How to insert a checkbox in the word? The checkmarks, Xs, and blanks displayed by checkboxes denote whether they are checked, unchecked, or unchecked. Checkboxes perform a variety of useful functions when used in automations. You can print a form and check off each item by hand or update them electronically by clicking a button. This article shows you two ways to add checkboxes to a simple To-Do list–which method you choose depends on how you use them. We’ll add a checkbox symbol that you can print first. You will then be able to update the onscreen checkbox control by clicking it.
You can use earlier versions of Word, but I’m using Office 365 Word (desktop) on a Windows 10 64-bit system. The demonstration file can be downloaded or you can create your own To-Do list. Both types of checkboxes will be displayed in the browser edition, but neither can be added. Content controls cannot be clicked on in the browser to change their state.
Checkbox in Word
Check boxes are also known by other names, including selection boxes, tick boxes, and checkmark boxes in Microsoft Word. Small boxes are commonly used in survey forms to facilitate reading and completing the options.
As well as indicating the on/off state of a question or statement, a checkbox is used in this fashion. On a job application form, the statement may be “I agree with the above terms and conditions.” If the applicant agrees, they check the checkbox, indicating “yes,” while an unchecked box indicates “no.”
In Word, checkboxes can be categorized into two types:
A non-clickable checkbox (not interactive)
If a checkbox is not clickable, it cannot be checked or unchecked within a Word document. However, the developer’s tab of the Word document is used to add a non-clickable checkbox.
A clickable checkbox (Interactive)
Users can use a clickable checkbox (Interactive) to check or uncheck a checkbox inside a word document. To create the clickable checkbox in the Word document, a bulleted list method is used.
There are the following three most straightforward methods to add checkboxes to a Word document –
Note: You can add checkboxes to Microsoft Word 2004, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Office 365 using these methods.
How to Insert Checkbox in Word: Methods
Using Word’s developer tool
It is possible to add a clickable checkbox to Word documents using the developer’s tool.
In order to create fillable forms with checkboxes, you must first enable the Developer tab on the Ribbon. Open Word documents, click the “File” drop-down menu and choose the “Options” command. To customize the ribbon in Word Options, click the “Customize Ribbon” tab. “Main Tabs” will appear in the drop-down menu on the right-hand side of “Customize the Ribbon”.
On the list of available primary tabs, select the “Developer” check box, and then click the “OK” button.
The Developer tab has been added to your Ribbon. Simply place your cursor where you want the check box to appear in the document, choose the “Developer” tab, and click the “Check Box Content Control” button.
If you move your cursor over the check box, you will see it appear. We’ve gone ahead and added a checkbox next to each answer, and as you can see, those checkboxes are interactive. Click on a box to mark it with an “X” (as we have done for answer 1), or select the entire form box (as we have done for answer 2) in order to move the check box around, format it, etc.
The checkbox is added in Word.
Using the Bulleted List
A checkbox can be created with this method so that it can be printed. The checkbox can be ticked by readers using a pen.
Follow the below steps to add a checkbox using the Bullets tab:
- You need to open the Word document where you want to add a checkbox.
- You can reach the Bullet Tab under the Paragraph section by clicking on the small drop-down arrow next to it on the Home tab.
- On the screen in which you click on Defining New Bullet, a window with recently used bullets displays.
- You will see a small Define New Bullet window; click on the Symbol tab.
- You’ll see a Symbol window pop up, click the checkbox symbol and click OK.
The checkbox is added in the Word document.
Select the Bullets tab from the paragraph section if you’d like to add more checkboxes. Click on the checkbox as shown in the screenshot below to display a list of recently used bullets.
Using Insert Tab
- Add a checkbox by placing the cursor on the location you desire.
- Then, go to the Insert Tab and choose Symbols.
- Select the checkbox symbol.
How to Change the Check Box Symbol
When someone clicks the check box, by default an X appears in it. The symbol of the new check box can be changed, as well as many other attributes. Select it, then select Properties.
Within this tool, you can customize both the look of both checked and unchecked symbols, as well as modify how a check box behaves when used in a document.