How to Send a Confirmation Email in Google Forms (Copy of Responses)

Yes, Google Forms can send a copy of responses to respondents via its built-in confirmation email feature - but it only sends a plain, unformatted copy. You cannot customize the subject line, email body, or branding with Google Forms alone.

Here are your three options to send a copy of responses (or a fully custom confirmation email):

Method	Custom Email	Free	Setup Time	Branding
Built-in Google Forms setting	No	Yes	1 minute	No
Add-ons (Form Notifications, Formfacade)	Yes	Limited	15-30 min	Partial
FormNX (alternative form builder)	Yes	Yes	2 minutes	Full

This guide walks you through all three methods - starting with the built-in way to send a copy of responses - so you can pick the right one for your use case.

Does Google Forms Send a Confirmation Email?

Not automatically. Google Forms only emails respondents a copy of their answers when the form owner turns on Send responders a copy of their response under Settings > Responses and collects email addresses. The email is a plain-text copy of the answers, with no custom subject line, message, or branding.

Quick facts before you change any settings:

• Not all Google Forms send a confirmation email. Response copies are off on every new form, so most forms never send one.
• If you submitted a form and got no email, the owner has not enabled it, the setting is on When requested and you did not tick the box, or the email landed in spam. Your answers were still recorded if you saw the "Your response has been recorded" screen.
• Form owners are not emailed either unless they turn on Get email notifications for new responses in the Responses tab (see the notification section below).
• You cannot edit the built-in email. For a custom subject, thank-you text, or a PDF receipt, you need an add-on or a form builder with confirmation emails built in.

How to Send a Copy of Responses in Google Forms (Built-in Method)

Google Forms has a native setting to send respondents a copy of their form responses. This is the quickest way to send a copy of responses, but it offers zero customization.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Open your Google Form and click the Settings tab (gear icon) at the top.
2. Scroll to the Responses section and expand it.
3. Under Collect email addresses, select Responder input (or Verified if you want Google-authenticated emails).
4. Find Send responders a copy of their response and set it to Always (or When requested, if you want respondents to opt in).
5. Save - that's it. Respondents now receive an email with their answers after submission.

What This Email Looks Like

The confirmation email will:

• Come from [email protected]
• Show the form title as subject line
• List all the respondent's answers in plain text
• Include a link to edit the response (if you enabled that)

Limitations of the Built-in Method

• No custom subject line - it always uses the form title.
• No custom email body - you cannot add a thank-you message, next steps, or instructions.
• No branding - no logo, colors, or formatted content.
• No attachments - you cannot attach a PDF receipt, ticket, or certificate.
• No conditional emails - you cannot send different emails based on responses.
• Requires email collection - respondents must provide their email, which adds friction for anonymous forms.

If you only need respondents to have a record of what they submitted, this method works. For anything more, you will need an add-on or an alternative tool.

Send Customized Confirmation Emails with Add-ons

Several Google Workspace add-ons let you send customized confirmation emails from Google Forms. Here are the most popular options:

Popular Add-ons

• Email Notifications for Google Forms by Digital Inspiration - the most established add-on. Supports custom email templates, conditional routing, and PDF attachments. Free tier limited to 20 emails/day.
• Formfacade - customizes the form UI and email notifications. Good for branding. Free tier available.
• Form Notifications - simpler add-on for basic email customization.

How to Set Up (General Steps)

1. Open your Google Form.
2. Click the three-dot menu (top right) and select Get add-ons.
3. Search for your chosen add-on and install it.
4. Grant the required permissions (the add-on needs access to your form data and email).
5. Open the add-on from the puzzle-piece icon and follow its setup wizard.
6. Configure your email template - subject, body, merge fields, and recipients.
7. Test with a sample submission.

