How to Pre-Fill Your Online Forms Using URL Parameters

Pre-filling forms using URL parameters is a smart way to save your respondents time, reduce errors, and improve conversion rates. By automatically filling in fields such as name, email, or any custom input, you can simplify form submissions and create a personalized experience.

Steps to Pre-Fill a Form

Step 1: Open or Create a Form

Log in to your Formester account and either create a new form using AI or open an existing form that you want to pre-fill.

Step 2: Add the Fields to Pre-Fill

Make sure your form includes the fields you want to pre-fill, such as Name, Email, or other custom fields. Ensure the field labels are spelled correctly, as typos will prevent the URL parameters from working properly.

Step 3: Publish and Copy the Form URL

Once your form is ready, publish it and copy the form URL. This will be the base URL to which you will add your pre-fill parameters.

Step 4: Add URL Parameters

Take the form URL and append a question mark (?) at the end. Then, add your parameters using the format field_name=value. For example:

https://yourformesterform.com/form?name=John&email=john@gmail.com

You can include as many fields as needed by separating them with an ampersand (&).

Step 5: Test the Pre-Filled Form

Open the custom URL in a new browser tab. The form should display the values you added automatically in the corresponding fields. If it doesn’t work, check for typos in the URL or field labels.

Step 6: Share the Custom URL

Once verified, share the pre-filled URL with your respondents. They can now complete the form faster, reducing friction and improving response rates.

Use Cases for Pre-Filled Forms

• Internal Workflows: Simplify HR, IT, or other internal request forms by pre-filling user information.
• Event Registrations: Pre-fill returning attendees’ details to speed up signups.
• Marketing Campaigns: Personalize forms for leads by pre-filling known information from email campaigns.
• Reducing Errors: Automatically populating fields ensures data consistency and accuracy.

Pro Tip

Combine pre-filled forms with Save and Continue or Partial Submissions to further improve user experience for long forms, ensuring no data is lost and respondents can complete forms efficiently.

Updated on: 17/09/2025