Are you looking to enhance your Google Forms experience by allowing respondents to easily upload files to Google Forms? If you’re collecting resumes, project proposals, or photos, then how to enable file upload in Google Forms can integrate file uploads into your Google Forms can streamline data collection.

In this article, you’ll learn the process of enabling file uploads in Google Forms and seamlessly storing them in Google Drive. Learn how to enable the “upload files Google Forms” functionality and effortlessly manage submissions with Google Forms to Google Drive integration. Also, we will explore uploading files to Google Drive from Google Forms. Also, you’ll learn how to create a form with a file upload question and automatically store the uploaded files in your Drive.

How to Upload Files to Google Form

How to Create a Google Form

Step 1: Open Google on your default web browser.

Search for Google on your device’s default web browser. 

Open Google on your default web browser

Step 2: Open Forms from Google Workspace apps

Click on FORMS from the 9-dot menu bar at the top right corner of the Google homepage.

Open Forms from Google Workspace apps

Step 3: Open a Blank form and rename it 

Select a blank form from the window and rename it to Upload files to Drive. 

Select a blank form from the window

Step 4: Give the untitled question a name

In the box given below, rename the question as needed.

Give the untitled question a name

Step 5: Add options to the question

By clicking the “add option” or “add other,” you can add various options.

Add options to the question

Step 6: Click the required symbol    

There is a Required button in the bottom right corner. To make the question required, click Required.

Click the required symbol

Step 7: Click Add Symbol on the top right corner      

If you are done with your question, click the add symbol in the vertical bar on the right side of the page.

Click Add Symbol on the top right corner to add questions

How to Upload a File on Google Forms

Follow the below steps on How to Add the Upload File Option to the Form. A new box will appear for your next question. To upload the file in the form, here are the following steps:

Step 1: Select the file upload option and continue

You can see a list of various options after clicking on the multiple-choice option at the top right corner of the box. Click and choose the File Upload option. A new box with permission will be asked; click continue.

Select the file upload option

Step 2: Click on “Continue”

Click on “Continue”

Step 3: Enter the details of the files to be uploaded

Two questions will be asked regarding the file, the size of the file, and the number of files to be uploaded. Choose and continue.

Enter the details of the files to be uploaded

Step 4: Click the required symbol     

There is a Required button in the bottom right corner. To make the question required, click Required.

Click the required symbol

How to Link Google Forms to Google Drive

There are two methods through which you can Link a Google Forms to Google Drive.

Method 1: Using the Apps Script

Method 2: Run the Script

How to Create the Apps Script in Google Form

Step 1: Open the script editor in the form

Three dots are given in the top right corner of the form. Click “More” to open the dialogue box. Select “Script editor” from the options.

Open the script editor in the form

Step 2: Click the untitled project on the top

Click the untitled project name at the top of the window. Rename the project to “Upload files to Drive”.

Click the untitled project on the top

Step 3: Rename Project

Rename the project

Step 4: Create another file in the Apps Script     

This step is optional, both code sections can be placed in the same script file. If you prefer separation, follow these steps:

• Click on “File” in the menu bar.
• Select “New” and then “Script file”.
• Name the new file “Setup”.

Create another file in the Apps Script

Step 5: Give File Name

Name the file Setup.

Step 6: Replace the last content with the given one

Replace the content of both script files with the following content:

// Replace “Form Name” with the ID of your form.

var form = FormApp.openById(‘YOUR_FORM_ID’);

var folderId = ‘YOUR_FOLDER_ID’; // Replace with the ID of the folder in Google Drive where you want to store the files.

// This function is triggered every time the form is submitted.

function onFormSubmit(e) {

var responses = e.response.getItemResponses();

// Loop through each form response.

for (var i = 0; i < responses.length; i++) {

var response = responses[i];

// Check if the response is a file upload question.

if (response.getItem().getType() == FormApp.ItemType.FILE_UPLOAD) {

var fileBlob = response.getResponse(); // Get the uploaded file.

var folder = DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId);

var fileName = response.getItem().getTitle(); // Use the question title as the filename.

folder.createFile(fileBlob).setName(fileName); // Save the file to Google Drive.