Confirmation Email Template (Copy and Paste)

Google Forms itself has no confirmation email template because the built-in email cannot be edited. Once you use an add-on (or FormNX, where this is built in), paste a template like this and swap the merge fields for the ones your tool provides:

Subject: We received your {{form_name}} submission

Hi {{first_name}},

Thanks for submitting the {{form_name}} form on {{submission_date}}.
Here is a copy of what you sent us:

{{all_answers}}

What happens next: we review every submission within 2 business days
and reply to this email address. Need to change something? Reply to
this message and we will update your entry.

Thanks,
{{sender_name}}
{{company_name}}

Keep the subject line specific (the form name beats "Thank you"), repeat the respondent's answers so the email doubles as a receipt, and state the next step and a reply path. Those three things cover almost every "did my submission go through?" reply you would otherwise get.

Common Challenges with Add-ons

Add-ons solve the customization problem but introduce new ones:

• Setup complexity - most add-ons require 15-30 minutes of configuration, especially for conditional emails.
• Permission concerns - add-ons request broad access to your Google account, including form responses and email.
• Email limits - free tiers typically cap at 20-50 emails per day. High-volume forms need paid plans.
• Reliability - add-ons can break after Google updates, leaving you without notifications until the developer patches it.
• Maintenance - if the add-on developer stops supporting it, you lose functionality.

For occasional forms with low volume, add-ons work fine. For professional or high-volume use cases, a purpose-built form builder gives you more control with less hassle.

Send branded confirmation emails without add-ons

FormNX includes customizable auto-response emails, PDF attachments, and custom SMTP on all plans - set up in 2 minutes.

Try FormNX Free →Free forever plan · No credit card required

Use a Form Builder with Built-in Confirmation Emails

Instead of patching Google Forms with add-ons, you can use a form builder that has confirmation emails built in. This is the most reliable approach for professional forms.

How to Send Confirmation Emails in FormNX

FormNX includes built-in email notifications and Auto Response Email as native features - no add-ons, no scripts, no extra setup.

Setup takes 2 minutes:

1. Open your form in FormNX and go to Email Settings.
2. Enable Auto Response Email.
3. Customize the subject line and email body - you can use dynamic tags to insert the respondent's name, submission details, or any form field value.
4. Optionally attach a PDF document (receipt, certificate, ticket) that auto-generates from responses.
5. Save and publish your form.

Every respondent now receives a fully branded, customized confirmation email the moment they submit the form.

What Makes This Different

Feature	Google Forms (Built-in)	Google Forms + Add-on	FormNX
Custom subject line	No	Yes	Yes
Custom email body	No	Yes	Yes
Dynamic merge fields	No	Limited	Yes
PDF attachment	No	Paid add-ons	Yes (built-in)
Conditional emails	No	Some add-ons	Yes
Email sending limit	Unlimited	20-50/day (free)	Unlimited
Setup time	1 minute	15-30 minutes	2 minutes
Branding (logo, colors)	No	Partial	Full
Custom SMTP (send from your email)	No	No	Yes

FormNX also lets you configure custom SMTP so confirmation emails come from your own email address (e.g., [email protected]) instead of a no-reply address - which improves deliverability and trust.

Bonus: Enable Email Verification (OTP) on your email field to require respondents to verify their email with a 4-digit code before submission. This ensures your confirmation emails reach real, active inboxes - not typos or fake addresses. Available on Pro plans.

Pair OTP with Block Disposable Emails — a one-click toggle that automatically rejects throwaway providers like Mailinator, 10MinuteMail, and Guerrilla Mail. That way your confirmation emails go to real inboxes only, not burner addresses that nobody ever checks. Also Pro plan only.

Sending Email Notifications in Google Forms (Video Guide)

Watch the video below for a visual walkthrough of setting up email notifications in Google Forms and a comparison with an alternative method.

When to Use Each Method

Choose based on your situation:

• Built-in setting - you just need respondents to have a record of their answers. No branding needed. Anonymous forms are not a concern.
• Add-ons - you are committed to Google Forms but need custom email content. Low-volume forms (under 20-50 submissions/day).
• FormNX or alternative builder - you need professional confirmation emails with branding, PDF attachments, conditional logic, or high volume. You want it to work reliably without third-party dependencies.

