Qualtrics New Survey Experience (Effective June 30, 2026)

• Mobile-first design
  Surveys are more responsive and easier to complete on phones and tablets.

• Faster performance
  Updated front-end framework improves load times and responsiveness.

• Simplified, modern layout
  Cleaner design with improved spacing, readability, and navigation.

• Enhanced accessibility
  Designed to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards, improving usability for all users.

• New surveys automatically use the new experience

• Existing (legacy) surveys are not automatically updated

• The underlying structure of surveys has changed, which may impact advanced customizations

• Some question types are not supported in the new experience

• Custom CSS and JavaScript may not behave as expected

• Surveys with complex formatting or scripting should be reviewed carefully

Review the Basics

• ☐ Survey displays correctly in Preview mode

• ☐ No obvious formatting or spacing issues

• ☐ Instructions and questions are clear and concise

Test the Experience (Especially Mobile)

• ☐ Survey is easy to read on a phone or tablet

• ☐ Answer choices don’t wrap awkwardly

• ☐ Matrix/scale questions are usable on smaller screens

Check Question Functionality

• ☐ All question types display and function as expected

• ☐ Required questions behave correctly

• ☐ Skip logic and branching work as intended

Validate Customizations (if applicable)

• ☐ Custom CSS displays correctly

• ☐ Custom JavaScript executes without errors

• ☐ No reliance on unsupported features (e.g., jQuery)

Test Embedded Content

• ☐ Links open and function properly

• ☐ Embedded media or tools display correctly

• ☐ External integrations behave as expected

Run a Real Test (Recommended)

• ☐ Submit at least one live test response

• ☐ Review how data appears in results/reports

Accessibility & Clarity Check

• ☐ Questions are easy to understand without extra explanation

• ☐ No reliance on color alone to convey meaning

• ☐ Answer options are clearly distinguishable

Final Confidence Check

• ☐ Survey feels smooth and intuitive from start to finish

• ☐ Estimated completion time feels reasonable

• ☐ You would feel comfortable taking this survey yourself

No. Existing surveys will continue using the legacy experience unless you choose to recreate or transition them.

Yes for new surveys.
All surveys created after June 30, 2026 will default to the new experience.

The new experience includes:

• Updated layout and spacing

• Different fonts and button styles

• Improved mobile responsiveness

These changes are intentional and designed to improve usability and accessibility.

No. The data collection and reporting functionality remain the same.
Only the presentation layer (what respondents see) has changed.

Yes, some advanced or less commonly used question types are not supported in the new experience.

If your survey includes complex question types, we recommend testing in Preview before publishing.

Custom code may not work as expected due to structural changes in the new experience.

• You may need to update or remove customizations

• Some older scripts (especially those relying on jQuery) may no longer function

Use the Preview function in Qualtrics to test your survey.

Pay special attention to:

• Custom styling

• Question behavior

• Mobile display

Yes. The new experience is designed to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards, improving:

• Screen reader compatibility

• Keyboard navigation

• Visual clarity and contrast

Yes. The new design is mobile-first, meaning surveys are more responsive and easier to complete on phones and tablets.

Start by contacting the Help Desk.
If needed, your request will be routed to Learning Technology Solutions (LTS) for additional support.

Surveys with:

• Custom CSS

• Custom JavaScript

• Complex formatting

…may not behave as expected without testing or updates.

A smoother, faster, and more accessible experience for respondents… which often leads to better completion rates and fewer user issues.

Custom CSS Not Applying Correctly

• Layout and class structure changes may cause custom styling to break or display inconsistently

• Fonts, spacing, or alignment may appear different than expected

What to do:
Review and update CSS, or consider removing non-essential styling

JavaScript (Especially jQuery) Issues

• The new experience does not preload jQuery

• Scripts relying on older Qualtrics page structure or timing may fail

What to do:

• Test all scripts thoroughly

• Update scripts to modern JavaScript where possible

Unsupported or Degraded Question Types

• Some advanced or legacy question types may:

  • Not display correctly

  • Lose certain functionality

  • Fail to load in the new experience

What to do:
Preview surveys and replace unsupported question types if needed

Mobile Display Differences

• While mobile is improved overall, some surveys may show:

  • Unexpected wrapping of text or answer choices

  • Large matrices becoming harder to read

What to do:
Test on both desktop and mobile views; simplify complex questions

Spacing and Layout Changes

• Increased padding and simplified layout may:

  • Change how long surveys feel

  • Affect visual grouping of questions

What to do:
Break up long pages and review survey flow for clarity

Navigation & Button Placement Changes

• “Next” and navigation buttons may appear differently

• Some users may perceive this as a functional issue

What to do:
Communicate that this is a design change, not a bug

Preview vs. Live Differences (Edge Cases)

• In rare cases, behavior in Preview may differ slightly from the live survey, especially with custom logic or scripts

What to do:
Run a live test survey before full distribution for high-stakes use cases

Embedded Content or Integrations

• iFrames or embedded tools may not scale or behave the same way

• Third-party integrations may require adjustment

What to do:
Validate all embedded elements in the new experience