How to automatically fill today's date in the form?

"Google forms: Set Date type to a default (like today's date)"- Google Docs Editors Community

A date question in Google Forms always starts empty. When every response needs today's date, such as the date of a request or a visit, people have to type it, and some skip it or pick the wrong day. 44 people on Google's forum have asked how to make today's date the default. Google Forms has no default for a date question. It records a Timestamp with each response, but your users never see it on the form. With Formfacade, you write TODAY() in the date question's Calculate option and the form opens with today's date filled in.

Below are three ways to get today's date into each response, and where each one falls short.

1. Use the Timestamp that Google Forms records

Every response in Google Forms comes with a Timestamp, the date and time it was submitted, and it shows in the Google Sheet linked to your form. It needs no setup, but the date question on the form still starts empty, so your users never see the date or confirm it.

2. Share a pre-filled link with the date

In Google Forms, click the ⋮ More icon, select Pre-fill form, type the date in the date question and click Get link. The date is fixed when you make the link, so it is only right on that day and you need a new link every day.

3. Fill it in with Formfacade

A date question in Formfacade can calculate its own answer. In this example, a leave request form fills in the Request Date by itself.
  • Click Create your form, name your form, click Build form and click Proceed.
  • Click on the "Edit" tab.
The tabs Edit, Preview, Share and Responses, with Edit marked
  • Click on the + icon (Add field) in the toolbar on the right.
  • Enter "Request Date" as the question and select Date in the question type list.
The toolbar on the right of the Edit tab, with the + icon marked
Click on the ⚙️ icon at the bottom right of the question.
The form in Formfacade, with the EDIT tab, the Request Date question and the gear icon at the bottom right of its card marked
Select the "Answer" tab.
The field settings panel with the Answer tab and the Calculate box marked
Write the TODAY() formula in the Calculate option as shown below. Click Save.
The Answer tab with TODAY() written in the Calculate box
When the form opens, the request date already shows today's date. Your users cannot change it, because a question with a formula turns read only by itself.
The Time off request form with today's date already filled in Request Date

Summary

A date question in Google Forms always starts empty, and the Timestamp it records is never shown to your users. With Formfacade, you write TODAY() in the Calculate option of a date question and the form fills in today's date by itself. Create your form and complete the steps above.

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