To insert a clickable check box in Word for Windows, enable the Developer tab, place your cursor where you want the box, and select Developer > Check Box Content Control. On Mac, select Developer > Check Box; in Word for the web, choose Home > Paragraph > Checklist. For boxes you will print and mark by hand, use empty square bullets.
The desktop steps cover Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 on Windows and Mac. Choose an interactive checkbox when you want to mark items on screen, or a static symbol when you need a printable box.
The short version
- Windows: Enable Developer, then insert a Check Box Content Control.
- Mac: Enable Developer, then select Check Box.
- Word for the web: Select Home > Paragraph > Checklist, or press Ctrl + ,.
- Printed lists: Choose an empty square through Define New Bullet.
| Method or option | Where to use it | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Show the Developer tab | Windows and Mac desktop | Reveals desktop checkbox tools |
| Check Box Content Control | Windows desktop | Clickable checkbox |
| Check Box | Mac desktop | Form checkbox |
| Checklist on the ribbon | Word for the web | Interactive checklist |
| Ctrl + , | Word for the web | Interactive checklist |
| Square bullets through Symbol | Windows desktop | Printable checkbox list |
| Square bullets through Bullet | Mac desktop | Printable checkbox list |
| More Symbols | Windows desktop | Individual static box |
| Advanced Symbol | Mac desktop | Static box from a font |
| Unicode conversion with Alt + X | Windows desktop | Static square from a character code |
| Alt plus a numeric keypad code | Windows desktop with a numeric keypad | Static character from a matching symbol font |
| Character Map | Windows 11, desktop Word or an editable web document | Copied static box |
| Character Viewer | Current macOS, Word or an editable browser document | Static box symbol |
| AutoCorrect | Windows desktop | Abbreviation replaced with a static box |
| AutoText | Windows desktop | Reusable box or printable checklist text |
| Form template | Windows and Mac desktop | Starting layout with contents that vary by template |
| Square shape | Windows and Mac desktop | Drawn printable box |
| Checked symbol customization | Windows desktop | Tick in place of a checked control’s X |
Enable Developer and insert a Windows checkbox
Open File > Options > Customize Ribbon to make the checkbox tools visible. Under Customize the Ribbon, choose Main Tabs, select Developer, and select OK.
Place the insertion point where you want the box, then choose Developer > Check Box Content Control. Click the inserted box to switch between checked and unchecked. To add more clickable check boxes, copy and paste the control wherever you need another one.
Add a checkbox in Word for Mac
On Mac, open Word > Preferences > Ribbon and Toolbar. Under Customize the Ribbon > Main Tabs, check Developer, then select Save.
Position the insertion point in your document and choose Developer > Check Box. When you create a fillable form in Word, select the control and choose Options to configure it, then choose Developer > Protect Form. Select Protect Form again when you need to edit the form.
Make a checklist in Word for the web
In the browser version of Word, choose Home > Paragraph > Checklist. Click a box beside an item to toggle its state. For the keyboard shortcut, place the insertion point in the document and press Ctrl + ,.
Fix a checkbox that shows an X
For a Windows checkbox content control, you can replace the checked X with a tick. Select the checkbox and open Developer > Properties. In Content Control Properties, select Change beside Checked symbol.
Choose a tick glyph, changing Font if necessary, then select OK. Apply the change to each control that needs the tick.
Create empty square bullets for printing
For a printed checklist in Windows desktop Word, open Home, select the Bullets dropdown, and choose Define New Bullet > Symbol. Find an empty square in the symbol choices. If you cannot find one, use Font to select Wingdings or Segoe UI Symbol, then select OK twice.
On Mac, select your list, then open Home, select the Bullets dropdown, and choose Define New Bullet > Bullet. Choose an empty-box symbol, using Font > Wingdings if needed, and select OK twice.
These square bullets are static boxes for printing and marking by hand, so clicking them will not check them off. If you need to mark items on screen, use the desktop checkbox controls or the web Checklist feature.
Insert a single box symbol
For an individual static box in Word for Windows, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. Use Font to find a font containing the box you want, double-click the character to insert it, then select Close.
For Word on Mac, open Insert > Advanced Symbol > Symbols. Choose the symbol, select Insert, then select Close. The selected font must contain the empty or checked box you want to insert.
On Windows 11, you can also use Character Map with desktop Word or an editable Word document in a browser. Press Windows, search for Character Map, and press Enter. Choose a font under Font, locate and select a box character, then select Copy. Return to Word and press Ctrl + V.
On current macOS, place the insertion point in Word or an editable Word document in a browser, then choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols. You can also press Fn/Globe + E to open Character Viewer. Search for the box symbol and click it to insert it, or double-click it when Character Viewer is expanded.
Use a keyboard code for a static square
In Word for Windows, type 25A1, select those four characters, and press Alt + X. Word converts the code into an empty square, □. This inserts a static character rather than a clickable checkbox.
To choose a different Unicode box character, open Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. Set from: to Unicode (hex), select the character, and note its Character code. Type that code in the document, select it, and press Alt + X.
A font-specific numeric code is another Windows option when you have a numeric keypad. Find the glyph in Insert > Symbol > More Symbols; when from: shows Symbol (decimal), note the Character code. Select the matching font under Home > Font, enable Num Lock, then hold Alt while entering the four-digit code on the numeric keypad. Restore your text font afterward.
Save boxes you use repeatedly
For a static box you insert often in Windows desktop Word, create an AutoCorrect abbreviation. Select an existing box character, then open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoCorrect. Select Replace text as you type.
Enter your abbreviation under Replace and confirm that the box appears under With. Select Add, then OK twice. Type the abbreviation followed by Spacebar or Enter to insert the static box.
To reuse box text or an entire printable checklist in Windows desktop Word, select that text and press Alt + F3. Name the entry in Create New Building Block and save it. Insert the saved entry later through Insert > Quick Parts > AutoText.
Start from a template or draw a box
A form template can give you a starting layout with boxes already included. In Word for Windows, open File > New, enter Forms in Search for online templates, press Enter, then right-click a suitable template and select Create. On Mac, choose File > New from Template, search for form, and double-click a suitable template. Template contents vary, so check that your choice contains the type of box you need.
For a drawn printable square in desktop Word on Windows or Mac, choose Insert > Shapes and select a rectangle. Hold Shift while dragging to draw a square, then adjust its appearance with Shape Format. The square is a drawing, so use a checkbox control if you need to mark it by clicking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you use Legacy Forms for a new checkbox?
Microsoft retains legacy checkbox form fields for compatibility with older Word documents. For a new clickable checkbox in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Windows, select Developer > Check Box Content Control.
Why will an ActiveX checkbox not work in current Word?
Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 on Windows block ActiveX control creation and interaction by default. Microsoft recommends leaving ActiveX disabled, so use a checkbox content control for a new clickable box.
Can you insert saved AutoText in Word for the web?
AutoText is unavailable in Word for the web. To insert an interactive checklist in your browser, select Home > Paragraph > Checklist.
Can you use the square shape method in Word for the web?
The square shape insertion method applies to desktop Word on Windows and Mac and excludes Word for the web. In your browser, select Home > Paragraph > Checklist when you need boxes you can toggle.