Use Cases for Confirmation Emails

Here are common scenarios where sending a confirmation email to form respondents is essential:

Registration Confirmation

Send registrants an instant confirmation with event details, date, time, and venue. With FormNX, you can attach a PDF ticket or pass automatically.

Explore Registration Form Templates to get started.

Order and Payment Receipts

After a purchase or donation, send a branded receipt with transaction details. FormNX's Stripe integration combined with auto-response email and PDF generation handles this end-to-end.

Application Acknowledgment

For job applications, scholarship forms, or grant applications - confirm receipt so applicants are not left wondering if their submission went through. The same pattern works for PTO requests, leave applications, and other HR forms - employees get an instant receipt and the manager gets a notification with one-click approval.

Feedback and Survey Thank-You

Thank respondents for their time and optionally share a summary or next steps. Explore Feedback Form Templates.

Booking Confirmation

Send appointment or booking confirmations with date, time, and instructions - no manual follow-up needed.

Troubleshooting: Not Receiving Confirmation Emails

If respondents are not getting confirmation emails from Google Forms, check these common issues:

"Collect email addresses" is not enabled

The built-in confirmation only works when email collection is turned on. Go to Settings > Responses > Collect email addresses and enable it.

Email is landing in spam

Emails from [email protected] sometimes get caught by spam filters - especially in corporate email environments. Ask respondents to check their spam folder and whitelist the sender.

"Send responders a copy" is set to "When requested"

If set to When requested instead of Always, respondents must manually check a box to receive the email. Many miss it. Switch to Always if you want every respondent to receive a copy.

Add-on stopped working

Google Workspace updates can break add-ons. Check if the add-on has pending updates or if permissions need to be re-granted. This is a common issue - and a key reason some teams switch to purpose-built form builders that do not depend on third-party extensions.

Email sending limits reached

Google has daily email sending limits (varies by account type). Add-ons have their own limits too. If you are hitting limits, consider a tool with unlimited email sending like FormNX.

Get an Email Notification When Someone Submits Your Google Form

Everything above is about emailing the respondent. If you want Google Forms to email you when someone fills it out, that is a separate setting:

1. Open your form and click the Responses tab.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top right of the Responses panel.
3. Select Get email notifications for new responses.

Google then emails the form owner a short alert for every submission. It goes to the owner only, it does not include the answers, and it cannot be sent to a team address. To notify several people, include the answers, or set a reply-to, use our free Google Forms email notifications script generator, which writes a ready-to-paste Apps Script, or pick one of the Google Forms add-ons that handle notifications. FormNX sends email notifications to any number of recipients out of the box.

Google Form Confirmation Message vs. Confirmation Email

These are two different things that often get confused:

• Confirmation message - the text shown on-screen after form submission (e.g., "Your response has been recorded"). You can customize this in Google Forms under Settings > Presentation > Confirmation message. FormNX gives you full control over this post-submission experience via welcome and thank-you pages - customize copy, add a CTA, embed video, or redirect to your own URL.
• Confirmation email - an email sent to the respondent's inbox with their response details. This is what this guide covers.

You should use both. The confirmation message (thank-you page) gives instant feedback, while the confirmation email provides a permanent record.

How to Change the Confirmation Message in Google Forms

1. Open your form and click the Settings tab.
2. Expand the Presentation section.
3. Next to Confirmation message, click Edit.
4. Type your message and click Save.

The message replaces "Your response has been recorded" on the confirmation page. It is plain text only: no links that render as buttons, no images, and no redirect to another page.

Google Forms Confirmation Message Examples

Short messages that tell people what happens next work best. Pick one and adapt it:

• Registration: "You're registered! Check your inbox for the event details. If nothing arrives within 10 minutes, look in spam or email us at [email protected]."
• Job application: "Thanks for applying. We review applications every Friday and will contact shortlisted candidates within two weeks."
• Order or booking: "Your order has been received. We'll send a confirmation with your order number shortly, and you'll be charged only when it ships."
• Survey or feedback: "Thank you, your feedback has been recorded. Results will be shared with the team at the end of the month."