}

}

}

Replace the last content with the given one

How to Run the Script in Google Form

Get the Form and Folder IDs. To run the script, here are the steps:-

Step 1: Replace form ID

Replace ‘YOUR_FORM_ID’ with the ID of your Google Form. You can find this ID in the URL of the form.

Copy the URL to replace ‘YOUR_FORM_ID’

Press Ctrl+V to replace the Form ID

Step 2: Replace folder ID

Replace ‘YOUR_FOLDER_ID’ with the ID of the folder in your Google Drive where you want to store the files. If you don’t have the ID, you can get it from the URL when you’re in the folder.

Replace folder id

Step 3: Replace Form ID

Press Ctrl+V to replace the Folder ID

Step 4: Save Script

Save the script.

Save the script.

Step 5: Click triggers

Click on the clock icon (Triggers) in the script editor toolbar.

Click triggers

Step 6: Set up a trigger

Set up a trigger to run the ‘On Form Submit’ function every time the form is submitted.

Click on “Add Trigger”

Step 7: Select a Trigger and Click “Save” Button

Set up a trigger to run the ‘on Form Submit’

Importance of Uploading Files to Google Drive from Google Forms

• Easy access and sharing: As soon as the file is uploaded, accessing it and sharing it among collaborators is straightforward. It also has a significant function that lets users control who can view, edit, or comment on the files.
• Automatic organization: Google Drive provides various features, such as folders, tags, and more, that make it easy to find specific files. Users can also customize folders to categorize the uploaded files and search for them specifically.
• Security and backup: Google Drive has strong security that protects all the uploaded files. 
• Centralized storage: Every file uploaded using Google Forms is appropriately stored in Google Drive. This ensures that all related files and data are arranged in one location, which helps with control and access.
• Version control: Google Drive automatically saves file versions so users can access older versions when necessary. This feature is beneficial when several people work on the same file, as the changes can be monitored and reversed.

Conclusion

This guide covered uploading files to Google Drive from Google Forms, how to upload files on Google Drive and upload files Google Forms as well.. You learned how to create a form and how to enable file upload in Google forms with a file upload question and automatically store uploaded files in your Drive. Google Forms (free) lets you create surveys and collect files, while Google Drive stores them securely. This combo offers easy access, organization, security, and version control. Overall, uploading files from forms to Drive streamlines data collection and management.

How to upload files in Google Forms – FAQs

Why can’t I use file upload in Google Forms?

If you’re unable to use the file upload feature in Google Forms, it may be one of the following reasons:

• You are not signed in to a Google account. The file upload option requires users to be signed in.
• Your Google account does not have the necessary permissions. If you are using a G Suite account, your administrator might have restricted this feature.
• The form settings do not allow file uploads. Ensure that you have enabled the file upload option in your form settings.

How do I import a document into Google Forms?

While you can’t directly import documents into Google Forms, you can link to documents stored in Google Drive. To add a document:

• Create a shareable link to the document in Google Drive.
• Add the link to your Google Form by using the “Insert Link” option in the description or question fields.

Can you upload a PDF file to Google Forms?

Yes, you can upload a PDF file to Google Forms using the file upload feature. This option needs to be enabled in the question settings. When creating a question, select the “File upload” question type, and respondents will be able to upload PDF files.

What file types can you upload to Google Forms?

Google Forms allows various file types to be uploaded, including:

• Documents: PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets
• Images: JPEG, PNG, GIF
• Videos: MP4, AVI
• Audio files: MP3, WAV

How to perform Google form upload file without login?

Follow the steps given below:

• Go to Google Drive.
• Create a new folder and name it appropriately.
• Right-click the folder and select “Share.”
• Set the sharing settings to “Anyone with the link can view”