> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.powerfulform.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.powerfulform.com/build-your-form/error-messages.md).

# Edit error messages

Reword every validation message your form can show a visitor.

Powerful Contact Form Builder lets you rewrite every validation message a visitor can see, in your own words and in every language you sell in.

## 📝 How to edit

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Open the form

* In the app > click **Forms** > open the form
* Click **Settings** in the left icon rail
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Expand Error message

Click **Error message** to expand it. Every message is listed as its own text box with its current wording.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Rewrite the ones you care about

Type over the wording in any box. Anything you leave alone keeps its standard wording.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save the change

{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Nothing is live until you click **Save** on the Shopify save bar at the top of the screen.

<figure><img src="https://2907469752-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FehM2rz7MmKkWcJmgvJOe%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c3a773b660ef717737125f900f2b42f8ee7989b0%2Fscreenshot-build-your-form-error-message-settings.png?alt=media" alt="The Error message section of the Settings panel expanded, listing editable messages such as Required, Min characters, Invalid email and Email domain is restricted"><figcaption><p>Every validation message a visitor can see is editable here.</p></figcaption></figure>

## 📝 Placeholders

Some messages contain a placeholder in double braces, such as `{{ min_length }}`. The app replaces it with the real number, so *Please enter at least {{ min\_length }} characters* becomes *Please enter at least 8 characters*.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Keep the placeholder exactly as written, braces and all. Delete it and the message loses the number.
{% endhint %}

## 💡 Every message you can edit

<figure><img src="https://2907469752-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FehM2rz7MmKkWcJmgvJOe%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-af6a4c32a47bda077b41eee6b5c93cf6fabf4d70%2Fscreenshot-build-your-form-error-messages-panel.png?alt=media" alt="The Error message section expanded in the form editor Settings panel, listing the editable messages — Required, Min characters, Min selections, Max selections, Invalid email and the rest — each with a language suffix."><figcaption><p>Every validation message the form can show is editable here.</p></figcaption></figure>

### Filling a field in

| Setting            | What it is shown for                                | Default                                                   |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Required**       | A required field was left empty.                    | Required                                                  |
| **Min characters** | The answer is shorter than the minimum you set.     | Please enter at least {{ min\_length }} characters        |
| **Min selections** | Fewer options were chosen than the minimum you set. | Please choose at least {{ min\_selections }} options      |
| **Max selections** | More options were chosen than the maximum you set.  | Please choose at maximum of {{ max\_selections }} options |

### Field formats

| Setting                             | What it is shown for                                                                      | Default                          |
| ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **Invalid email**                   | The Email field is not a valid email address.                                             | Invalid email                    |
| **Invalid phone**                   | The Phone field is not a valid number for the selected country.                           | Invalid phone                    |
| **Invalid number**                  | The Number field is not a valid number, or falls outside the minimum and maximum you set. | Invalid number                   |
| **Invalid password**                | The Password field does not meet the strength rule you chose.                             | Invalid password                 |
| **Confirmed password does't match** | The two password boxes do not match.                                                      | Confirmed password doesn't match |

### Duplicates and restrictions

| Setting                        | What it is shown for                                                                                      | Default                    |
| ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| **Email domain is restricted** | The email address uses a domain you blocked in **Settings** > **General** > **Restricted email domains**. | Email domain is restricted |
| **Customer already exists**    | A Shopify customer with that email address is already in your store.                                      | Customer already exists    |
| **Data already exists**        | The value repeats one already used, when **Limit to one submit per user** is on.                          | Data already exists        |

### File uploads

| Setting              | What it is shown for                                   | Default          |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------- |
| **File size limit**  | The attached file is larger than the size you allowed. | File size limit  |
| **File not allowed** | The attached file is of a type you did not allow.      | File not allowed |

### Spam protection

| Setting              | What it is shown for           | Default          |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------- |
| **Required captcha** | The captcha was not completed. | Required captcha |

### Products and quantities

These messages apply to forms with a **Product** field or a bulk order table.

| Setting              | What it is shown for                                | Default                                                |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Required product** | No product was selected.                            | Please select product                                  |
| **Limit quantity**   | The requested quantity is more than the stock left. | The number of products left in stock has been exceeded |

## 💡 Writing better messages

* Say what to do, not what went wrong. *Enter an email we can reply to* beats *Invalid email*.
* Keep the message short enough to read at a glance under the field.

## 📝 Translating error messages

Every message is translatable. Switch the editor to another language from the top bar and type the translated wording into the same boxes.

{% hint style="info" %}
Editing a second language requires a plan that includes multiple languages. See [Plans and billing](/settings/plans-and-billing.md).<br>
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://2907469752-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FehM2rz7MmKkWcJmgvJOe%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ad5762dc2999b91786127e192774a4501c28295f%2F2026-09-14_11-01-00.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The app also provides the Auto-translate function. [Lean more](https://globosoftware.gitbook.io/globosoftware-docs/build-your-form/translate-a-form)

## Next steps

* [Prevent spam submissions](/troubleshooting/prevent-spam.md) for the captcha behind the **Required captcha** message.
* [Error: customer already exists](/troubleshooting/customer-already-exists.md) if that message keeps appearing.