How To Add Check Boxes to Word Documents?

When you are creating surveys or forms using Microsoft Word, having check boxes makes the options easier to read and answer. This article will be covering two good methods for how to add check boxes to your Word Documents. The first course of action is ideal for documents that you want people to fill out digitally within the Word document itself. The second course of action is easier if you are planning to print documents, for example, to-do lists.  

Method 1: You have to use Word’s Developer Tools to Add the Check Box Option for Forms  

To create fillable forms that contain check boxes, you first have to enable the “Developer” tab, this can be found on the Ribbon. When a Word document is open, click on the “File” drop-down menu, then click on the “Options” command. In the “Word Options” window that appears, switch to the “Customize Ribbon” tab. On the right-hand “Customize the Ribbon” list, click on “Main Tabs” from the dropdown menu.  

On the list of available main tabs, click on the “Developer” check box, then click on “OK.”  

After you’ve done so the “Developer” tab will be added to your Ribbon. Position your cursor in the document where you wish to have a check box, switch to the “Developer” tab, then click on the button labeled “Check Box Content Control.”  

You will then be able to see a check box appear wherever you placed your cursor. The checkboxes are interactive, you can click a box to mark it with an “X.”  Or, you can select the whole form box to move the check box around, format it, and much more.  

Method 2: You can Change Bullets to Check Boxes for Printed Documents  

If you are creating a document that has to be printed out, for example, a to-do list or a printed survey, and you just want to checkboxes on it, you do not have to dabble with adding Ribbon tabs as well as using forms. Instead, you can just create a simple bullet list, then change the bullets from the default symbol to check boxes.  

In your Word document that is open, on the “Home” tab, click on the small arrow, this is situated to the right of the “Bullet List” button. From the dropdown menu, click on “Define new bullet.”  

In the “Define New Bullet” window that opens, click on “Symbol.”  

In the “Symbol” window that appears, click on the “Font” dropdown, then click on “Wingdings 2.”.  

You can then scroll through the symbols to find the empty square symbol that resembles a check box. Or, you can just enter the number “163” into the “Character Code” field to automatically select it. If you manage to spot a symbol, you like better, for example, the open circle (symbol 153) you can select that instead.  

After you’ve selected your symbol, click “OK” to close the “Symbol” window, then click “OK” to close the “Define New Bullet” window, as well.  

In your Word document, you can now enter your bullet list. The check boxes will appear instead of the regular bullet symbol.  

The next time a need for the check box symbol arises, you don’t need to navigate through that whole set of windows. All you need to do is click that small arrow to the right of the “Bullet List” button, then you will be able to see the checkbox listed under “Recently Used Bullets.”  

Reminder – This method is only useful for documents you wish to print out. Check box symbols placed this way are not interactive, so you can’t check them inside a Word document.   

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