How to Create a Form in SharePoint: 4 Ways to Do It

How to Create a Form in SharePoint: Quick Answer

Yes, you can create a form directly in SharePoint. The easiest method is to create a SharePoint list, add the fields you want to collect, and use the list’s built-in Forms experience to create and customize your form.

You have four main options for creating forms in SharePoint:

1. Microsoft Lists or SharePoint list forms: Best for simple forms that collect information directly into a SharePoint list.
2. Microsoft Forms: Best for surveys, feedback, registrations, and other simple forms that can be embedded in a SharePoint page.
3. Power Apps: Best for customized SharePoint forms that require more complex logic and user experiences.
4. A dedicated no-code SharePoint form builder: Best for complex business forms and workflows that need to be maintained by business users without coding.

For most simple SharePoint forms, start with the built-in Microsoft Lists form. If your form needs conditional logic, complex layouts, approvals, or workflow automation, you may need a more advanced option.

Table of Contents

• How to Create a Form in SharePoint
• How to Customize a SharePoint Form
• 4 Ways to Create a Form in SharePoint
• Microsoft Lists vs. Microsoft Forms vs. Power Apps
• How to Choose the Right SharePoint Form Method
• Common SharePoint Form Problems to Avoid
• What If You Are Replacing InfoPath Forms?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• The Bottom Line

How to Create a Form in SharePoint

The easiest way to create a basic form in SharePoint is to create a SharePoint list and use its Forms experience.

The form is connected to the list, so the information submitted through the form is stored as list data.

Step 1: Create a SharePoint list

Start by creating the SharePoint list that will store the information submitted through your form.

1. Open your SharePoint site.
2. Select New and then select List.
3. Choose whether to create a blank list, use an existing list, or start from a template.
4. Give the list a name.
5. Select Create.

Your list provides the data structure for the form.

Step 2: Add the fields your form needs

Add columns to the SharePoint list for each piece of information you want users to provide.

Depending on your requirements, you can use columns such as:

• Single line of text
• Multiple lines of text
• Choice
• Number
• Date and time
• Person or Group
• Yes/No
• Lookup
• Currency

For example, an employee equipment request form might include:

• Employee Name
• Department
• Equipment Requested
• Business Justification
• Requested Date
• Manager

Think about the information you need before designing the form. The list columns determine the data your form collects.

Step 3: Create the form

Once your list has the fields you need, open the list and use its Forms option to create a form.

The exact options you see can vary depending on your Microsoft 365 and SharePoint environment.

The form is connected to the SharePoint list, which means submissions become list items.

This is the simplest approach when you need a straightforward form for collecting information in SharePoint.

Step 4: Customize the form

After creating the form, you can customize which fields appear and how users interact with them.

For a basic form, you may want to:

• Rearrange fields
• Make fields required
• Hide fields users do not need to see
• Add instructions
• Adjust the form’s appearance

Keep the form as simple as possible. Users are more likely to complete a form when it asks only for information that is actually needed.

Step 5: Share the form

Once the form is ready, test it and share it with the people who need to submit information.

Before sending it to users, verify:

• Required fields work correctly
• Choice fields contain the correct options
• Dates and other data types behave as expected
• Submitted information appears correctly in the SharePoint list
• Users have the necessary SharePoint permissions

Step 6: Test the form

Always submit a test response before putting a SharePoint form into production.

Test the form as an actual user would use it. If the form will be completed on mobile devices, test it on a phone as well.

For a simple data collection form, this process can take only a few minutes.

How to Customize a SharePoint Form

The built-in SharePoint list form is useful for straightforward data collection. However, you may eventually need more customization.

For example, you might need to:

• Show or hide fields based on previous answers
• Create conditional logic
• Build a more customized layout
• Connect the form to other business data
• Trigger workflows after submission
• Create more advanced user experiences

When the built-in form does not provide enough flexibility, you can customize a SharePoint list form with Power Apps.

Customize a SharePoint list form with Power Apps

To customize a SharePoint list form with Power Apps:

1. Open the SharePoint list.
2. Select Integrate.
3. Select Power Apps.
4. Select Customize forms.
5. Make your changes in Power Apps Studio.
6. Save and publish the form.

Power Apps gives you significantly more control over the form experience than the standard SharePoint list form.

The trade-off is complexity. Power Apps uses Power Fx for formulas and can require more technical knowledge to build and maintain advanced forms.

