How to Make Checkboxes in Microsoft Word

Adding checkboxes in Microsoft Word can significantly enhance your documents, making them interactive and organized. Whether you’re creating a to-do list, a survey, or a form, incorporating checkboxes is a straightforward process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to insert both interactive (clickable) and non-interactive (printable) checkboxes in Word.

1. Inserting Interactive (Clickable) Checkboxes

Interactive checkboxes allow users to check and uncheck boxes directly within the Word document. This feature is particularly useful for digital forms and checklists.

Step 1: Enable the Developer Tab

By default, the Developer tab is hidden in Word. To display it:

• Click on the ‘File’ tab.
• Select ‘Options’ to open the Word Options dialog box.
• In the left pane, choose ‘Customize Ribbon.’
• On the right side, check the box labeled ‘Developer.’
• Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

Step 2: Insert the Checkbox

With the Developer tab now visible:

• Place your cursor where you want the checkbox to appear.
• Navigate to the ‘Developer’ tab.
• In the ‘Controls’ group, click on the ‘Check Box Content Control’ icon.

A checkbox will be inserted at the cursor’s location. You can click on this box to check or uncheck it.

Step 3: Customize the Checkbox Symbol

By default, clicking the checkbox inserts an ‘X.’ To change this to a checkmark or another symbol:

• Select the checkbox you inserted.
• Go to the ‘Developer’ tab and click on ‘Properties’ in the ‘Controls’ group.
• In the ‘Content Control Properties’ dialog box, click ‘Change…’ next to the ‘Checked symbol.’
• Choose a preferred symbol (e.g., a checkmark) from the list.
• Click ‘OK’ to confirm your selection, and then ‘OK’ again to exit the properties window.

2. Inserting Non-Interactive (Printable) Checkboxes

If you intend to print the document and have users manually check off items, you can insert non-interactive checkboxes.

Step 1: Use the Bulleted List Feature

• Highlight the list items where you want checkboxes.
• Navigate to the ‘Home’ tab.
• Click the dropdown arrow next to the ‘Bullets’ button in the ‘Paragraph’ group.
• Select ‘Define New Bullet…’ from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Choose a Checkbox Symbol

• In the ‘Define New Bullet’ dialog box, click on ‘Symbol.’
• In the ‘Symbol’ window, select ‘Wingdings’ or ‘Wingdings 2’ from the ‘Font’ dropdown menu.
• Scroll through the symbols and choose a box character that suits your preference.
• Click ‘OK’ to confirm your choice, and then ‘OK’ again to apply the new bullet style to your list.

Your list items will now be preceded by a checkbox symbol, ideal for printing and manual checking.

Additional Tips 💡

• Aligning Checkboxes and Text: For a neat appearance, especially in forms or lists, consider using a table to align checkboxes with their corresponding text.
• Protecting the Document: To prevent users from altering the text while allowing them to check or uncheck boxes, you can restrict editing permissions. Go to the ‘Developer’ tab, click on ‘Restrict Editing,’ and follow the prompts to limit formatting and editing.

By following these steps, you can effectively incorporate checkboxes into your Word documents, enhancing their functionality and user engagement.