Transferring Google Form Ownership: The Definitive Guide for Redditors (and Everyone Else!)

So, you’re looking to transfer Google Form ownership, eh? You’ve come to the right place. In a nutshell, transferring ownership is done by adding a collaborator and then changing their permission level to “Owner.” Let’s break it down step-by-step, ensuring you don’t lose any valuable data or functionality in the process. This guide will also answer those burning questions that likely brought you here from the depths of Reddit.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring Google Form Ownership

This isn’t rocket science, but following these steps precisely ensures a smooth transition. Prepare for a seamless handover and maintaining data integrity.

1. Open Your Google Form

First things first, open the Google Form you wish to transfer. This might seem obvious, but double-checking ensures you’re working on the correct form. Nothing’s worse than accidentally transferring ownership of the wrong survey!

2. Access the Collaboration Settings

Look for the three vertical dots (More menu) typically located in the upper right-hand corner of the form. Click on it. In the dropdown menu, select “Add collaborators.” This opens the sharing settings for your form.

3. Add the New Owner as a Collaborator

In the “Add collaborators” window, you’ll see a field labeled “Invite people.” Enter the email address of the person you want to make the new owner. Make sure it’s the email address associated with their Google account. Set their permission to “Editor.” Before sending the invite, you can optionally add a personalized message explaining why you’re adding them as a collaborator and that you intend to transfer ownership. Once ready, click “Send.”

4. Grant Editor Access (Important!)

The person you invited will receive an email notification to become an editor of your form. They MUST accept the invitation by clicking the link in the email. Until they accept, you cannot proceed to the next step. This grants them the necessary permissions to eventually become the owner.

5. Change the Editor to Owner

Once the new owner has accepted the invitation and is listed as an editor in the “Add collaborators” window, click the dropdown menu to the right of their name (currently showing “Editor”). Choose “Make owner” from the dropdown options.

6. Confirm the Ownership Transfer

Google will display a confirmation message asking if you’re sure you want to transfer ownership. This is your last chance to back out! Read the message carefully and click “Yes.”

7. Verify the Ownership Transfer

After confirming, the new owner will receive an email notifying them that they are now the owner of the form. You, the original owner, will be demoted to an editor. It’s a good practice to have the new owner verify that they have full ownership of the form and can access all its features and data.

8. Optional: Remove Yourself as an Editor

If you no longer need access to the form, you can now remove yourself as an editor. In the “Add collaborators” window, click the dropdown menu next to your name (now showing “Editor”) and select “Remove.” This ensures that the new owner has complete control and minimizes potential confusion. Important note: Transferring ownership only transfers ownership of the form itself. Any connected spreadsheets or other Google Workspace resources might require separate ownership transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about transferring Google Form ownership, often asked on Reddit and elsewhere. We’ve provided detailed answers to help you navigate the process.

1. What happens to the form responses after transferring ownership?

All responses associated with the Google Form remain intact and are transferred along with the form. The new owner will have access to all existing data and will continue to receive new responses. The responses in connected Google Sheets also remain linked and accessible.

2. Can I transfer ownership to someone outside my organization?

Yes, you can transfer ownership to someone outside your organization as long as they have a Google account (e.g., a Gmail account). The process is the same as transferring ownership within an organization.

3. What if the person I want to transfer ownership to doesn’t have a Google account?

The person must have a Google account to become the owner of a Google Form. They will need to create a free Gmail account if they don’t already have one.

4. I can’t find the “Make owner” option. Why?

The “Make owner” option will only appear after the person you’ve invited has accepted the invitation and is listed as an editor. Double-check that they’ve accepted the invitation and have editor access. Also, make sure you are still the current owner of the form.

5. Can I transfer ownership back to the original owner?

Yes, you can transfer ownership back to the original owner or to any other person who has editor access. Simply repeat the process, selecting the desired person and choosing “Make owner.”

6. What happens if the original owner’s account is deleted?

If the original owner’s account is deleted before transferring ownership, the form might become orphaned and inaccessible. It’s crucial to transfer ownership before deleting the account. Google Workspace administrators may be able to recover orphaned files in some cases, but it’s not guaranteed.

7. I accidentally transferred ownership to the wrong person. What do I do?

Immediately contact the person you accidentally transferred ownership to and ask them to transfer it back to you or to the correct person. If they are unresponsive or unwilling, you might need to contact Google Workspace support for assistance, although they are unlikely to intervene directly.

8. Can I transfer ownership of multiple forms at once?

Unfortunately, Google Forms does not offer a batch transfer ownership feature. You must transfer ownership of each form individually. This can be time-consuming if you have many forms to transfer. Consider organizing your forms into folders for better management.

9. Does transferring ownership affect any connected apps or scripts?

Potentially, yes. Scripts and integrations might need to be updated to reflect the new owner. Review any connected apps or scripts and ensure they are still functioning correctly after the ownership transfer. The new owner may need to re-authorize certain connections.

10. How can I tell who the current owner of a Google Form is?

In the “Add collaborators” window, the current owner will be listed at the top with the designation “Owner” next to their name. This is the definitive way to confirm the current owner.

11. What happens to the notification settings after transferring ownership?

The notification settings should remain the same after transferring ownership. However, it’s always a good idea for the new owner to verify the notification settings to ensure they are receiving the desired alerts. They may want to add their own email address to receive notifications of new submissions.

12. I’m a Google Workspace admin. Is there a different way for me to transfer ownership?

Yes, Google Workspace administrators have additional options for transferring ownership. They can use the Google Admin console to transfer ownership of files, including Google Forms, in bulk. This method is particularly useful for transferring ownership when an employee leaves the organization. Consult the Google Workspace documentation for detailed instructions on using the Admin console for ownership transfers.