How to View Form Submissions in WordPress

Someone filled out your form. Now what? Where does that data go? How do you see it? If you’re new to WordPress forms, finding submissions might not be obvious. This guide shows you exactly how to view every form submission directly in your WordPress dashboard.

Where Do Form Submissions Go?

Two Places

1. WordPress Database: Stored securely on your server
2. Email (Optional): Sent to your inbox if notifications enabled

Why View in Dashboard?

• All submissions in one place
• Search and filter capabilities
• No email clutter
• Better organization
• Export options
• Won’t miss entries if email fails

Accessing the Submissions Page

Step-by-Step

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Look for AFB in the left sidebar
3. Click Submissions
4. View all form entries

Direct URL

yourdomain.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=afb-submissions

What You’ll See

A table displaying:

• Form name
• Submission date/time
• Key field values (name, email, etc.)
• Status indicators
• Action buttons

Understanding the Submissions List

List View Layout

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ☆ │ Form        │ Name       │ Email           │ Date         │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ☆ │ Contact     │ John Smith │ [email protected]  │ Jan 10, 2026 │
│ ★ │ Contact     │ Jane Doe   │ [email protected]  │ Jan 9, 2026  │
│ ☆ │ Newsletter  │ Bob Wilson │ [email protected]   │ Jan 8, 2026  │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Column Information

• Star: Flag important entries
• Form: Which form was submitted
• Preview columns: Key fields (configurable)
• Date: When submitted
• Actions: View, delete, etc.

Visual Indicators

• Bold text: Unread/new submissions
• Normal text: Previously viewed
• Star icon: Flagged as important

Viewing Individual Submissions

Opening a Submission

1. Find the entry in the list
2. Click on the entry row or “View” button
3. Full submission details appear

Submission Detail View

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SUBMISSION #1234                        │
│ Form: Contact Form                      │
│ Submitted: January 10, 2026 at 2:45 PM  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                         │
│ Name: John Smith                        │
│ Email: [email protected]                 │
│ Phone: (555) 123-4567                   │
│ Subject: Product Inquiry                │
│ Message:                                │
│ Hi, I'm interested in learning more     │
│ about your services. Could you please   │
│ send me more information?               │
│                                         │
│ [File attachment: document.pdf]         │
│                                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Star] [Mark Unread] [Delete] [Print]   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

What’s Included

• All field labels and values
• Submission timestamp
• Form name
• File attachments (if any)
• Submission ID
• Status (read/unread, starred)

Navigating Multiple Submissions

Pagination

For many submissions:

• Navigate pages (1, 2, 3…)
• Jump to specific page
• Change entries per page (10, 25, 50, 100)

Quick Navigation

• Previous/Next buttons within detail view
• Return to list button
• Keyboard shortcuts (if available)

Finding Specific Submissions

Using Search

1. Find search box on submissions page
2. Enter search term (name, email, keyword)
3. Press Enter or click Search
4. Results show matching entries

What Search Finds

• Names
• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Message content
• Any text field value

Search Examples

"john" → All entries containing "john"
"@gmail.com" → All Gmail submissions
"urgent" → Messages mentioning "urgent"
"555-1234" → Specific phone number

Using Filters

Filter by Form:

1. Click form filter dropdown
2. Select specific form
3. View only that form’s submissions

Filter by Date:

1. Select date filter
2. Choose range (Today, Last 7 days, etc.)
3. Or set custom date range

Filter by Status:

• All submissions
• Unread only
• Read only
• Starred only

Understanding Submission Status

Read vs Unread

• Unread: New, not yet opened
• Read: Previously viewed

Opening a submission marks it as read automatically.

Starred Submissions

• Click star to flag important entries
• Starred items are highlighted
• Filter to see only starred

Changing Status

• Click to toggle star on/off
• Mark as unread to review again later

Actions You Can Take

On Individual Submissions

• View: See full details
• Star/Unstar: Flag as important
• Mark Read/Unread: Change status
• Delete: Remove submission
• Print: Printer-friendly view

Bulk Actions

• Select multiple entries with checkboxes
• Apply action to all selected
• Delete multiple, mark read, etc.

Export

• Download submissions as CSV
• Open in Excel or Google Sheets
• Export filtered results or all

File Attachments

Viewing Attachments

1. Open submission with file uploads
2. Attachments listed in detail view
3. Click to preview or download

Downloading Files

• Click download icon next to file
• File saves to your computer
• Multiple files download separately

Supported Preview

• Images: Preview in browser
• PDFs: View or download
• Documents: Download to open

Common Questions

How often should I check submissions?

Depends on your volume and urgency:

• High-priority forms: Multiple times daily
• Standard contact forms: Once or twice daily
• Low-volume forms: Weekly review

Tip: Enable email notifications for time-sensitive forms.

Can I get notified of new submissions?

Yes! Enable email notifications in form settings to receive an email each time someone submits.

Are submissions backed up?

Submissions are stored in your WordPress database. Regular site backups include this data. You can also export to CSV for additional backup.

Can others view submissions?

Only users with appropriate WordPress admin access can view submissions. Regular visitors cannot access this data.

How long are submissions kept?

Indefinitely, unless you delete them. Consider periodic cleanup or export/archive for older entries.

What if I accidentally delete a submission?

Deleted submissions are typically permanent. Export/backup before deleting if uncertain.

Tips for Efficient Review

Daily Workflow

1. Go to Submissions
2. Filter to “Unread” only
3. Review each new entry
4. Star important ones for follow-up
5. All reviewed entries now marked “Read”

Processing Starred Items

1. Filter to “Starred” only
2. Work through flagged submissions
3. Take action (reply, call, etc.)
4. Unstar when complete

Weekly Cleanup

1. Export last week’s submissions (backup)
2. Delete spam or test entries
3. Review starred items not yet processed

Troubleshooting

No Submissions Showing

• Check if form has been submitted (test it)
• Verify you’re looking at the right form
• Clear filters (might be filtering out entries)
• Check date range isn’t excluding results

Missing Recent Submission

• Refresh the page
• Check spam/test filters
• Verify form submission succeeded
• Check if another admin deleted it

Can’t Find Specific Entry

• Clear all filters first
• Search by name or email
• Check different date ranges
• Try partial search terms

Slow Loading

• Too many entries displayed
• Reduce entries per page
• Use filters to narrow results
• Consider archiving old submissions

Mobile Access

Viewing on Phone/Tablet

• Log into WordPress admin on mobile
• Navigate to AFB → Submissions
• Responsive design adjusts to screen

Mobile Limitations

• Smaller screen shows fewer columns
• Some actions may require desktop
• Export typically better on desktop

Best for Quick Checks

• View new submissions
• Check urgent entries
• Star for later follow-up

Summary

Viewing form submissions in WordPress:

1. Access: AFB → Submissions in dashboard
2. Browse: Scroll through submission list
3. Click: Open individual entry for details
4. Search: Find specific submissions
5. Filter: By form, date, or status
6. Manage: Star, mark read, delete as needed
7. Export: Download for records or analysis

Conclusion

Every form submission represents a person reaching out—a potential customer, job applicant, or someone needing help. Knowing how to find and view these submissions is essential for responding promptly and managing your communications effectively. The WordPress dashboard keeps everything organized and accessible.

Auto Form Builder stores all submissions securely in your WordPress database with an intuitive interface for viewing, searching, filtering, and managing entries. Never miss a form submission again.

Ready to manage your submissions? Download Auto Form Builder and start viewing form entries in your dashboard.