Forms → Excel/List

Anyone who collects forms with Microsoft Forms usually needs to process the responses further, for example in an Excel table for analysis or in a SharePoint list for team access. Power Automate connects both systems via the Forms connector: the trigger "When a new response is submitted" starts the flow, the action "Get response details" delivers the individual form fields as dynamic content, and an action from the target connector, Excel Online (Business) or SharePoint, writes the data to the table or list. The setup can be created without code in a few steps and then runs automatically with every new response. As of: July 2026.

Basic principle: trigger and action of the Forms connector

According to the Microsoft documentation, the Microsoft Forms connector has exactly one trigger and one associated action. The trigger "When a new response is submitted" reacts to every new submission of a specific form, which you select via the form ID. The action "Get response details" then retrieves the actual response values, such as name, date, selection fields, and free text, as individual dynamic content. These two building blocks form the basis for every flow, regardless of whether the target is then Excel, SharePoint, or another system. Only with the second action is it decided where the data ultimately ends up.

Option 1: Collect form responses in Excel Online

For Excel Online, you first need a workbook with an actual table, not just cells with content, because only a table can be selected as a target.

• Preparation: Create a table in Excel Online with one column per form question and save the file in OneDrive or SharePoint.
• Set up trigger: Create an empty cloud flow and select the trigger "When a new response is submitted" with the matching form ID.
• Get response details: Add the action "Get response details" and pass the response ID from the trigger.
• Add row: Add the action "Add a row into a table" from the Excel Online (Business) connector, select the location, document library, file, and table, and map each column to the matching dynamic content from the form response.

According to the Microsoft guide "General ways to use a form in a flow", exactly this process, adding form responses to an Excel worksheet, is one of the most commonly used scenarios. After saving, the flow runs automatically with every new response and the table fills row by row.

Option 2: Write form responses to a SharePoint list

For a SharePoint list, only the last step changes.

• Prepare the list: Create a list in SharePoint with suitable columns whose types match the form fields, for example text columns, choice columns, or date fields.
• Trigger and response details: Set up the trigger and the "Get response details" action as in option 1.
• Create item: Add the SharePoint action "Create item", select the site address and list name, and map each column to the corresponding dynamic content from the form response.

According to the SharePoint connector reference, this action is firmly anchored in the connector and creates exactly one new list item with every flow run. A SharePoint list is particularly suitable when several people on the team need to access the data, filter it, or maintain a status, while Excel is better suited for pure analysis and export.

Limits and typical pitfalls

Both options work reliably but have limits that you should plan for in advance.

• Number of columns: Forms with a large number of questions produce a correspondingly large number of mapping fields that you have to maintain individually; there is no automatic transfer of all fields in one step.
• Changed forms: If a question in the form is renamed or deleted afterward, the mapping in the flow breaks and must be updated manually.
• Multiple choice and file attachments: Such response types come back as structured values and often require an additional processing step before they fit cleanly into a column.
• Execution limits: The Forms connector is limited to a restricted number of API calls per connection and time interval, which can become relevant with very high form volume.

Anyone using the flow in production should test it briefly after every change to the form before the team relies on the automatic transfer. NordFlux supports you with Power Automate consulting at a fixed price for selecting the right Power Automate license and building such flows.

Frequently asked questions about Forms → Excel/List

Can I fill Excel and SharePoint at the same time?

Yes. Since both target actions can be placed independently of each other in the same flow, simply add both "Add a row into a table" and "Create item" one after the other, each with the same dynamic content from the response.

What happens with very many form responses?

According to Microsoft documentation, the Forms connector is subject to a limit on API calls per connection within a fixed time window. This is usually sufficient for normal form usage in an SME environment; with very high response volume, it is worth checking the current limits in the connector reference in advance.

Do I need programming skills?

No. Trigger, action, and target connection are linked via dropdown fields and dynamic content in the Power Automate designer, without you having to write any code.

Excel Online or SharePoint list, which is the better fit?

It depends on the intended use. Excel is suitable for analysis, pivot tables, and export, while a SharePoint list is better suited for team access, status maintenance, and linking with further flows in the same system.