Default answers let you pre-populate specific form questions with a value so they appear already selected or filled in when a respondent opens the form. This reduces friction, speeds up completion and standardises common responses — while still letting the respondent change the answer before submitting.
Default answers are configured in the Forms builder and apply at the individual question or block level. They never lock an answer: defaults are pre-selected but always editable.
What this feature does
- Sets a default answer on specific form questions.
- Pre-selects or pre-fills those answers when a respondent opens the form.
- Lets respondents keep the default or change it freely.
- Improves speed and consistency for commonly used responses.
Supported question and block types
Default answers are available on the following types:
- Text questions
- Single Choice and Single Choice (with other) questions
- Multi Choice and Multi Choice (with other) questions
- Date questions
- Number questions
- Transaction blocks (for example, default donation amounts)
The option is not offered on Single Choice Rating, Mobile, Email, Phone, Address, Matrix Scale Choice or Data Table questions.
Setting a default answer
- Open the Forms feature.
- Open the specific form you want to edit.
- Select a supported question or block on the canvas.
- Open the settings panel on the right-hand side.
- Locate the Set default value for this block option.
- Tick it. The controls for choosing the default then appear (see below).
Configuring the default value by type
The way you enter the default depends on the question type:
- Text, Number and Date — enter the value in the Default answer field that appears.
- Single Choice — under Manage answer list, select the one answer that should be pre-selected.
- Multi Choice — under Manage answer list, tick one or more answers to pre-select them.
- Transaction blocks — under Amounts, select which of your amounts is pre-selected (for example, a commonly used donation amount).
If you untick Set default value for this block, the default controls disappear and nothing is pre-filled. Changing a question's type also clears it, so set the type first.
When you have set the defaults you need, click Save and close.
How default answers appear to respondents
- A respondent opens the form to complete it.
- Any question with a default value appears already pre-selected or pre-filled.
- The respondent can leave the default unchanged, or modify it.
- The form is then submitted as normal.
Where and how defaults apply
- Default answers apply only to the specific form and question where they are set — they do not carry across to other forms.
- They are commonly used for donation forms, frequently selected options and standard dates.
- They improve completion rates and reduce repetitive input.
- Defaults never lock answers; the respondent always retains control to change them.
FAQs
Which question types support default answers?
Text, Single Choice, Single Choice (with other), Multi Choice, Multi Choice (with other), Date and Number questions, and Transaction blocks.
Can respondents change a default answer?
Yes. Defaults are pre-selected but fully editable before submission.
Where do I set default answers?
In the right-hand settings panel when editing a question in the form builder, via the Set default value for this block option.
Do default answers apply to all forms?
No. They apply only to the specific form and question where they are configured.
Why use default answers?
They streamline completion, reduce respondent effort, and standardise common responses.