Is Qualtrics anonymous? IP address, location data and the Anonymize responses option
Short answer: not by default. Unless the creator turns on Anonymize responses, Qualtrics saves each respondent's IP address and approximate location (latitude and longitude) with the response. With personal links it can also connect the response to the contact it was sent to.
What Qualtrics records
| Item | Default | With Anonymize responses on |
|---|---|---|
| IP address | Saved with the response | Removed |
| Location (lat/long from IP) | Saved | Removed |
| Contact name and email (individual links) | Linked to the response | Disconnected. The sender can see who responded, but not which response is theirs |
| Embedded data pulled from a directory | Included | Can still identify the respondent if added |
How to anonymize a Qualtrics survey
- Open the survey, go to Survey options, then Security.
- Turn Anonymize responses on.
- Distribute with the anonymous link rather than personal links where you can. Many university review boards ask for both.
- Don't pull directory fields (department, manager, hire date) into embedded data for an anonymous survey.
- Remove identifying questions and check free-text prompts.
Turn it on before launch. Responses recorded earlier keep their identifying information in the platform, even if some views hide it.
Anonymous vs confidential employee surveys
Large employee-survey programs often run as confidential rather than anonymous. The vendor knows who responded so it can send reminders and break results down by team, and it protects people by hiding results for groups below a minimum size. That's a reasonable design, but it isn't the same promise. Employees who know their link was personal often treat the survey as identifiable, whatever the policy says.
When a lighter, truly anonymous pulse fits better
Qualtrics is a deep research platform. If what you need is a steady, honest signal from staff, patients, guests or residents (not a research instrument), the setup and the trust problem can both be smaller. Wellness Pulse uses no accounts or personal links and stores no IP address, cookie or device ID with a response. People answer from a QR code in about 30 seconds, and you see one score per location plus the themes behind it. Compare: Qualtrics vs Wellness Pulse.
No personal links, no IP addresses, unlimited responses, $30 a month per location.
Start for $30/month See how it works →Questions people ask
Is Qualtrics anonymous by default?
No. Anonymize responses is off by default, so IP address and approximate location are saved with each response.
Can Qualtrics see my IP address?
Yes, unless the survey creator turned on Anonymize responses before you answered. With it on, the IP address and location aren't saved with your response.
If I got a personal Qualtrics link, is my response tied to me?
By default, yes. With Anonymize responses on, the sender can see that you responded but the response is disconnected from your contact record.
What is the Qualtrics anonymous link?
A single shared link that doesn't identify respondents. Combined with Anonymize responses, it's the usual setup for anonymous surveys.
Can a Qualtrics admin de-anonymize responses later?
Responses collected with Anonymize responses on are scrubbed of IP, location and contact information before they're saved, so those can't be restored. Responses recorded before the setting was turned on keep their data.
Settings described here come from each vendor's public help pages as of November 2026. Products change; check the current settings screen before you rely on them. Spot something out of date? Tell us.