Are you looking for ways to migrate entries from Contact Form 7 to Google Sheets?

Contact Form 7 is one of the oldest and most popular contact form plugins for WordPress websites.

It’s a simple tool for collecting contact details, but with the help of other third-party plugins, the tool can transform into a powerful form management system, capable of handling complex form logic, conditional fields, and file uploads. It can even integrate with popular marketing automation tools, email services, and CRM systems.

When exporting Contact Form 7 data out of your WordPress website, you can use WordPress’s native export tool. However, the data can be exported only in .xml files, not Google Sheets.

To export entries from Contact Form 7 to Google Sheets, you need to rely on a third-party plugin like CF7 Google Sheet Connector.

It’s a powerful plugin that allows you to manage Contact Form 7 data using Google Sheets, instruct which data to export and which ones to skip, track the date and time the form entry was submitted, and insert uploaded files as links, among other things.

In this article, we are going to show you how to use the CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin to migrate the form data out of your WordPress website.

Let’s get started.

Why Export Contact Form 7 Data to Google Sheets?

Exporting form data from Contact Form 7 to Google Sheets is essential for streamlining data management and improving efficiency. Here are some common reasons why you should consider this integration:

• Centralized Data Management: Manage all your form submissions in one place, making it easier to track, analyze, and respond to leads.
• Data Visualization: Utilize Google Sheets’ built-in features such as charts, filters, and pivot tables to analyze and visualize your data.
• Collaboration Made Easy: Share data with team members or stakeholders without needing access to your WordPress website.
• Data Backup: Safeguard your submissions by storing them off-site, reducing the risk of data loss due to website issues.
• Save Time: Automate the transfer of form data, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors.
• Accessibility: Access your data from anywhere using Google Sheets’ cloud-based platform.
• Audit Trail: Track changes and maintain a history of your data, useful for auditing or trend analysis.
• Comprehensive Analysis: Combine Contact Form 7 data with other data sources in Google Sheets for deeper insights.
• Migration Flexibility: Use Google Sheets as an intermediary when transferring data between systems or platforms.

How to Export Entries From Contact Form 7 to Google Sheets

In this guide, we’ll show you how to easily export Contact Form 7 (CF7) submissions to Google Sheets using the CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin.

The CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin has both a free version and a premium version. The premium plugin is priced at an annual cost of $39 for a single website.

The free version has some limitations, such as the inability to edit sheet headers and display PayPal or Stripe status, among other features. However, you can still follow this tutorial with the free version, as the steps remain the same.

In the tutorial below, we’ll demonstrate the process using the premium plugin, but CF7 Google Sheet Connector users of both the free and paid versions can follow along with ease.

Let’s dive into the tutorial.

1. Install & Activate CF7 Google Sheet Connector

Start by downloading the CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin, which offers seamless integration between Contact Form 7 and Google Sheets. This plugin stands out for its features such as real-time data synchronization, customizable headers, and advanced compatibility with Google Sheets functions.

Installing Contact Form 7

Log In to WordPress

• Go to your WordPress admin area.
• Click “Plugins” on the left side. (under Plugins Section)
• Hit “Add New” at the top.

Search for Contact Form 7

• Type “Contact Form 7” in the search bar.
• Click “Install Now” for Contact Form 7.
• Once it’s installed, activate it.

Installing CF7 Google Sheet Connector Plugin

Go Back to Plugins

• Click “Add New” again.

Search for CF7 Google Sheet Connector

• Type “CF7 Google Sheet Connector” in the search bar.
• Click “Install Now” for CF7 Google Sheet Connector.
• After installing, activate it.

A Quick video showing an installing

Installing from WordPress

• Go to the wordpress.org & Download plugins zip file.
• To Add the New Plugin, Select the “ADD NEW” Plugins Menu in the Dashboard.
• Click on the “upload plugin” Button & upload the CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin zip file.
• Install and activate the CF7 Google Sheets Connector Plugin.

2. Connect Your Website with Google Sheets

To export form submissions, connect your website to Google Sheets using the Google API. The CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin simplifies this process with step-by-step guidance for API integration. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to CF7 Google Sheet Connector → API Settings in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can configure the API settings required to establish a connection with Google Sheets. This includes entering the Client ID, Client Secret, and Refresh Token that are generated via the Google Cloud Platform. Detailed instructions for generating these credentials are available within the plugin’s documentation, ensuring a smooth setup process.
2. You’ll need a Client ID, Client Secret, and Refresh Token. Generate these credentials in the Google Cloud Platform. Refer to the detailed guide provided within the plugin for step-by-step instructions.
3. Once you have the credentials, enter them into the plugin’s API Settings page and save changes. This will link your website to Google Sheets.

