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Insert a Check Box in Microsoft Word

Add check boxes to electronic and printed Microsoft Word documents

By Scott Orgera Scott Orgera Writer Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 26, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email MS Office Word Excel Powerpoint Outlook

What to Know

To insert decorative bullets: Select Home > Bullets > Define New Bullet > Symbol.To add functional bullets: Select File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Main Tabs > Developer > Controls > Check Box Content Control. This article explains how to insert two types of check boxes into a Word document: check boxes that are decorative only and are useful in printed documents and check boxes that can be checked electronically in the document. This tutorial applies to Word 2010 and above on macOS or Windows operating systems.

Insert Check Boxes for Printed Documents

Placing check boxes in your document strictly for visual purposes, whether on paper or on screen, is a simple process. You can't add a check mark to them within Word. Select a location in the Word document. Select the Home tab if it is not already selected. Choose the drop-down list accompanying the Bullets button. When the Bullet Library pop-out appears, select Define New Bullet. The Define New Bullet dialog displays, overlaying the main Word window. Select Symbol. Scroll the symbols list until you locate one suitable to use as a check box, clicking it once to select it. If you do not see an option that you like, choose a different value from the Font drop-down list—Webdings, for example—to peruse additional sets of symbols. Microsoft Word supports special characters such as bullets, copyright and trademark symbols, various styles of arrows, and related glyphs. Select OK when you've made your choice. Lifewire / Scott Orgera From the Define New Bullet interface, select OK. If you followed the instructions correctly, the check box should now be added to your document.

Insert Check Boxes for Electronic Documents

In addition to visual symbol, Word supports functional check boxes. These come in handy for online checklists or other types of forms that require user interaction. Select File > Options. In the Word Options dialog, select Customize Ribbon. Under Customize the Ribbon, choose the Main Tabs option from the drop-down menu. Locate the Developer option and select + to expand the list. Place a check mark next to Developer by selecting its accompanying check box once. Select + next to the option labeled Controls, expanding its list as well. Select Check Box Content Control and select OK to return to the main Word interface. Activate the Developer tab, now added to the main menu toward the top of your screen. In the Controls section, select the check box icon. A new check box should now be inserted into your document.

How to Change the Check Box Symbol

By default, an X appears in the check box when someone clicks it. This symbol can be changed, along with many other attributes of the new check box. Select it, then select Properties. From here you can modify the appearance of both checked and unchecked symbols, as well as the behavior of the check box itself when used within your electronic document. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Make a Brochure in Microsoft Word How to Insert a Table in Microsoft Word 2013 How to Insert a Document in Word How to Add a Degree Symbol in Word How to Insert Source Code Into a Word Document How to Insert a PDF Into Word How to Use Text Boxes in Microsoft Word How to Use Microsoft Word How to Add Line Numbers to a MS Word Document How to Fix It When Microsoft Word Is Not Responding How to Insert a Page Break in Word How to Add and Remove a Border From a Word Document How to Change Language in Microsoft Word and Office How to Show the Ruler in Word How to Hyperlink in Word Documents How to Make a Check Mark with a Keyboard in MS Office Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies