Microsoft Forms has no reset button for the time-to-complete metric. To start a fresh duration total, clone the form, because disabling responses only stops new submissions and deleting responses removes the old data. Resetting the wrong way can break reporting, wipe needed records, or force you to rebuild links and flows. This guide explains how disabling responses, deleting response data, and copying a form affect analytics, links, and connected flows, so you can keep the data you need. (Microsoft Learn)
What the time to complete metric
The time to complete metric is the average completion-time statistic shown in quiz response analytics. It is calculated from submitted responses, so it changes only when response data changes. Current support guidance does not describe a separate edit or reset control for that metric.
What changing settings can and cannot do
Response-window settings control when people can submit. They do not edit the average itself. If you need to stop new entries, open the form or quiz in Forms.office.com, go to Settings, and use the response controls there, per Microsoft support.
Say your quiz has 18 responses and the average completion time looks too high because several people left the tab open. Changing the deadline will stop future submissions, but it will not rewrite those 18 responses or the average already built from them.
How long do Microsoft Forms last?
Microsoft Forms lasts as long as you leave submissions open. You can define a response window with Start date and End date in Settings, or turn off submissions altogether with Accept responses. The form file does not disappear on its own when the window closes.
Accept responses vs. analytics
Turning off submissions typically blocks new responses. It does not delete past responses, so the time-to-complete metric and other response-based analytics remain tied to the data already collected. Microsoft Support also says you can show a custom message when submissions are closed.
When a form appears to be expired
A form may look expired when the response window has ended, when Accept responses is unchecked, or when a closed message is shown to visitors. The form can still exist and be editable by the owner. Only the submission path is shut down.
Why is Microsoft Forms showing a high average completion time?
A high average usually means the responses feeding the metric include slow, incomplete, or test-heavy submissions. Because the metric is calculated automatically from submitted responses, a few long sessions can pull the average up, especially when the response count is small.
Likely causes
Most often, the issue comes from one of three places: a response window is still open, old responses are still feeding analytics, or automation is storing test data downstream. A copied form can also expose stale test entries if downstream flows were not updated.
Suppose a 5-question quiz shows an average completion time far above what the questions require. If only four real responses exist, one abandoned session can distort the metric more than it would on a larger form.
Turn off responses first
If you only want to stop new submissions, turn off Accept responses. This preserves the form, keeps the current URL usable for viewing, and leaves analytics unchanged. If you need a cutoff instead of an open-ended form, add Start date and End date in Settings.
Exact steps
- Sign in to Forms.office.com, per Microsoft support.
- Open the form or quiz you want to manage.
- Select Settings from the action bar.
- To set a window, choose Start date and End date.
- To stop submissions, uncheck Accept responses.
- Enter a custom closed message in the empty text box if you want visitors to see one.
Will deleting responses reset Microsoft Forms analytics?
Yes. Deleting all responses clears collected response data and resets response-based metrics, including the average completion-time statistic. The form structure stays in place, but the analytics tied to submitted responses are removed too. Export anything you need before you do this.
Use this when you want the same form to stay live
This is the right path when you want to keep the same form name, layout, and link, but start over with the visible metrics. It is also the riskiest path for historical reporting, because the old data is gone after deletion.
Exact steps: open Responses
- Open Responses in the form or quiz.
- Export the data if you need a record outside Forms.
- Select Delete all responses.
- Confirm the deletion.
- Review the response analytics again.
Can you keep the same link and still reset the timer?
If you mean the visible metric, yes, but only by deleting responses. If you mean a fresh start with no data loss, no. Microsoft Forms does not offer a true independent reset for the time-to-complete metric, and copying the form usually changes the item behind the link.
What happens to the URL
Deleting responses does not create a new form, so the form URL normally stays the same. Copying the form creates a new form object, so the original link should not be assumed to stay valid for the new copy. Update shared links after duplication.
Copy the form for a clean reset
Copying is the common workaround when you want fresh analytics without touching the original. The new form typically starts with no responses, so the time-to-complete metric begins at zero. This is usually the safest option when you must preserve historical data in the original form.
What changes in the new form
The copy has a clean response set and a clean analytics view. That helps when the old average is polluted by test entries, pilot responses, or a one-off batch of slow submissions. The original form remains available for reference.
What to update after copying
Any Power Automate flow that reads the old form usually needs to be repointed to the copied form. If the old flow wrote responses into a SharePoint spreadsheet or list, the destination can keep growing with duplicate test data unless you clean it or replace it. Recheck every downstream connection.
Reset duration decision table
| Goal | Safest action | Side effects for analytics, URL, and Power Automate/SharePoint flows |
|---|---|---|
| Reset metric | Delete all responses | Analytics clear and restart; the form URL usually stays the same; existing flows keep pointing at the same form, but downstream tables may need cleanup if old data was already pushed |
| Preserve responses | Copy the form and leave the original intact | Original analytics stay available; the new form starts fresh; the copied form should get new sharing links; Power Automate and SharePoint output usually need repointing or a new destination |
| Keep same link | Turn off Accept responses or set an end date | No analytics reset; URL remains the same for the original form; flows stop receiving new entries only if submissions actually stop |
Still not working?
If the average completion time still looks wrong after you reset the form, the problem is often downstream. Check whether a Power Automate flow is still listening to the old form, whether the SharePoint output table still contains test rows, and whether you are editing the original form or a copied version.
Likely next checks
- Open the flow in Power Automate and confirm it points to the current form.
- Review the SharePoint spreadsheet or list for duplicate test submissions.
- Replace or clean the downstream table if the old rows are affecting reporting.
- Confirm the analytics page belongs to the form copy you meant to reset.
If that did not work, try this next
Suppose the copied form is receiving responses, but the SharePoint table still shows the old average in a separate report. The quickest next step is to disconnect the report from the old list, point it at the new output, and remove test rows that were already written before the reset. That is usually faster than rebuilding every question.
Prevent this by creating a test form before you connect production flows, so trial submissions do not pollute the reporting table.
Frequently asked questions
Do Microsoft Forms expire?
Forms do not expire automatically on a timer. A form only stops accepting new responses when you set a date window, turn off Accept responses, or close it manually in Settings. The owner can still keep the form available internally.
How do I reset the time to complete in Microsoft Forms?
There is no separate reset for that metric. Delete all responses to clear the analytics, or copy the form to start fresh while keeping the original intact. If you copy it, update any Power Automate flow and SharePoint destination tied to the old form.
Can I turn off the time to complete metric without deleting responses?
No. Current support guidance does not list a separate off switch for that metric. You can stop submissions with Accept responses, but the existing average stays in place because it comes from submitted responses.
Does copying a Microsoft Form reset response metrics?
Yes. A copied form starts with no responses, so the time-to-complete metric begins fresh. The original form keeps its old data. After copying, update sharing links and any automation that was reading the old form.