Auto-save (automatic saving)

Auto-save is saving work automatically, without a Save button. In online surveys it means a respondent's answers are kept as they go, so closing the tab or losing the connection doesn't wipe out what they already answered.

The term covers two things. Progress saved on the respondent's device lets them come back and continue. Answers saved on the server let the survey owner see partial responses from people who never finished.

How it works in SurveyNinja

• Autosave progress in the survey settings (Filling behavior) is on by default, on every plan. Progress is saved in the browser, so the respondent continues from the same question on the same device and browser.
• Allow retaking the survey appears when autosave is on. A returning respondent then sees "Continue where you left off?" and can continue or start over.
• With a survey timer and autosave on, reloading the page doesn't restart the countdown.
• Incomplete responses are saved on the server as the respondent moves through the survey, on the Standard plan and higher. They have their own tab in Results, and you can filter and download them like completed ones.

Help: Timers and scheduled access (autosave settings) and Incomplete responses.

Tips

• Progress saved in the browser doesn't move between devices. Someone who starts on a phone and switches to a laptop starts again.
• Edits in the builder are kept as a draft. Respondents see them only after you click Publish again.
• Compare started and finished responses to see where people leave. The completion rate calculator does the math.