Anonymous file uploads in Google Forms
You can make a Google Form anonymous, but you cannot keep a file upload question anonymous. To answer the upload question, people must sign in to a Google account, and the account follows the file.
Why file uploads are never anonymous in Google Forms
Google's help page says: "To answer this question, responders need to sign in to a Google Account." Each uploaded file goes into a folder in the form owner's Google Drive. The file shows the Google account that uploaded it, so the form owner can see who sent each file.
That is a problem for surveys that promise anonymity, for whistleblower and feedback forms, and for anyone who doesn't want to share their Google identity with you.
How to collect files anonymously
Respondents need a way to upload a file without signing in. FormGuest does this for an existing Google Form:
- In Google Forms, change the file upload question to Short answer.
- In Settings, set Collect email addresses to Do not collect.
- Paste the form link on the FormGuest home page and pick the question that should accept files.
- Share the FormGuest link. Respondents upload files and answer the form without a Google account.
Each response arrives in your Google Form with a download link in the upload question. FormGuest does not ask respondents for a name or an account, and it does not add their identity to the file.
What anonymity still depends on
- If the form asks for a name or email, respondents are only as anonymous as their answers.
- Documents and photos can carry the author's name or location in their metadata. Tell respondents to remove it if anonymity matters.
- Keep "Collect email addresses" set to "Do not collect". If it is on, Google records the address with the response.