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QuickStart: Create a Form in WordPress

If you want to create a form in WordPress and keep moving, this guide walks you through the manual steps from install to publish. If you are new to GriffinForms, Onboarding Starter Forms can set up the first draft for you, and the Blank Form card now appears first when you create a form manually.

Elena Rojas Written by By Elena Rojas
Updated

Choose the right path

If you want to create a form in WordPress yourself, this is the right place to start. If GriffinForms is still new to you, you can begin with guided onboarding and come back here when you want the full manual workflow.

  • Returning user: follow this QuickStart to build the form yourself.
  • New user: start with Onboarding Starter Forms if you want GriffinForms to set up the first draft for you.

Install GriffinForms

Install GriffinForms first, then use it to create a form in WordPress from the dashboard.

Install from WordPress

  1. In your dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
  2. Search for GriffinForms.
  3. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Install manually

  1. Download the ZIP from WordPress.org.
  2. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
  3. Upload the ZIP, then install and activate.
WordPress Plugins -> Add New screen showing a GriffinForms search and the install action
Search for GriffinForms in Plugins → Add New and install it from the results screen.
What to expect next: once the plugin is active, continue to the Create Form step below or jump into onboarding if you want a starter built for you.

Create a New Form

Once GriffinForms is active, create a form from the dashboard.

From the GriffinForms dashboard, look for the Create Form button button and click it to open the form modal.

  1. From the GriffinForms dashboard, click Create Form.
  2. Choose a Blank Form if you want to build everything yourself, or pick a template if that matches your use case.
  3. Enter the auto-filled Form Name or adjust it if needed, then create the form.
Keep this path simple: if you are trying to build a guided signup, application, or first-run registration flow, the onboarding starter path is usually the better fit. The blank-form starter can also prefill common fields when you want a faster manual setup.
Create Form modal in GriffinForms showing blank form and template options
Choose a blank form or template from the current Create Form modal.

Add Structure and Fields

Build up the form by adding fields where you need them and expanding the layout as the form grows. That keeps the builder readable while you assemble the form.

For a simple contact form, start with the essentials:

  • Add a Name field.
  • Add an Email field.
Submit button note: GriffinForms includes a submit button by default, so you do not need to add one unless you are changing the layout deliberately.
GriffinForms builder canvas showing rows, columns, and fields
Use the builder canvas to place rows, columns, and fields in the layout you want.

Publish and Test

Your form saves automatically while you build. When you are ready, place it into a page or post and test it once before you send traffic to it.

  1. Open the page or post where you want the form to appear.
  2. Add the GriffinForms block icon GriffinForms block if you are working in the WordPress block editor.
  3. Select your form in the block sidebar, or paste a shortcode like [griffinforms_form id=123] when you are using a classic editor or a template.
  4. Publish the page and submit one test entry to confirm the form behaves as expected.
Important: the block editor preview is lightweight. It helps you place the form, but the full form behavior still needs a frontend test after publish.

Learn how to add a Shortcode block in WordPress.

WordPress page editor showing the GriffinForms shortcode inside a Shortcode block
Paste the GriffinForms shortcode into a Shortcode block when you publish in the WordPress editor.
Example shortcode: [griffinforms_form id=123]

Next steps

If you want a guided starter instead of a manual build, see Onboarding Starter Forms. If you already know the workflow you want, this page covers the regular install, build, and publish path. If something still does not match your setup, share the steps you tried in WordPress.org support.