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Want to add a check box or tick box to a list or form in Microsoft Word? It’s easy to do, and you can even make it checkable so you can click the box with your mouse. We’ll show you an easy way to add a clickable checkbox using Developer Mode in Microsoft Word.
Steps
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1
Open a new file in Microsoft Word. Do so by opening the app shaped like a blue W. Then click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and click on New Blank Document.
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Click on File in the menu bar and then Options in the menu.
- On Mac, click on Word in the menu bar and then Preferences… in the menu.
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3
Click on Customize Ribbon and then Main Tabs in the «Customize the Ribbon:» drop-down menu.»[1]
- On Mac, click on Ribbon & Toolbar in the «Authoring and Proofing Tools» section of the dialog box, then click on the Ribbon tab at the top of the dialog box.
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Check «Developer» in the «Main Tabs» pane.
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Click on Ok.
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Click on Developer. It’s a tab in the upper-right part of the window.
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Position the cursor where you’d like to insert the check box.
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Click on Check Box. It’s in the menu bar at the top of the window.
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Add additional check boxes and text as needed.
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10
Lock the form. To do so, select the entire list, to be found in the Controls section on the Developer tab, then click on Group and Group.
- On Mac, click Protect Form in the Developer tab toolbar.
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Add New Question
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Question
What should I do if the check box is grayed out in my ribbon?
It is grayed out for me too. However, if you click on the one icon that isn’t — Legacy Tools — then you will find the exact same checkbox, which you should be able to select.
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Question
How can I enlarge the size of a text box without enlarging the text?
In Word, just dragging the corner of the text box should be sufficient. If the text changes size accidentally, you can always highlight it and change it back to the desired size.
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Question
How do you make a drop box in word?
Download LibreOffice. Follow the manual on how to add a list or list/add or list/multiselect box (or just look under «insert» in the menu). You can add a data source for the dropdown menu items from a database, a spreadsheet or within the file structure itself.
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About This Article
Article SummaryX
1. Open a document.
2. Click File.
3. Select Customize Ribbon and then click Main Tabs.
4. Check the «Developer» box.
5. Click Save.
6. Click Developer.
7. Click where you want to insert the check box.
8. Click Check Box.
9. Add additional boxes and text.
10. Lock the form.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,240,190 times.
Is this article up to date?
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Place your cursor at the spot where you want to insert the symbol.
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Go to Insert > Symbol.
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Select a checkmark symbol to insert or do the following
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Select More Symbols.
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Scroll up or down to find the checkmark you want to insert.
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Different font sets often have different symbols. Use the Font selector above the symbol list to pick the font you want.
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Double-click the symbol to insert it into your document.
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Select Close.
Tip: If you want to make your checkmark larger or smaller, select it and use the Font Size setting.
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Place your cursor at the spot where you want to insert the checkmark.
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Go to Insert > Advanced Symbol > Symbols.
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Choose the checkmark symbol that you want.
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Select Insert.
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Select Close
Tick symbol (🗸) also known as a check mark is a symbol for “Yes”. Sometimes tick in a box (☑) is preferred over tick symbol to denote yes or completion. In this blog we have covered, four different ways to insert tick and tick in box symbol in Microsoft Word.
Place your cursor where you want to insert the symbol and use any of the following 4 methods. Method 4 is easiest and up to 7 times faster.
Method 1 – Insert > Symbols
- Navigating Insert Tab > Symbols and select More Symbols
2. Select Symbol Tab > Wingdings Font, and double click on desired symbol i.e. 🗸 or ☑.
3. Select Close
Method 2 – Alt Code (Requires dedicated Number pad keys)
Ms Word Alt code for Tick (or Check) Mark and Tick in Box are:
| Tick Symbol or Check Mark (🗸) | Tick in Box (☑) |
|---|---|
| 128504 | 128505 |
To insert symbol, type corresponding Alt Code using Number pad (not using numerics key using above letters) while holding down Alt key.
Method 3 – Autocorrect (Fastest method for Tick Symbol Word)
- Create Autocorrect entry
- Locate Tick Symbol or Tick in Box symbol (as shown in Method 1) by navigating to Insert > Symbols > More Symbols and select symbol.
- Click Autocorrect Button to open new AutoCorrect Dialogue box.
- Type desired shortcut text (say tick or checkbox) in Replace.
- Click Add.
- Close Autocorrect and Symbol Window.
2. Type autocorrect text created in above step and press space (for e.g. tick) to convert into corresponding symbol.
Method 4 – Alt X
Alt X code for Tick (or Check) Mark & Tick in Box are
| Tick Symbol or Check Mark (🗸) | Tick in Box (☑) |
|---|---|
| 1F5F8 | 1F5F9 |
To insert thick (or check) mark, type 1F5F8 and press Alt + X immediately following it. Similarly, for inserting tick in box, type 1F5F8 and press Alt + X.
Summary
There are four different methods to insert tick symbol in Ms Word. Of all, Alt X and Alt Code method requires remembering 4-5 digit code. While, the Insert Symbol and Autocorrect method are straightforward and relatively easy to remember. Of all these, the smartest way to insert tick symbol or tick in box is Autocorrect method as it is fastest and easy to remember.
Related Posts
Adding checkboxes to your Microsoft Word document gives you the functionality of a check list. Ticking off line items as they are complete, actioned or done.
Inserting a check list into your Word document is incredibly handy, most commonly used when creating surveys in word.
There are two ways to insert check boxes into Word, the first being more suitable for digital marking within Word itself and the second more suited to documents being printed and then checked off, such as a to do list.
In this post, we will show you how to insert both types of check boxes into your document with ease.
Inserting a tick-box in Microsoft Word
Option 1: Best for Digital Marking in Word itself
- Open Word
- Check that ‘Developer’ is turned on
- How to Turn Developer on
- Select the Customize Quick Access Toolbar dropdown
- Select More Commands
- Select Developer Tab
- Select Tick Box
- Press Insert
- How to Turn Developer on
- Once the Developer Tab has been activated:
- Place your cursor where you would like to insert the tick box
- Select the Tick Box in your Quick Access Short Cuts
- Repeat for each line that you would like a tick box added in front of
Option 2: Best for Printing
- Open Word
- Highlight your list
- Click the Bullet Point button
- Click Define New Bulletpoint…
- Click Bulletpoint…
- Change Font to Wingdings 2
- Select the Square Symbol
- Press OK
You have now successfully inserted check boxes in front of all highlighted lines.
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If you are collaborating on a Microsoft Word Document with others and are required to keep each version saved away for future reference, it is likely you are facing the same version control pain points that every other company is.
A very cluttered shared drive or cloud, one where each new version is saved every time one of your colleagues makes an edit. Leaving you with a shared drive full of documents looking something like ReportV4_updated_final_FINAL1 and no idea if that is actually the final version or not.
Then you face the challenge of naming your new document, do you add another _FINAL2 or is _JDsedits enough for everyone else to understand what’s going on?
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Or those days you don’t have shared drive access and do the drag and drop to your desktop and hope you remember to take that file back over into the shared drive next time you are in the office.
Its risky business. There must be an easier way!
Lucky for us all there is, companies such as Simul Docs offer purpose built tools to help us collaborate better and manage our version control for us.
Yep thats right, Simul docs will manage the version control for you. When you open your file, from the moment you start making edits Simul will save the document as the newest version giving it a version number such as 0.0.2 or 0.0.3.
You can then refer back to any version with ease, knowing at a glance which version is the most recent (goodbye _FINAL2_Updated) and hello simple numbered versions and clearly marked authors next to each.
Its version control bliss!
Not only that, but Simul Docs allows you to access your Word Document from anywhere, anytime. There is no need for remote shared drive access or the old clunky desktop saving. Simul gives you access to every version, anywhere, all you need is an internet connection.
Now that you have accessed your document from the comfort of the airport or your own home, you can add your tracked changes and comments, press save and let Simul notify the other collaborators that you have made some changes and they should probably jump in and check them out.
That means, no more emailing Word Documents back and forth with every edit.
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First, you need to customize Word’s ribbon and enable the “Developer” tab to show the option to add check boxes. Then, select “Developer” and click the “Check Box Content Control” button to insert a check box into your document. You can also transform Word’s bullets into checkboxes.
When you create surveys or forms with Microsoft Word, check boxes make the options easier to read and answer. We’re covering two good options for doing just that. The first is ideal for documents that you want people to fill out digitally within the Word document itself. The second option is easier if you’re planning to print documents like to-do lists.
