Microsoft Forms offers capabilities beyond the basics to create a form, survey, or questionnaire. For example, you can set up a math quiz with a calculator tool or create a poll that uses the branch to other questions.

Another useful feature is the ability to add numerical constraints to text questions. This is ideal when a number is required as an answer or a number that is greater or less than another.

Here we will show you some practical uses for this feature, how to set it up, and of course how to remove it if you change your mind later.

Sample questions using constraints

Since restrictions are only available for text questions, you are asking respondents to write down their answers. This is different from selecting an answer from a list of options as in a multiple choice question.

With this in mind, you may have a form, survey, or questionnaire where a numerical response is required. You can ask respondents to enter a number:

  • For a zip code
  • For a phone number
  • Greater than or equal to an age requirement
  • Less than or equal to an age limitation
  • As an answer to a mathematical equation
  • For how many products purchased

These are just examples. You may have several questions in mind for your own form, survey, or test. So, let’s move on to configuring the restriction.

How to add a restriction to a question in Microsoft Forms

Start by adding your text question. You can do it by clicking Add new at the bottom and choosing Text.

  1. Click on More settings for this question (three dots) at the bottom right of the question.
  2. Please select Restrictions.
  3. Choose the option you want to use from the drop-down box next to Restrictions, below the answer section of your question.
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If you select Number, this requires respondents to enter any number as an answer. And they will see it in the response field when they fill out the form.

If you select any other option, such as greater than or equal to, you will have to enter the corresponding number. For example, if the question is “How many months last year did you go skiing?”, You would select “Less than or equal to” and enter the number “12” because the number can only be 12 or less (for months in a year ).

Like the number restriction, your respondents will see it in the answer field when they fill out the form.

Below you can see that if a respondent does not meet the restriction for a question, they will receive an error message. They will have to correct their answer taking into account their restriction to send the form.

Remove a restriction in Microsoft Forms

If you add a restriction that you later decide to remove, it’s a straightforward process.

Go to the question, click More settings for this question at the bottom right of the question and deselect Restrictions. You will see that the Restrictions section is removed below the answer area.

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