How to Add Check Boxes to Word: 10 Simple Steps

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Add checkboxes to your Word documents to track tasks
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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.

Quickly Add Fillable Check Boxes in Word

Navigate to “Options” in the “File” menu bar. Click the “Developer” check box under Main Tabs and press “OK.” Position the cursor and click “Check Box” on the top of the window to insert.

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 .
    • 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.
  6. It's a tab in the upper-right part of the window.
  8. It's in the menu bar at the top of the window.
  10. 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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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do if the check box is grayed out in my ribbon?
    Community Answer
    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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    Not Helpful 66 Helpful 187
  • Question
    How can I enlarge the size of a text box without enlarging the text?
    Community Answer
    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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    Not Helpful 22 Helpful 12
  • Question
    How do you make a drop box in word?
    Community Answer
    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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      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • You may need to go to your Word Preferences and add the ribbon and toolbar. Click "Developer" when another box opens up, then press save. Once you go back to your document, click on the developer tab and insert your checkbox. It'll still pop up grey, but if you highlight it and click "shading" the outline of the box should pop up.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Make-a-checklist-in-Word-dd04fa4f-2ca7-4543-8818-c469eca9f45c

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      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.

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