The functionality of a checklist is provided by adding checkboxes to your Microsoft Word document. Ticking off-line items as they are completed or acted upon.
Inserting a checklist into your Word document is extremely useful, especially when creating surveys in Word.
In this guide, we will use the Microsoft Word 2021 desktop app, currently Word’s latest version.
If you’re using a different version, things may not be the same, but you can still follow along.
How To Insert Checkbox in MS Word
This article will show you how to insert an interactive checkbox in Microsoft Word for softcopy documents and a non-interactive checkbox for hardcopy (printed) documents. Then, you can begin incorporating them into your forms, surveys, and lists.
Inserting Checkboxes For Hardcopy(Printed) Documents in MS Word
Follow these steps to insert checkboxes in Hardcopy documents:
- Place the cursor where you wish to add checkboxes.
- Make sure you’re on the Home Tab in the ribbon.
- Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the Bullet points button.
- Now, click on the Define new bullet option.
- Now, click on the Symbol option in the new bullet menu.
- Select the following symbol (In the attached screenshot) and click OK.
Now, you’ll see a hollow square as a bullet point; you can use this as a checkbox for the hard copy.
To add more checkboxes, click the Bullet button, and they will be added automatically (to get your usual bullet back, click the down arrow next to the Bullet button and choose the symbol you prefer).
You can select either the standard bullet or the checkbox from the menu in the future instead of using the “Define New Bullet” dialog box.
Inserting an Interactive Checkbox in MS Word
You can tick interactive checkboxes in an MS Word document without obtaining a hard copy. Here’s how to insert an interactive Checkbox in MS Word:
- Right-click on the File tab and click Customize the ribbon option.
- Choose Main Tab from the Customize the Ribbon menu.
- Select the Developer checkbox in the main tab’s subheadings.
- To close the Customize the Ribbon menu, click OK.
- Now, you’ll see an additional Developer Tab on the ribbon.
- Open the Developer tab and place the cursor on the list item where you want the checkbox inserted.
- Now, click on the Checkbox icon (as displayed in the screenshot) to add an interactive checkbox to a document in MS Word.
Also Read: How To Change The Name Of A Facebook Group
Customizing the Checked Symbol in the Checkbox
Click on the checkbox icon to create interactive and fillable checkboxes, depending on how many you require. When you check the box, the X sign will appear by default.
If you want to replace that symbol with, say, a (tick) sign, follow the steps:
- Go to the Controls options in the Developer tab and select the Properties option.
- If the Properties icon becomes blurry, check the box you inserted and then go there.
- The Checked symbol option is at the bottom of the Content Control Properties.
- Select the preferred sign for the checkbox by clicking the Change button.
- To confirm the changes, click OK.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
What Should I Do if I Want To Include More Check Box Symbols in the Printed Version?
You are not required to go through the entire set of windows. Click the small arrow to the right of the “Bullet List” button, and the checkbox will appear under the “Recently Used Bullets” section.
How Do I Protect the Word Document That Is Fillable?
Open the form you want to secure or lock. Select Developer> Editing Restrictions. After you’ve chosen your restrictions, click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.
Why Don’t Checkboxes Work in Word?
For the checkbox to function correctly, the document must be locked (protected for filling out forms).
The shading is due to your Word preferences for field shading. You can choose whether to shade fields when they are selected or always. If you never want it to be shaded, change the preference to Never.
Summary
So, this is all you need to know if you want to insert checkboxes in Microsoft Word. We hope this article helped you understand how they work. If you enjoyed the article, please spread the Word.