FAQ
Common questions about Choice Eliminator features and usage.
Getting Started
What is Choice Eliminator?
Choice Eliminator is a Google Forms Add-on that automatically removes answer choices from multiple-choice, checkbox, or dropdown questions when they reach a capacity you set. It's designed for sign-ups, reservations, and any form where each option has a limit.
Is Choice Eliminator free?
Choice Eliminator offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required. After the trial, a paid subscription is required to continue using the Add-on. View pricing.
Where can I download Choice Eliminator?
Install directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace. No separate download required.
How do I access Choice Eliminator?
Open your Google Form, click the puzzle-piece icon (Add-ons), and select Choice Eliminator. The Add-on opens in a sidebar panel.
Does Choice Eliminator work on published forms?
Yes. Elimination happens on every form submission once the form is live. Counts already recorded against a choice continue to apply.
Will it slow down Google Forms?
No. Choice Eliminator works independently and doesn't impact Google Forms performance.
What happens if I disable Choice Eliminator?
When you disable the master toggle, elimination is paused. Your per-choice limits are preserved. Re-enable to resume.
Choice Elimination
Which question types are supported?
- Multiple Choice
- Checkbox
- Dropdown (List)
How do I set limits per choice?
Open the Choice Eliminator sidebar, click a question, enter a limit for each choice, and click Save. Set 0 or leave blank for unlimited.
Can I set the same limit for every choice in a question at once?
Yes. Enter a number in the Apply to All field and click the button. This sets every choice in that question to the same limit. Use 0 to reset all choices to unlimited.
What happens when a choice reaches its limit?
The choice is removed from the form so new respondents can't select it. A "No spots available" placeholder appears if every choice in the question is removed.
Can I restore a removed choice?
Yes, if the current count is below the limit. Click the undo icon next to the removed choice. Choices at or above their limit show a lock icon instead.
Why do I see choices that aren't on my form?
Choice Eliminator tracks choices that have existing response data, even after you remove them from the form. This keeps historical counts consistent.
How do I delete orphaned choices?
Orphaned choices (0 responses, not on the form) show a delete button in the limits modal. Click it to permanently remove the tracking data.
How accurate are choice counts?
Counts are cached for performance and update on each form submission. Use the Refresh counts button for a full recount if you suspect drift (e.g. after editing the linked spreadsheet directly).
What happens with concurrent submissions?
If two users submit simultaneously for the last available spot, both submissions are recorded but the choice is removed after the first one pushes it over the limit. This is the expected behavior — Choice Eliminator doesn't reject submissions, it removes choices for future respondents.
Is there a limit on how many choices a question can have?
Yes. Google Forms enforces a platform maximum of around 500 choices per question. If your question has more choices than this, Choice Eliminator will use only the first 500. This is a Google Forms platform limitation, not a Choice Eliminator restriction.
Does elimination work with the "Add other" option?
Yes. If your multiple-choice or checkbox question has "Add other" enabled, elimination preserves it. Custom "Other" responses are unlimited and don't count toward any choice limit. When all predefined choices reach their limits, the "Other" option remains available instead of the "No spots available" placeholder.
Does elimination work with Google Forms' shuffle options setting?
Yes. Elimination operates on the underlying question, not on the shuffled order each respondent sees. Every respondent sees the same live set of remaining options regardless of shuffle.
What happens if the form isn't accepting responses?
Choice Eliminator won't mutate a form that isn't live. Paused or unpublished forms are safely ignored until they reopen — your counts and limits stay put.
Clear Responses
What does "Clear responses" do?
It exports all form responses to a new Google Sheet, then deletes them from the form. This resets your form for reuse — choice counts go to 0 and removed choices are restored.
Where is the export saved?
A new Google Sheet is created in your Google Drive with the name "Form Title - Backup - Date".
Is this the same as the linked spreadsheet?
No. If your form has a linked spreadsheet, that data remains untouched. The export creates a separate backup sheet.
What if I have no responses?
The modal shows an informational message explaining the feature. No action is available until you have responses to clear.
Can I undo a clear?
No. Once responses are deleted from the form, they cannot be restored. However, your data is preserved in the exported Google Sheet.
Troubleshooting
I cannot find the Add-on after installation
Open any Google Form, click Add-ons in the menu, and select Choice Eliminator. If missing, try refreshing the page or reinstalling from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
Why don't I see "Open" in the Add-ons menu?
Google controls which Add-on options appear in the dropdown. This can vary based on browser, cache, or Google's server-side state. Try:
- Refresh the page (Ctrl/Cmd + R)
- Close and reopen the form
- Sign out and back into Google
- Wait a few minutes after installation
This is a Google Forms behavior we cannot control.
Why are my choice counts wrong?
Choice counts are cached. Click Refresh counts in the sidebar for a full recount from all responses.
A choice I removed from the form is still showing in Choice Eliminator
Choice Eliminator keeps tracking choices that have response data, even after you remove them. If you don't need them anymore, use the delete button next to the orphaned choice in the limits modal.
My form didn't eliminate a choice even though it hit the limit
Check whether the form is accepting responses. Choice Eliminator won't mutate a paused or unpublished form. Reopen the form and the next submission will trigger elimination.
I copied a form and elimination stopped working
When you make a copy of a Google Form, Google copies your questions and your Choice Eliminator settings, but it does not carry over the background trigger that removes choices on each submission — a Google Forms limitation with copies. Just open Choice Eliminator once on the copied form to re-activate it. You only need to do this once per copy, and you don't need any responses first.
Can I edit or delete my settings?
Yes. All limit settings are fully customizable and can be removed anytime through the Add-on interface.
Can I use Choice Eliminator with multiple editors?
Yes. Settings are stored with the form. Multiple editors can access the Add-on, but simultaneous edits may cause conflicts.
Does Choice Eliminator work on mobile?
The Add-on works in the Google Forms web interface on desktop browsers. Mobile browsers have limited Add-on support.
Permissions & Privacy
Is my form data stored externally?
No. All settings are stored at Google. Choice Eliminator does not transmit your form data or responses to external servers.
Can Choice Eliminator read all my forms?
No. The Add-on uses the "currentonly" scope, meaning it can only access the specific form you opened it from.
Is my data shared with third parties?
No. We never sell or share your data with third parties.