Integration of Contact Form 7 with Google Sheet:

• Ensure that you have successfully integrated (Automatic Integration or Manual Integration) Contact Form 7 with Google Sheet Connector.

Edit Contact Form:

• Go to the Contact Form 7 section in your WordPress dashboard.
• Locate and Edit the specific Contact Form that you want to integrate with Google Sheets.

• Within the Contact Form > go to setting > navigate to the “Google Sheets” tab.
• Insert the necessary details for your Google Sheet in the relevant fields:
• Google Sheet Name
• Google Sheet ID
• Google Sheet Tab Name
• Google Sheet Tab ID

Google Sheet Info :

Copy Google Sheet Info like below image.

Copy Label Names :

• Navigate to the “Form” tab in your Contact Form editor.
• Copy the Label Names associated with each form field. These label names will serve as identifiers for your form data.

Paste Label Names in Google Spreadsheet:

• Open your Google Spreadsheet linked to the Contact Form.
• In the corresponding columns, paste the Label Names from the Contact Form.

Additionally if you want to see the submission date of the form in google sheet then simply add one more column named “date” and submission date will be shown,

More CF7 Mail tags and Custom Mail tags of CF7 is supported in the PRO version of CF7 Google Sheet Connector

3. Map Your Contact Form to Google Sheets

The CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin makes the mapping process intuitive and user-friendly. Unlike other tools, it provides an easy-to-navigate interface to link your Contact Form 7 fields directly to Google Sheet columns. Here’s how it works:

1. Navigate to Contact → Contact Forms and select the form you want to integrate.
2. Click on the newly added Google Sheet Settings tab.
3. From the dropdown menu, choose Create New Sheet to generate a new Google Sheet in your linked Google Drive.
4. Enter a name for the sheet (e.g., “Contact Form Submissions”) and a sub-sheet name (e.g., “Entries”).
5. Save your settings, and the plugin will automatically create and link a Google Sheet tailored to your form.

What sets this plugin apart is its ability to auto-map form fields to sheet headers, saving you time and reducing setup errors. Additionally, it supports advanced field types and dynamic content, ensuring compatibility with even the most complex forms.

Now that your website is connected, map your form fields to a Google Sheet:

1. Go to Contact → Contact Forms and edit the form you want to integrate.
2. You’ll notice a new tab titled Google Sheet Settings. Click on it.
3. Choose Create New Sheet from the dropdown menu to generate a new Google Sheet.
4. Provide a name for the sheet (e.g., “Contact Form Submissions”) and a sub-sheet name (e.g., “Entries”).
5. Save your settings. A Google Sheet will be automatically created in your linked Google Drive account.

4. Customize Sheet Settings

Once the sheet is created, you can take advantage of the CF7 Google Sheet Connector’s exclusive customization options to tailor the sheet to your needs:

• Headers: Automatically generated based on your form fields, these headers can be enabled or disabled as per your requirements. This level of customization ensures that only relevant data is included in the export.
• Freeze Header: Keep the header row fixed at the top for better navigation when scrolling through extensive data. This feature is particularly useful for large datasets.
• Dynamic Column Updates: Adjust headers dynamically to match any changes in your form fields, saving time and effort during updates.
• Submission Date: Optionally include the submission date for a detailed timestamp of each entry, aiding in better data tracking and analysis.
• Clear Spreadsheet: A unique feature allowing you to delete all data from the sheet when necessary, ideal for resetting or repurposing the sheet for new data.

These customization options make the plugin stand out by offering flexibility and user-centric features for optimal data management. Save your changes after customizing the settings.

Once the sheet is created, you can customize its settings:

• Headers: Review the column headers generated by the plugin, which correspond to your form fields. Enable or disable headers as needed.
• Freeze Header: Enable this option to keep headers visible while scrolling through the sheet.
• Submission Date: Choose whether to include the submission date in the exported data.
• Clear Spreadsheet: Use this option to delete all data in the sheet if needed.

Save your changes after customization.

5. Export Data to Google Sheets

With everything set up, your form submissions will automatically sync with the connected Google Sheet. To verify:

1. Open the Google Sheet via the View Spreadsheet button in the plugin settings.
2. The sheet will populate with real-time data from your Contact Form 7 submissions.

Conclusion

Exporting Contact Form 7 data to Google Sheets with the CF7 Google Sheet Connector plugin simplifies data management, enhances collaboration, and ensures secure off-site storage of your form submissions. This plugin also offers features like real-time synchronization, customizable sheet headers, and compatibility with advanced Google Sheets functions, making it an effective and versatile solution for handling your form data. While WordPress’ built-in export tool only supports XML files, this plugin enables direct, real-time export to Google Sheets.

Get started with the CF7 Google Sheet Connector today and experience the convenience of automated form data export. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!