Option 1: Use Word’s Developer Tools to Add the Check Box Option for Forms
In order to create fillable forms that include checkboxes, you first need to enable the “Developer” tab on the Ribbon. With a Word document open, click the “File” drop-down menu and then choose the “Options” command. In the “Word Options” window, switch to the “Customize Ribbon” tab. On the right-hand “Customize the Ribbon” list, select “Main Tabs” on the dropdown menu.
On the list of available main tabs, select the “Developer” check box, and then click the “OK” button
Notice that the “Developer” tab is added to your Ribbon. Just position your cursor in the document where you want a check box, switch to the “Developer” tab, and then click the “Check Box Content Control” button.
You should see a check box appear wherever you placed your cursor. Here, we’ve gone ahead and placed a check box next to each answer and, as you can see, those check boxes are interactive. Click a box to mark it with an “X” (as we’ve done for answers 2, 3, and 4) or select the whole form box (as we’ve done for answer 4) to move the check box around, format it, and so on.
RELATED: How to Create a Fillable Form With Microsoft Word
Option 2: Change Bullets to Check Boxes for Printed Documents
If you’re creating a document to print out—like a to-do list or printed survey—and just want check boxes on it, you don’t have to mess around with adding Ribbon tabs and using forms. Instead, you can create a simple bullet list and then change the bullets from the default symbol to check boxes.
In your Word document, on the “Home” tab, click the small arrow to the right of the “Bullet List” button. On the dropdown menu, select the “Define new bullet” command.
In the “Define New Bullet” window, click the “Symbol” button.
In the “Symbol” window, click the “Font” dropdown and choose the “Wingdings 2” option.
You can scroll through the symbols to find the empty square symbol that looks like a check box, or you just type the number “163” into the “Character Code” box to automatically select it. Of course, if you see a symbol you like better—like the open circle (symbol 153)—feel free to choose that instead.
When you’ve selected your symbol, click the “OK” button to close the “Symbol” window, and then click the “OK” button to close the “Define New Bullet” window, too.
Back in your Word document, you can now type your bullet list. The check boxes appear instead of the regular bullet symbol.
And the next time you need the check box symbol, you don’t have to navigate through that whole set of windows. Just click that small arrow to the right of the “Bullet List” button again, and you’ll see the checkbox listed under the “Recently Used Bullets” section.
Again, this method is really only useful for documents you want to print out. The check box symbols are not interactive, so you can’t check them off inside a Word document.
If you’re also creating spreadsheets and presentations, you may want to learn how to insert checkboxes in Excel and add checkboxes to PowerPoint too.
RELATED: How to Add a Check Mark or Tick Mark in Word
READ NEXT
- › How to Add a Check Mark or Tick Mark in Word
- › How to Add a Drop-Down List to a Word Document
- › How to Create a Fillable Form With Microsoft Word
- › How to Create a Basic Survey in Microsoft Word
- › How to Count Checkboxes in Microsoft Excel
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- › Why the Right-Click Menu in Windows 11 Is Actually Good
To make the content of your document more intuitive and lively, adding symbols like tick, cross, check box, etc. is an effective method. But what’s the fastest way to insert them? Sure you can copy and paste from Internet If it’s a one-time thing. Otherwise you’d probably better to enter them in Word directly.
1. Insert Symbol
Like the way to add other special symbols in Word, you can click Symbol and choose More Symbols… in Insert tab.
Change the Font in Symbols tab to Wingdings 2.
Then you can find these symbols in the list below. Just click any of them (as you like) and hit Insert to add it.
2. Shortcuts
This is the most simple way, which only requires you to change the font of Word and using keyboard shortcuts.
First, select Wingdings 2 in the drop-down list of font.
Then you can press Shift and several different letters to insert different symbols. Here I collected symbols with the corresponding shortcuts:
Addition to tick mark, cross mark and check box, you can also insert some other symbols with shortcuts in the font of Wingdings 2. Have a try when you have time!
Copyright Statement: Regarding all of the posts by this website, any copy or use shall get the written permission or authorization from Myofficetricks.
Insert or Type a Check Mark or Tick Mark Symbol in Microsoft Word (with Shortcuts)
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated April 2, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)
You can insert or type a check mark or tick mark symbol in a Word document in several ways. Check marks can be inserted using built-in commands or keyboard shortcuts. It’s important to note that there is a difference between inserting a static check mark and inserting a clickable check box which is typically used in a Word form.