Because the built-in confirmation page cannot include a button, image, or redirect, teams that need a real thank-you page (a calendar link, a download, or a redirect to their site) move the form to a builder with custom thank-you pages.

FAQ

Does Google Forms send confirmation emails automatically?

Not by default. You must enable it manually in Settings > Responses > Send responders a copy of their response. Even then, it only sends a plain copy of their answers - no custom content.

How do I send a confirmation email to multiple recipients from a Google Form?

The built-in option only emails the respondent. To notify additional people (like your team), you need an add-on like Email Notifications for Google Forms, or use a form builder like FormNX that supports email notifications to multiple recipients.

Can I customize the confirmation email in Google Forms without add-ons?

No. Google Forms does not allow you to change the subject line, body, or formatting of the confirmation email. You need either an add-on or an alternative form builder for customization.

How do I send different confirmation emails based on form responses?

Google Forms cannot do this natively. Some add-ons support conditional email routing. FormNX supports conditional fields and conditional email templates built in.

Are email notification add-ons for Google Forms free?

Most offer a limited free tier (typically 20-50 emails per day). For higher volumes or advanced features like PDF attachments, you need a paid plan. FormNX offers unlimited auto-response emails on all plans.

Why am I not getting email notifications from Google Forms?

Common reasons: email collection is not enabled, the setting is on "When requested" instead of "Always," emails are going to spam, or your add-on has hit its daily limit. See the troubleshooting section above for fixes.

Does Google Forms send you a confirmation email when you submit a form?

Only if the form owner enabled it. If you submitted a Google Form and did not receive an email, the owner has not turned on response copies, the setting is on "When requested" and you did not tick the box, or the email went to spam. Your answers were still recorded if you saw the "Your response has been recorded" screen.

Do all Google Forms send a confirmation email?

No. Response copies are off by default on every new Google Form, so most forms never send one. Each form owner has to enable Send responders a copy of their response individually.

How do I know if my Google Form was successfully submitted?

After you click Submit, Google Forms shows a confirmation page that reads "Your response has been recorded" (or a custom message set by the owner). That screen is the proof of submission. A confirmation email only arrives if the owner enabled response copies.

Does Google Forms email you when someone fills it out?

Only if you turn it on. Open the Responses tab, click the three-dot menu and choose Get email notifications for new responses. Google then emails the form owner a short alert for each submission, without the answers. Add-ons or a form builder with built-in notifications can send the full response to several people. See how to get notified above.

What is a confirmation message in Google Forms?

The confirmation message is the on-screen text shown after someone submits the form. The default is "Your response has been recorded". You can change it under Settings > Presentation > Confirmation message. It is different from a confirmation email, which is sent to the respondent's inbox.

Is there a Google Forms confirmation email template?

Google Forms itself has no template because the built-in email cannot be edited. To use a template with a custom subject line, greeting, next steps and signature, you need an email add-on or a form builder with built-in confirmation emails. Use the copy-and-paste template in this guide.

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Trusted by 7,000+ customers, FormNX is a free form builder with built-in confirmation emails, PDF generation, payment collection, and more - no add-ons needed. Try FormNX free.

Read the full Google Forms vs FormNX comparison to see how the two tools stack up — or see the focused FormNX Google Forms alternative landing page for a feature-by-feature side-by-side.

Want to put the form itself inside the email instead of just notifying respondents? See how to embed a Google Form in an email — and why a live form only works for Gmail recipients.

Prefer printed posters, table tents, or in-person sign-ups over email entirely? You can share your form via QR code — our guide walks through 6 free methods to turn any Google Form link into a scannable code.

Collecting bookings or registrations? Pair the confirmation email with our free Google Form to Calendar script generator, which turns every submission into a Google Calendar event and can invite the respondent as a guest.