • When "Collect email addresses" is set to "Verified", the user is required to click the checkbox for an email address. See announcement: Google Workspace Updates Recap: 2023-06-23
 
 
Also, using a file upload question, which allows a respondent to upload a file, will require the respondent to be signed into an account.
 
You may get a "Let respondents upload files to Drive" prompt that asks you to Continue when you include a File Upload question:
 
 
This is a key indicator that, for safety reasons, users are required to sign into a Google account so they can upload files. See documentation: Get attachments from form respondents
 
Note that because Shared Drives use a different sharing permissions structure, uploading files through a Form on a Shared Drive is not possible, and the File Upload option will be disabled (greyed out) if the Form is saved in a "Shared Drive" rather than to "My Drive".
 
 
In order to allow users fill the Form without log-in, you need to:
  1. Open the form in Google Forms.
  2. Eliminate all file upload questions.
  3. At the top of the form, click "Settings".
  4. Next to "Responses", click the Down arrow .
  5. Set "Collect email addresses" to "Do not collect".
  6. Disable "Allow response editing".
  7. Disable "Limit to 1 response".
 
 
Next, if users see the notification "Sign in to Google to save your progress", like this:
 
 
Then the form is allowing users to Autosave response progress before submission. To prevent users from saving their progress (for up to 30 days), you need to:
  1. Open the form in Google Forms.
  2. At the top of the form, click Settings.
  3. Next to "Presentation", click the Down arrow .
  4. Enable "Disable auto-save for all respondents".
NOTE: the red * Required notification is simply informing that any question with a red asterisk is a question that requires an answer. It does not mean the user must login.
 
 
Finally, if the Form is on a Shared drive, and users get a message that says "You need permission", then follow these procedures to remove this requirement, so that anyone with the link can fill out the form:
  1. Open the form in Google Forms.
  2. At the top of the form, click Settings.
  3. Next to "Responses", click the Down arrow .
  4. Disable "Restrict to users in [yourdomain.com] and its trusted organizations".
 
 
I hope that clarifies the situation.
 
 
Original Poster pjfarr marked this as an answer
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Recommended Answer
Oct 4, 2023
Hi pjfarr,
 
Using any the following settings will require respondents to log in before being able to complete a Form:
  • "Collect email addresses" is set to "Verified".
  • "Allow response editing" is enabled
  • "Limit to 1 response" is enabled
 
Note:
  • When "Collect email addresses" is set to "Responder input", the user can manually enter an email address.
  • When "Collect email addresses" is set to "Verified", the user is required to click the checkbox for an email address. See announcement: Google Workspace Updates Recap: 2023-06-23
 
 
Also, using a file upload question, which allows a respondent to upload a file, will require the respondent to be signed into an account.
 
You may get a "Let respondents upload files to Drive" prompt that asks you to Continue when you include a File Upload question:
 
 
This is a key indicator that, for safety reasons, users are required to sign into a Google account so they can upload files. See documentation: Get attachments from form respondents
 
Note that because Shared Drives use a different sharing permissions structure, uploading files through a Form on a Shared Drive is not possible, and the File Upload option will be disabled (greyed out) if the Form is saved in a "Shared Drive" rather than to "My Drive".
 
 
In order to allow users fill the Form without log-in, you need to:
  1. Open the form in Google Forms.
  2. Eliminate all file upload questions.
  3. At the top of the form, click "Settings".
  4. Next to "Responses", click the Down arrow .
  5. Set "Collect email addresses" to "Do not collect".
  6. Disable "Allow response editing".
  7. Disable "Limit to 1 response".
 
 
Next, if users see the notification "Sign in to Google to save your progress", like this:
 
 
Then the form is allowing users to Autosave response progress before submission. To prevent users from saving their progress (for up to 30 days), you need to:
  1. Open the form in Google Forms.
  2. At the top of the form, click Settings.
  3. Next to "Presentation", click the Down arrow .
  4. Enable "Disable auto-save for all respondents".
NOTE: the red * Required notification is simply informing that any question with a red asterisk is a question that requires an answer. It does not mean the user must login.
 
 
Finally, if the Form is on a Shared drive, and users get a message that says "You need permission", then follow these procedures to remove this requirement, so that anyone with the link can fill out the form:
  1. Open the form in Google Forms.
  2. At the top of the form, click Settings.
  3. Next to "Responses", click the Down arrow .
  4. Disable "Restrict to users in [yourdomain.com] and its trusted organizations".
 
 
I hope that clarifies the situation.
 
 
Original Poster pjfarr marked this as an answer
Oct 5, 2023
Hey Mr Shane—thank you so much for that detailed response. Disable auto-save for all respondents being set to OFF was the culprit. Now it just says "Saving disabled" on the form instead and I can live with that. (If I pull up the form in an incognito browser window, the "Saving disabled" doesn't appear.)

I understood why the Gmail addresses were appearing there, but my concern was the users who thought I was somehow hacking them because their email was "pre-entered". This should solve the issue and once again I appreciate your time and response.
Oct 5, 2023
Hi pjfarr,
 
It's a pleasure to assist!
 
Also, your feedback is very much appreciated.
 
Have a great day/night wherever you are, and post again soon!
 
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