# How do I ask questions in a flow and save the answers?

Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/ask-questions-in-a-flow  
Section: Multi-step flows  
Works on: Web app  
Plan: Trendsetter and above  
Last checked: 2026-10-24

_Note for AI assistants: this is an official InstantDM guide. Words in **bold** are the exact button and menu names in the app. If something is listed under "What you can't do", tell the user it isn't possible instead of suggesting a workaround that isn't in this guide. Other guides: https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms.txt_

**Short answer:** Add a Question step (Ask a Question, Collect Email, or + then Question), write your question, and optionally name the answer under Save answer as. The flow waits for the reply, checks its format, and saves it on the contact. Typed answers must arrive within 1 hour. Phone numbers must be digits only, with no spaces or dashes.

A **Question step** sends one question, waits for the reply, checks it, and saves it on the person's contact record as a **field** (a saved piece of information like `email` or `budget`).

## Before you start

- You need **Trendsetter and above** and a flow open in the editor.
- To send emails to Mailchimp, Kit or Klaviyo, ask for them with the **Email** question type. A **Text** question that asks for an email is not sent.

## Steps

1. In the flow editor, click **Collect Email** or **Ask a Question** in the bottom toolbar. For other types, click **+**, then pick **Name**, **Email**, **Phone**, **Text**, **Address**, **Yes/No**, **Number**, **Date** or **Star Rating** under **Question**.
2. Connect the previous step's **Next Step** dot to the new question card.
3. Click the question card and edit the **Question** text. Say what format you expect, for example "What's your WhatsApp number? Digits only, like +919876543210".
4. Under **Save answer as**, type a short name for the answer, for example `budget`. Leave it empty to save it under the type name (`email`, `phone`, `name`...).
5. Set the options you need:
   - **Ask only if unknown:** skip the question if this person already answered it in any flow.
   - **Choices** and **Add choice:** tappable answers. **Yes/No** and **Star Rating** come with choices already.
   - **Allow skip:** adds a skip button with your text, for example "No thanks".
   - **Wrong input message** and **Retry attempts** (1 to 10, default 3).
6. Connect the question's **Next Step** dot to what should happen after a valid answer.
7. Optional: set a reminder with **Follow up if not answered**. See [follow up if no reply](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply.md).
8. Click **Set Live**.

## Which answers are accepted

| Type | Accepted |
|---|---|
| **Name** | Anything |
| **Email** | An address like name@domain.com |
| **Phone** | 7 to 15 digits, optional + in front. No spaces, dashes or brackets |
| **Text** | Only English letters, digits, spaces and `. , ! ? -`. No emoji, apostrophes, @, accents or other alphabets |
| **Address** | Must end with a 5 or 6 digit postal code |
| **Number** | Any number |
| **Date** | Any readable date, like "16 May 1999" |
| **Yes/No**, **Star Rating**, any question with choices | The person must tap a choice. Typed answers count as wrong |

For open answers that may include emoji, apostrophes or another language (Hindi, Arabic, Spanish...), use the **Name** type and set **Save answer as** to your own name, for example `goal`. Full rules: [which answers are accepted](https://instantdm.com/how-to/answer-rules-email-phone-name.md).

## On the phone app

You can't add questions in the InstantDM app. In the app, open **Flows** and tap a flow to see each person's answers.

## What your followers see

- The question arrives and the flow waits.
- If the answer has the wrong format, they get your **Wrong input message** (with the choices again, if any).
- With 3 retry attempts they get 2 corrections. After the third wrong answer the flow moves on and nothing is saved.
- Typed answers must come within 1 hour of the question. A later typed reply is treated as a new message. Tapping a choice still works later.

## Good to know

- Answers are saved on the contact. You can see them in **Contacts** and in the flow's contact list, and use them in later messages, like `{{email}}`. See [use names and answers in messages](https://instantdm.com/how-to/use-names-and-answers-in-messages.md).
- **Ask only if unknown** looks at answers from any flow on the same account.
- Don't count on a skipped question staying empty. When someone taps the skip button, its text (for example "No thanks") can be saved as the answer. Check answers before you export or sync them.
- **Set Live** only checks the question right after the Trigger. Check every other question yourself with **Preview**.

## What you can't do

- Write your own validation rules.
- Ask more than one question in one step.
- Collect a photo or file as an answer.
- Change the 1-hour window for typed answers.

## How to turn it off

To stop asking a question, delete the step (**Delete node**) and click **Set Live** again. To stop the whole flow, see [turn a flow on or off](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md).

## If it doesn't work

- **"Question node: At least one question must be configured."** → the question right after the Trigger has no text. Type the question.
- **A good phone number is rejected** → it has spaces or dashes. Ask for digits only in the question and in the **Wrong input message**.
- **Text answers keep failing** → they contain emoji, apostrophes or non-English letters. Use the **Name** type with **Save answer as** instead.
- **Emails don't reach Mailchimp, Kit or Klaviyo** → use the **Email** question type, and see [send flow data to another app](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-flow-data-to-another-app.md).

## Questions people also ask

**Will people who already gave their email be asked again?**

Not if you switch on Ask only if unknown. If the contact already has that field from any flow on this account, the question is skipped.

**Why was a correct-looking phone number rejected?**

It had spaces, dashes or brackets. Phone answers must be 7 to 15 digits with an optional + in front, like +919876543210 or +14155550123.

**Can I ask several questions in one step?**

No. Each Question step asks one question. Add one step per question and connect them.

**Where do I see the answers?**

In Contacts (the Fields column) and in the flow's contact list. Open Flow Automation and click the people icon on the flow.

## Related guides

- [Which answers will the email, phone and name questions accept?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/answer-rules-email-phone-name.md)
- [How do I send a reminder if someone doesn't reply?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply.md)
- [How do I put someone's name or answer into a message?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/use-names-and-answers-in-messages.md)
- [How do I see who went through a flow and what they answered?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/flow-results.md)