Can Gravity Forms capture abandoned entries without an add-on?

No, Gravity Forms does not automatically save abandoned input through its core form builder. Save and Continue only stores a draft when the visitor actively clicks the save link. For automatic partial-entry capture, you need the official Partial Entries add-on or another tool that records incomplete form data.

When does Gravity Forms save a partial entry?

Gravity Forms can save partial data on the site heartbeat, generally every 30 to 60 seconds, once the configured capture conditions are met. It can also save when a visitor submits a page of a multipage form, encounters a validation error, or uses Save and Continue. A host that disables Heartbeat can prevent regular automatic saves.

Can I save only partial entries that include an email address?

Yes, use conditional logic in the form's Partial Entries settings. Configure the rule so a partial record is created only after the email field has been completed, or use another contact field that helps your team identify the visitor. This avoids filling the Entries screen with records that contain no useful follow-up information.

Can visitors resume a partially captured Gravity Forms entry?

Not from Partial Entries alone. The add-on captures data for administrators to review, but it does not provide a visitor resume link. To let visitors continue later, enable Gravity Forms Save and Continue and ask them to use the save link. Keep in mind that partial records and saved drafts are not synchronised.

How can I send emails about abandoned Gravity Forms entries?

Partial Entries lets you capture and review unfinished records, but automated abandoned-form notifications require a workflow or notification integration. Gravity Forms documents using Gravity Flow with Partial Entries: enable the workflow setting, then create a Partial Entry Submission step that waits for the final submission before sending the appropriate follow-up.

How to capture partial entries in Gravity Forms

Forms Time About 20 minutes 6 steps Updated 30 Oct 2026

The short answer

Gravity Forms cannot automatically capture abandoned form data without its Partial Entries add-on or another form-abandonment tool. The manual Save and Continue feature only works when visitors click the save link, so Partial Entries is the practical route for automatic capture.

The route

01Check the built-in options first
02Install Partial Entries
03Enable capture for the form
04Set a useful capture rule
05Review the captured entries
06Choose the follow-up method

What you need

A working Gravity Forms form
Administrator access to WordPress
A Gravity Forms licence that includes the Partial Entries add-on
A privacy notice or consent wording for saved form data

Check the built-in options first

Gravity Forms does not automatically store every abandoned form through its core form builder. The built-in Save and Continue feature can let visitors save a draft, but they must actively use the save link before leaving. It is not the same as silently capturing abandoned input.

If you need automatic capture, use a partial-entry add-on. A custom solution would also need to handle browser requests, validation, secure storage, privacy requirements, and cleanup, so it is rarely the quickest or safest option.

Install Partial Entries

In WordPress, go to Forms > Add-Ons, find the official Gravity Forms Partial Entries add-on, and install and activate it. The add-on is available only with eligible Gravity Forms licences, so check that it is included in your account before looking for the setting.

If the add-on does not appear, update Gravity Forms, confirm your licence key is connected, and check that your account has access to it.

Enable capture for the form

Open the form in Gravity Forms, then go to Settings > Partial Entries. Enable partial entries and save the settings. Add a clear warning message explaining that information may be saved before the form is submitted. Gravity Forms documents this setting as part of the Partial Entries configuration.

Do not hide the warning simply to make the form look cleaner. Saving personal information without telling visitors can create privacy and compliance problems.

Set a useful capture rule

Use conditional logic so the site does not save meaningless records, such as a visitor who only focused the first field. A common rule is to save the partial entry only after an email address, phone number, or other contact field has been completed.

You can also choose whether the threshold is based on all fields or required fields. The add-on can save according to the site heartbeat, usually every 30 to 60 seconds, and it can also save when a multipage form page is submitted or validation fails. If your host disables WordPress Heartbeat, automatic saves may not occur.

Review the captured entries

To inspect the records, go to Forms, open the form's entries, and select the Partial filter. You can then see which fields were completed and where visitors appear to have stopped. Use this information to shorten the form, clarify questions, or follow up with suitable leads. Gravity Forms documents the Partial filter on the Entries screen.

Keep retention limits in mind. Partial records may contain personal data, so delete records you no longer need and restrict dashboard access to the people who handle them.

Choose the follow-up method

Partial Entries stores the unfinished record; it does not automatically give the visitor a resume link. If visitors must return to a saved draft, enable Save and Continue and make sure they click its save link. Do not edit a partial entry while the same form uses Save and Continue, because the draft and partial record are not synchronised.

For automated abandoned-form emails, Gravity Forms documents an integration with Gravity Flow. If you want a faster setup that focuses on capturing partial data and alerts, consider the Gravity Forms Partial Entries Addon as the product route after confirming its settings meet your privacy and notification requirements.

The fast route

Let Gravity Forms Partial Entries Addon do it

Captures abandoned form data and sends alerts for follow-up, unlike standard Gravity Forms entry storage.

Get Gravity Forms Partial Entries Addon

Questions

Can Gravity Forms capture abandoned entries without an add-on?: No, Gravity Forms does not automatically save abandoned input through its core form builder. Save and Continue only stores a draft when the visitor actively clicks the save link. For automatic partial-entry capture, you need the official Partial Entries add-on or another tool that records incomplete form data.
When does Gravity Forms save a partial entry?: Gravity Forms can save partial data on the site heartbeat, generally every 30 to 60 seconds, once the configured capture conditions are met. It can also save when a visitor submits a page of a multipage form, encounters a validation error, or uses Save and Continue. A host that disables Heartbeat can prevent regular automatic saves.
Can I save only partial entries that include an email address?: Yes, use conditional logic in the form's Partial Entries settings. Configure the rule so a partial record is created only after the email field has been completed, or use another contact field that helps your team identify the visitor. This avoids filling the Entries screen with records that contain no useful follow-up information.
Can visitors resume a partially captured Gravity Forms entry?: Not from Partial Entries alone. The add-on captures data for administrators to review, but it does not provide a visitor resume link. To let visitors continue later, enable Gravity Forms Save and Continue and ask them to use the save link. Keep in mind that partial records and saved drafts are not synchronised.
How can I send emails about abandoned Gravity Forms entries?: Partial Entries lets you capture and review unfinished records, but automated abandoned-form notifications require a workflow or notification integration. Gravity Forms documents using Gravity Flow with Partial Entries: enable the workflow setting, then create a Partial Entry Submission step that waits for the final submission before sending the appropriate follow-up.