Recommended article: How to Show or HIde White Space in Word Documents
Do you want to learn more about Microsoft Word? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom (in-person) Word courses >
In this article, we’ll review 5 ways to insert a check mark symbol in a Word document:
- Insert check marks as bullets
- Use the Insert Symbol command
- Add and use a custom Word keyboard shortcut
- Add and use an AutoCorrect shortcut
- Use an Alt code shortcut by pressing Alt and then entering a number sequence
Do you want to learn more about Microsoft Word? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom Word courses >
1. Inserting a check mark by inserting bullets
If you want to insert a check mark at the beginning of one or more paragraphs, you can apply custom bullets using the Wingdings font (or a similar font).
To apply check marks as custom bullets to paragraphs:
- Select the paragraph(s) to which you want to add check marks.
- Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Paragraph group, click the arrow beside Bullets. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click Define New Bullet. A dialog box appears.
- Click Symbol. A dialog box appears.
- Select Wingdings from the Font drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can select another font such as Wingdings 2 or Segoe UI Symbol.
- Click the desired check mark.
- Click OK.
- Click Font. A Font dialog box appears.
- Select the desired font color and size. This dialog box offers the same options as the regular Font dialog box.
- Click OK twice.
The check marks will be added at the beginning of the paragraph(s).
In the Define New Bullet dialog box (below), you can select Symbol, Font or Picture:
The following characters appear when you select Wingdings as the Symbol font for bullets:
In the Define New Bullet dialog box, you can select Picture and then navigate to a picture you want to use as a bullet and then double-click it.
2. Inserting a check mark using Insert Symbol
If you want to add a check mark in a line of text (or at the end of a line of text), you can use Insert Symbol.
To insert a check mark using Insert Symbol in the Ribbon in Word:
- Position the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert a check mark.
- Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
- If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
- Select Wingdings from the Font drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can select another font such as Wingdings 2 or Segoe UI Symbol.
- Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the check mark symbol you want to use and then click it.
- Click Insert.
- Click Close.
Once the check mark has been inserted, you can change its size or color using the Home tab in the Ribbon or by right-clicking and selecting formatting options from the mini-toolbar.
In the example below, Wingdings is selected in the Symbol dialog box:
3. Inserting a check mark using a custom Word keyboard shortcut
If you insert a check mark frequently, you can create your own keyboard shortcut for the check mark symbol.
To create a keyboard shortcut for a check mark:
- Position the cursor in a Word document.
- Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
- If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
- Select Wingdings from the Font drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can select another font such as Wingdings 2 or Segoe UI Symbol.
- Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the check mark symbol you want to use and then click it.
- Click Shortcut. A dialog box appears.
- Click in the box below Assign New Shortcut key.
- Press the keys you want to assign (such as Ctrl + Alt + M). Don’t type any text, just press the keys. Be careful not to override a useful built-in shortcut such as Ctrl + C.
- Click Assign. Typically the location for these shortcuts is the Normal (or default) template.
- Click Close twice.
Test the shortcut in your document by pressing the assigned keys.
The Customize Keyboard dialog box appears as follows:
Since these shortcuts are typically saved in the Normal template, when you exit Word, if you are prompted to save the Normal template, click Yes.
4. Inserting a check mark using an AutoCorrect shortcut
You can also insert a check mark automatically using AutoCorrect.
To set up an AutoCorrect entry for a check mark:
- Position the cursor in a Word document.
- Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
- If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
- Select Wingdings from the Font drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can select another font such as Wingdings 2 or Segoe UI Symbol.
- Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the check mark symbol you want to use and then click it.
- Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears.
- In the Replace box, enter the name of the entry (such as cm1).
- Click Add.
- Click OK.
- Click Close.
To insert the entry in the document, type the entry (such as cm1) and then press the Spacebar.
The AutoCorrect dialog box appears as follows:
Since these shortcuts are typically saved in the Normal template, when you exit Word, you should be prompted to save it.
5. Inserting a check mark using an Alt keyboard shortcut
You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert a check mark symbol.
To insert a check mark symbol in a Word document using Alt:
- Position the cursor where you want to insert the check mark symbol.
- Press Alt + 0252 or Alt + 0254 on the numeric keypad. If the sequence doesn’t work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad. Word will insert a different character.