4 Ways to Create a Form in SharePoint

There is more than one way to create a form for use with SharePoint. The best option depends on what your form needs to do after someone submits it.

Method 1: Microsoft Lists or SharePoint List Forms

Best for: Simple data collection directly into SharePoint.

The built-in form associated with a SharePoint or Microsoft List is usually the best place to start.

Because the form is connected directly to the list, submitted information becomes list data without requiring a separate form platform.

Good examples include:

• Employee information requests
• Equipment requests
• Internal suggestions
• Basic service requests
• Contact information
• Simple approvals

Advantages:

• Built into Microsoft 365
• Easy to create
• No separate form platform required
• Data is stored in SharePoint
• Easy for SharePoint users to maintain

Limitations:

• Limited customization compared with Power Apps
• Complex conditional logic may require another solution
• Advanced workflow requirements may require Power Automate or another platform

Method 2: Microsoft Forms Embedded in SharePoint

Best for: Surveys, feedback, registrations, and simple information collection.

Microsoft Forms is a separate Microsoft 365 application, but you can embed a Microsoft Form on a SharePoint page using the Microsoft Forms web part.

To add a Microsoft Form to a SharePoint page:

1. Open the SharePoint page where you want the form.
2. Select Edit.
3. Add the Microsoft Forms web part.
4. Create a new form or select an existing form.
5. Configure the form.
6. Publish the SharePoint page.

Microsoft Forms is particularly useful when the primary goal is collecting responses rather than creating a SharePoint business process.

Good examples include:

• Employee surveys
• Event registrations
• Customer feedback
• Polls
• Simple questionnaires

One important distinction is that Microsoft Forms and SharePoint list forms are not the same thing. If your goal is to collect information directly into a SharePoint list and use that data in a SharePoint-based process, a SharePoint list form is generally the more direct option.

Method 3: Power Apps Custom SharePoint Form

Best for: Forms requiring advanced customization and logic.

Power Apps can replace or customize the standard SharePoint list form.

With Power Apps, you can create more sophisticated experiences, including conditional behavior, customized layouts, formulas, and connections to other Microsoft data sources.

Power Apps works particularly well when a form is part of a larger business application.

Advantages:

• Highly customizable
• Supports conditional logic
• Integrates with Microsoft 365
• Can connect to multiple data sources
• Works with Power Automate

Limitations:

• More complex to build
• Power Fx knowledge may be required
• Advanced solutions can require significant development and maintenance

Method 4: A Dedicated No-Code SharePoint Form Builder

Best for: Complex forms and workflows that business users need to maintain without coding.

A dedicated SharePoint form builder can provide functionality between the simplicity of native SharePoint forms and the customization of Power Apps.

For example, NITRO Forms is a no-code form solution from Crow Canyon Software that runs natively with SharePoint and Microsoft 365.

A dedicated form builder can be useful when you need:

• Complex business forms
• Conditional logic
• Multi-step processes
• Approval workflows
• Custom layouts
• Integration with SharePoint data
• Business-user maintenance
• Forms that replace legacy InfoPath applications

The main advantage is reducing the amount of custom development required to build and maintain complex forms.

The trade-off is that a dedicated solution introduces another platform and licensing cost.

Microsoft Lists vs. Microsoft Forms vs. Power Apps vs. a No-Code Form Builder

The right choice depends on how much functionality your form needs.

Which SharePoint form method should you choose?

Use the Microsoft Lists or SharePoint list form if you need a simple form that stores information in SharePoint.

Use Microsoft Forms if you are primarily creating a survey, questionnaire, registration form, or feedback form.

Use Power Apps if your form requires substantial customization or conditional logic and your organization has the technical resources to build and maintain it.

Use a dedicated no-code SharePoint form builder if you need complex forms and workflows but want business analysts or other non-developers to maintain them.

Common SharePoint Form Problems to Avoid

Creating the form is only part of the process. The design decisions you make before and after building the form can determine whether it works well in production.

1. Starting with the form instead of the process

Before creating the form, identify:

• Who will complete it
• What information you need
• What happens after submission
• Who reviews the submission
• Who approves it
• Where the information needs to go
• Who will maintain the process

A form should support a process rather than become the process itself.

2. Using Microsoft Forms when you need SharePoint data

Microsoft Forms is excellent for surveys and simple response collection.

