How to Customize the Confirmation Message in Google Forms
Quick answer: Click the gear icon on your form, go to the Presentation tab, and edit the text in the Confirmation message box. It supports plain text only — no clickable links, images, or formatting, so a pasted URL just shows as text. Turn off "Show link to submit another response" for forms meant to collect one answer per person, like RSVPs or job applications.
The default message respondents see after submitting a Google Form — "Your response has been recorded" — is functional but forgettable. A short custom message costs nothing to add and does real work: it confirms the submission went through, sets expectations for what happens next, and can point people toward whatever comes after filling out the form. Here's exactly where to set it, what its limits are, and some solid examples for common form types.
Where to set the confirmation message
- Open your form and click the gear icon near the top to open Settings.
- Switch to the Presentation tab.
- Find the Confirmation message box, delete the default text, and type your own.
- Click Save.
That's the entire setup. There's no separate "publish" step — the new message applies to every submission from the moment you save it, though it won't retroactively appear for anyone who already submitted before the change.
What you can and can't include
The confirmation message field only accepts plain text. There's no rich-text formatting — no bold, no bullet points, no images. If you paste a URL, like a link to your website or a calendar booking page, it will display as plain, non-clickable text exactly as typed, not as a hyperlink. Respondents would have to manually copy and paste the URL into a browser to visit it, which most won't bother doing. If sending respondents somewhere after they submit genuinely matters, consider putting that URL in the form's description at the top instead (which also doesn't support real hyperlinks, but at least respondents see it before submitting) or following up by email if you collected one.
Good confirmation message practices
- Thank the respondent. A simple "Thanks for your submission" goes a long way toward making a form feel less transactional.
- Set a timeline. If you'll respond personally — reviewing an application, replying to a support request — say roughly when. "We'll get back to you within 2 business days" manages expectations and reduces follow-up messages asking if the form even worked.
- Spell out the next step. For an RSVP, mention what happens next, like a follow-up email with event details. For a job application, mention whether they should expect an email regardless of outcome, or only if selected.
- Keep it short. A couple of sentences is plenty. This isn't the place for lengthy instructions — put those in the form's description instead, before people start answering.
Deciding on "Show link to submit another response"
Right below the confirmation message box, in that same Presentation tab, is a checkbox for "Show link to submit another response." When checked, respondents see a link on the confirmation screen inviting them to fill out the form again. Whether to leave this on depends on the form's purpose:
- Turn it off for anything meant to represent one person's single answer — an RSVP, a job application, a satisfaction survey tied to one specific order. Leaving it on invites accidental duplicate submissions.
- Leave it on for open surveys, feedback forms, or sign-up sheets where the same device might reasonably be used by multiple people in sequence, like a feedback kiosk at an event.
Combining with "Restrict to 1 response" for editable submissions
If you also want respondents to be able to fix a mistake after submitting, pair your confirmation message setup with Restrict to 1 response under the General settings tab. When that's on and the respondent is signed in, Google Forms automatically adds an "Edit your response" link alongside your custom confirmation message — no extra text needed on your part. See our full guide on editing a Google Forms response after submitting for exactly how that flow works from both the respondent's and the form owner's side.
Example confirmation messages by use case
RSVP: "Thanks for letting us know! We'll send a reminder email with the address and parking details the week before the event." Pair this with our RSVP template guide if you're building the form itself from scratch.
Quiz: "Nice work — your score is shown below. If you'd like to retake the quiz, use the link above." (Combine with quiz mode's built-in score display rather than restating the score manually.)
Job application: "Thank you for applying. We review every application within one week and will email you either way." See our job application template guide for the rest of the form structure.
General survey: "Thanks for sharing your feedback — it genuinely helps us improve." Simple, sincere, and appropriate when there's no specific next step to mention.
FAQ
Where do I change the confirmation message in Google Forms?
Open your form, click the gear icon for Settings, go to the Presentation tab, and edit the text in the "Confirmation message" box.
Can I add a clickable link to a Google Forms confirmation message?
No. The confirmation message only supports plain text. If you paste a URL, it appears as plain text and is not clickable.
Should I turn off "Show link to submit another response"?
Turn it off for forms meant to collect one response per person, like an RSVP or a job application, so respondents aren't tempted to submit duplicates. Leave it on for open surveys where multiple people might share the same device.