- Select the character, click the Home tab in the Ribbon and select Wingdings from the Font drop-down menu.
If you want to create clickable check boxes, you could create a Word form using controls or create a dynamic form using Microsoft Forms.
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Asked by: Amelia Beer
Score: 4.8/5
(19 votes)
Insert a check mark or tick mark in Word
- Place your cursor at the spot where you want to insert the symbol.
- Go to Insert > Symbol.
- Select a checkmark symbol to insert or do the following. Select More Symbols. …
- Double-click the symbol to insert it into your document.
- Select Close.
How do you tick a box on an online form?
If it’s a word document, you should be able to insert a tick mark just by click on the check box. If you only see a cursor when trying to click on it, then the document is not locked for forms.
How do I edit a check box in Word?
Edit the properties of the checkbox control, as necessary. Click the checkbox. Click the «Developer» tab and select the «Properties» option, which will launch a separate window. Use the available options to edit the properties, such as the size, and click the «OK» button.
How do you insert boxes in Word?
Add a text box
- Go to Insert > Text Box.
- Click in your file where you’d like to insert the text box, hold your mouse button down, then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
- After you’ve drawn the text box click inside it to add text.
How do I insert a checkbox without the Developer tab in Word?
How to insert a checkbox in Word for printed documents
- Position the cursor where you want to place the checkbox in your Word document.
- In the ribbon at the top of the screen, make sure you’re on the «Home» tab and then click the down-arrow beside the Bullets button.
- In the drop-down menu, click «Define New Bullet.»
16 related questions found
How do I put a box around a picture in Word?
To add a border to a picture:
- Select the picture you want to add a border to, then click the Format tab.
- Click the Picture Border command. A drop-down menu will appear.
- From here, you can select a color, weight (thickness), and whether the line is dashed.
- The border will appear around the image.
How do you add a decorative border in Word?
To create a custom page border in Word:
- Open Word and click on the Design tab. Under Page Layout, click Page Borders. Click Page Border in the Borders and Shading window.
- Select the Custom option from the list of choices. This is when the real fun begins. …
- Click OK to create the border.
How do you put a decorative border around text in Word?
Go to Home > Borders, and then open the menu of border choices.
…
Add a border to selected text
- Select a word, line, or paragraph.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Borders button.
- In the Borders gallery, click the border style that you want to apply.
How do you put a red box around something in Word?
Try these steps:
- Put the insertion pointer on the page you want to border.
- Summon the Borders and Shading dialog box.
- Click the Page Border tab.
- Choose the border you want: Use a preset box or pick a line style, color, and width. …
- Choose which pages you want bordered from the Apply To drop-down list.
Can you make tick boxes in Excel?
Go to Developer Tab –> Controls –> Insert –> Form Controls –> Check Box. Click anywhere in the worksheet, and it will insert a checkbox (as shown below). Now to need to link the checkbox to a cell in Excel. To do this, right-click on the checkbox and select Format Control.
How do you type a tick?
Ticks
- ALT + 0252.
- ALT + 0254.
How do you type a tick symbol on a Mac?
Hold down the Option key (also known as the ALT key) and press the letter “V” on your keyboard and you get “√”. This is by far the easiest way to make a check mark although it’s cheating slightly because it’s actually a square root symbol.
How do you write a check box?
Make your list
- Create your list.
- Place you cursor at the start of the first line.
- Go to the Developer tab, and then click Check Box.
- If you want a space after the check box, press Tab or Spacebar. …
- Select and copy (⌘ + C) the check box and any tabs or spaces.
How do I insert a tick box in Word 2013?
How to Add Check Box to a List in Word 2013
- Go to the «Insert» tab and choose «Symbol».
- Now within the symbol drop down list choose «More symbols».
- The «Symbol» window will be opened where you can select the check box and then click on the «Insert» button.
- Go to the «File» tab and choose «Option».
Should I tick or cross a box?
4 Answers. Ticking a box (British English) and Checking a box (American English) mean the same thing and are generally understood on both sides of the Atlantic. ticking the box -> there is a box, and click it to mark the same with a check mark (if you want to select it).
What’s a tick insect?
Ticks are small, blood-sucking bugs. They can range in size from as small as a pin’s head to as large as a pencil eraser. Ticks have eight legs. They’re arachnids, which means they’re related to spiders. The different kinds of ticks can range in color from shades of brown to reddish brown and black.