Add check boxes in Microsoft Word

Checkboxes make life so much easier when it comes to making lists. By checking things off those lists, they’re done and you don’t have to think about them anymore. For example, if you find what you’re looking for on your shopping list, you can check it off. This is how you add checkboxes in Microsoft Word.

Read more: Combine multiple Word documents

Create a print-only list

Making a print-only list – meaning you can’t click the checkboxes to fill them in – is very possible from Define new bullet. This is useful for lists where you have a pen or pencil handy. You can create blank boxes for your lists that you can physically fill in manually with a pen or pencil.

First, go to your Microsoft Word document and click the drop-down arrow on it Bullets knob.

Click in the following options Define new bullet….

Inside Define New Bullet, click Symbol….

Use the drop-down at the top to change the font to Wings. Character codes 111, 112, 113, and 114 all work great for check boxes. When you find the empty box you like, click Okay.

Back in the Define New Bullet pop-out, click Okay.

Your new checkboxes are ready to go as bullet points.

Developer options

Open Microsoft Word. From the home screen (or, if you’re in a document, the File tab), click Options.

In Word Options, click the Customize ribbon tab.

Inside, find and select Customize Ribbon Developer in the “Customize the Ribbon” field. If you checked it, select Okay.

Back in your Word document, click the Developer tab.

Click the Select the Content management check box knob.

Microsoft Support introduces you type out the list before clicking Check Box Content Control at the beginning of the first line. After that you can change the X to a checkmark by going to Developer > Properties > Content Control Properties > Modify (next to checked symbol).