However, if the information needs to become part of a SharePoint-based business process, a SharePoint list form or another SharePoint-connected solution may be a better fit.

3. Making a simple form too complicated

Not every form needs Power Apps.

If users simply need to submit five pieces of information into a SharePoint list, the native list form may be all you need.

4. Choosing a tool nobody can maintain

The person who creates the form may not be the person maintaining it six months later.

Consider the technical skills of the people who will own the form before choosing a platform.

5. Forgetting mobile users

If users will complete the form from phones or tablets, test the actual user experience on those devices before publishing.

What If You Are Replacing InfoPath Forms?

If you are creating a new SharePoint form because an older InfoPath form needs to be replaced, the requirements may be significantly more complex than a basic list form.

InfoPath Forms Services in SharePoint Online was retired on July 14, 2026. Organizations that still depend on legacy InfoPath forms need to evaluate replacement options based on the complexity of their existing forms and workflows.

For a simple InfoPath form, a native SharePoint list form or Power Apps may be sufficient.

For a large collection of complex forms with business logic and workflow, a dedicated SharePoint form platform may be worth considering.

Crow Canyon’s NITRO Studio is one option for organizations looking for a no-code approach to replacing InfoPath forms and building SharePoint-based forms and workflows.

For example, Air Wisconsin had more than 400 InfoPath forms to replace and selected NITRO Studio to support its transition across SharePoint environments.

Read the full Air Wisconsin case study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a form in SharePoint without coding?

Yes. The built-in SharePoint or Microsoft Lists form can be created without writing code. Microsoft Forms also provides a no-code way to create surveys and other simple forms. More advanced customization with Power Apps may require Power Fx formulas and additional technical knowledge.

What is the easiest way to create a form in SharePoint?

The easiest method is to create a SharePoint or Microsoft List and use its built-in Forms experience. This is the simplest option when you need to collect information and store it directly in SharePoint.

How do I create a custom form in SharePoint?

For basic customization, use the built-in SharePoint list form settings. For more advanced customization, open the SharePoint list and select Integrate > Power Apps > Customize forms. Power Apps allows you to add more sophisticated layouts, logic, and behavior.

Should I use Microsoft Forms or Power Apps for SharePoint?

Use Microsoft Forms for surveys, feedback, registrations, and simple questionnaires. Use Power Apps when you need a customized form connected to SharePoint data and require more advanced logic or functionality.

Can I add approval workflow to a SharePoint form?

Yes. SharePoint list forms can work with Power Automate to trigger workflows after information is submitted. Power Apps forms can also work with Power Automate. For more complex multi-step approvals, routing, escalation, and business processes, a dedicated workflow and form solution may be more appropriate.

Does SharePoint have a form builder?

Yes. SharePoint and Microsoft Lists provide built-in forms for collecting information associated with lists. You can also use Power Apps to create more customized SharePoint forms. Dedicated third-party form builders provide additional functionality for organizations with more complex requirements.

Can I create a SharePoint form without creating a list?

A native SharePoint list form is tied to a SharePoint or Microsoft List because the list provides the data structure where submissions are stored.

If you need a standalone survey or questionnaire, Microsoft Forms can be created independently and then embedded in a SharePoint page.

Can external users fill out a SharePoint form?

It depends on the form technology and your organization’s Microsoft 365 configuration.

SharePoint list forms are generally designed around SharePoint permissions and authenticated users. Microsoft Forms may provide different sharing options depending on your organization’s settings. If you need external users to submit information while maintaining a controlled SharePoint-based process, evaluate the specific security and access requirements before choosing a form technology.

Is InfoPath still available for SharePoint?

InfoPath Forms Services in SharePoint Online was retired on July 14, 2026. Organizations still using legacy InfoPath forms should evaluate replacement options such as native SharePoint forms, Power Apps, or dedicated SharePoint form solutions.

The Bottom Line

Creating a basic form in SharePoint does not have to be complicated.

For simple data collection, start with a SharePoint or Microsoft List and use its built-in form.

For surveys and feedback, Microsoft Forms is often the better choice.

For highly customized forms that require advanced logic, Power Apps provides significantly more flexibility.

For complex forms and workflows that need to remain no-code and maintainable by business users, a dedicated SharePoint form builder may be the better fit.

The most important step is choosing the right tool for the process. A simple form should be simple. A complex business process needs a solution that can support its logic, workflow, data, and long-term maintenance.