Browser Auto-Save

Overview

When respondents fill out long forms, unexpected interruptions like a tab closure, internet loss, or a device shutdown can result in data loss, forcing them to start over. While Zoho Forms already offers the Save & Resume feature to address this by saving the partially filled form on server, it still requires manual action; respondents must click the Save button. If they don’t, their data may still be lost.

Browser Auto-Save feature eliminates the extra step of manual saving and helps prevent the data loss possibility by automatically saving form progress in the respondent's browser as they fill it out. The data is stored locally on their device for up to 7 days, allowing them to continue from where they left off — without needing to save manually. The auto-saved data remains private, stays on the respondent's device, and is never sent to the server until the form is submitted.

How Browser Auto-Save Works

When enabled, Browser Auto-Save stores form data in the respondent's browser local storage as they fill out the form. If they leave the form and return anytime within 7 days in the same browser and device, their previously entered data will be restored automatically, letting them continue without re-entering any information.

When the respondent accesses the form anytime after seven days, the locally stored data will be cleared and a fresh, unfilled form will load. The data is also cleared automatically upon form submission or if the user manually clears their browser local storage.

Enabling Browser Auto-Save

Form admins can enable Browser Auto-Save under form settings. To enable:

In your form builder, navigate to Settings > Submissions & Storage > Save for Later.

Under Browser Auto-Save, select Enable.

The Show a consent popup to respondents in live form checkbox, which was initially disabled, will be enabled. Enable or disable the checkbox as needed. Read more about this checkbox below.
Click Save.

Respondent consent checkbox

Toggle the Show a consent popup to respondents in live form checkbox based on your requirement.

When this checkbox is enabled:

Respondents will see a consent popup the first time they access the form, asking permission to auto-save their progress.
You can customize the popup if you wish to change the default messages:

Consent Message: Message shown to the respondent requesting their consent.
Allow Button Label: Text shown on the CTA button that enables auto-save.
Deny Button Label: Text shown on the CTA button that disables auto-save.

When this checkbox is disabled:

Form progress will be auto-saved by default without getting any consent. No popup will be shown.
This is useful when admin wants to enforce the Browser Auto-Save without giving respondents the option to opt in or out.

You can click the Preview Popup button to see how the consent popup appears on the live form to the respondents.

Note:

Browser Auto-Save is available only for public forms, not for private forms.
Upload and Signature fields are not supported in Browser Auto-Save.
Browser Auto-Save is not supported for forms in older version of themes. Switch to the latest version to configure it.
Browser Auto-Save will work only in public form URLs and not on saved URLs generated via the Save & Resume option.

Respondent Experience in Live form

Here's what respondents experience in different scenarios when interacting with public form URL with Browser Auto-Save enabled:

Accessing for the first time

If Consent Popup is disabled: Form progress is automatically saved without getting any consent from the respondent.
If Consent Popup is enabled: A popup appears asking for permission to auto-save their progress.

If they click Allow, their progress will be automatically saved as they fill the form.
If they click Deny or Close button, auto-save will not be activated for that session.

Browser Auto-Save in Live Form

Return within 7 days (same browser & device)

Previously entered data will be automatically restored. Respondents can continue from where they left off without re-entering the information.

Return after 7 days (same browser & device)

On accessing the form, the saved data in the browser local storage will be cleared automatically. An unfilled form will be loaded, and the respondent must start over.

Submits the form and returns (same browser & device)

Once the form is submitted, all auto-saved data will be cleared. When the respondent accesses the public form URL again, an unfilled form will be shown.

Note:

Browser Auto-Save requires respondents to return to the form using the same browser and device.
To translate the Browser Auto-Save content shown in the respondent consent popup box for your form, navigate to Settings > Translation & Messages and set the translated text in the Acknowledgement Content section in your preferred language.