How to Add a Checkbox to a Google Doc

Google Docs is a handy word processor that can be used to create different types of documents. If you're trying to create a checklist, for example, Google Docs and other similar Google apps provide handy checklist features you can use.

In this article, we will show you how to add a checkbox to a Google Doc or Google Sheet to create an interactive checklist.

How to insert checkboxes in Google Docs using format option

If you want to create an interactive checklist in Google Docs using checkboxes, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Docs and click Empty (+) to create a new document.
   
2. When you're ready to enter your list of checkboxes, click Size in the top menu.
   
3. Now hover Bullets and numbering.
   
4. Then hover over the Bulleted List.
   
5. Then click on the checkbox at the top right. It's the one with the transparent chip box.
   
6. Type the items in your list one by one. Pressing the enter or return key will automatically generate another checkbox.
   
7. After completing your list, save your document.

You have now created an interactive checkbox. If you want to turn a checkbox into a check, here's what you need to do:

1. Select a checkbox by clicking on it. Highlighting multiple checkboxes will change all of the highlighted ones.
   
2. Right click your mouse, if you are using a Mac you can use Ctrl + click.
3. In the pop-up menu, click the check mark.
   
4. This particular list item will now be checked.
   
5. If you want to withdraw a check, you can press Ctrl + Z to immediately undo the tick. If the check was performed much earlier, you can remove it by:
   1. Highlight the check mark.
   2. Clicking on Size in the top menu.
   3. Hovering Bulleted List.
   4. Clicking on the checkbox option.
   5. As with the check mark, highlighting multiple items will change all highlighted items.

How to Add a Checkbox to Google Sheets Using the Insert Option

If you want to use Google Sheets instead of Docs to create a checklist, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Sheets then click + to create a document from scratch.
   
2. Highlight the cells you want to add checkboxes to. You can highlight multiple cells by clicking your mouse or by holding down the ctrl key and clicking on individual cells.
   
3. Then, in the top menu, click on Insert.
   
4. In the drop-down menu, click Check box.
   
5. Highlighted cells should now have checkboxes. Clicking a checkbox will turn the checkmark on or off.
   

Google Sheets also lets you customize how the checkbox can be enabled and disabled. It can be done like this:

1. Highlight cells that already contain checkboxes.
   
2. In the top menu, click Data.
   
3. In the drop-down menu, click Data validation.
   
4. In the pop-up screen, make sure that Criteria is set to Check box, if needed, click the arrow next to to display the drop-down menu.
   
5. Then click on the Use custom cell values to fall over.
   
6. Then enter the values ​​you want to use.
   
7. You can also toggle how Google Sheets will handle invalid entries, giving a warning or rejecting the entry outright.
   
8. When done, click save.
   

How to Add a Checkbox to Google Docs on Android

There are two ways to access Google Docs on a mobile device. It is available on Android via the Google Play Store. You can either go to a web browser and open it from there or use the Google Docs mobile app. If you are using a web browser, you can use the checkboxes as usual by following the instructions above.

If you're using the mobile app, on the other hand, there's no direct way to insert checkboxes, as the functionality of the mobile app is limited. This could potentially change, as there is an option to get add-ons to increase the functionality of Google Docs mobile, but it is not currently supported. For now, you can either use the web browser version or stick with the desktop one.

How to Add a Checkbox to Google Docs on iPhone

Apart from the availability of Google Docs mobile on the Apple App Store, there is no difference between the iOS version and the Android version. Instructions for accessing Google Docs on iPhone are the same as on Android. As for Android, checkboxes are not available in the iPhone mobile version. Access it through a web browser or use the desktop app.

How to Add a Checkbox to Google Docs on iPad

There are no differences between the iPhone and iPad versions of Google Docs, except that it's easier to use on an iPad due to the larger screen. The same limitations of the Google Docs mobile apps also apply to the iPad.

How to Add Checkbox on Google Sheets Using Android Device

Unlike Google Docs, the mobile version of Google Sheets for Android has the checkbox functionality intact. If you want to use it to create your checklist instead, follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Sheets app.
   
2. Press the + icon at the bottom right.
   
3. Then press New spreadsheet.
   
4. Then select the cells you want to add a checkbox to.
   
5. Now tap on the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
   
6. In the pop-up menu, tap Data validation.
   
7. Next, tap the drop-down menu under Criteria.
   
8. Then press Homes.
   
9. Press save top right.
   
10. Cells should now have a checkbox that can be enabled or disabled.
    
11. Continue the list by filling in the cells next to the checkboxes.

Alternatively, you can also access Google Sheets through a mobile web browser and follow the instructions given there.

Unlike the desktop version, however, you cannot create custom input values ​​for enabled checkboxes. If you want to do this, open the list you created on the desktop or web version and follow the instructions given there.

How to Add a Checkbox on Google Sheets iPhone

The iPhone version of the Google Sheets mobile app is the same as its Android cousin. If you are using an iPhone, just follow the instructions given earlier on Android.

How to Add a Checkbox on Google Sheets iPad

There is no difference between the iPhone and iPad versions of Google Sheets. Instructions for adding checkboxes are similar for all mobile platforms.

Additional FAQs

These are questions that usually crop up whenever checkboxes on Google Docs and Google Sheets are discussed:

How to create a to-do list in Google Sheets?

To-do lists are basically a way to record the steps already completed for a set of tasks. To create a working to-do list on Google Sheets, follow these steps:

• Determine the number of steps required or tasks to be performed.

• Select the appropriate number of cells on the first column that matches the previous number.

• Follow the instructions given above to create interactive checkboxes on Google Sheets.

• To the right of each check box, enter the steps or tasks in order.

• For each completed step or task, check the appropriate box.

How to insert and add a check mark in Google Docs?

You can add checkboxes to an already completed checkbox list, although this is only available for the web or desktop version of Google Docs. To do this, you can follow these steps:

• Open the document to which you want to add check boxes.

• If you want to add a new checkbox at the end of the list, move your cursor to the end of the last line of checkboxes and then press Enter ou Come back. Auto-formatting should create a new checkbox automatically.

• If you want to insert a new checkbox somewhere in the middle of the list, click the step before the task you want to add, then press Enter ou Come back. Auto-formatting should add a blank space with a checkbox in front of it, fill the blank space with the task or step you want to add.

• If auto-formatting does not work, you can add a new checkbox by clicking the area where you want to put the new checkbox, then clicking Format > Bullets and Numbering > Bulleted List will allow you to click on the format checkbox which will add a single checkbox.

• You can change checkboxes to checkmarks by right-clicking on them and choosing the checkmark symbol. On a Mac, you can use Ctrl + Click.

Can I create a checklist in Google Sheets and then copy and paste it into Google Docs?

Not really. When you copy and paste cells into Google Sheets, you're only duplicating the data in the cells, not the cells themselves. If you tried to copy a checklist to Google Sheets, instead of checkboxes, Google Docs will show the word TRUE for all the boxes that have been checked and FALSE for everyone who are disabled.

You can use this data to later create checkboxes via the Format menu, but duplicating the checkboxes themselves cannot be done.

A handy task management tool

Checklists are great for managing tasks that need to be followed in order or confirmed to be completed. By knowing how to add a checkbox to a Google Doc or Google Sheets document, you can easily create an interactive one whenever the need arises. Getting familiar with the ever-increasing number of features in Google Docs and Google Sheets is always a good thing.

Do you know of any other ways to add a checkbox to Google Docs or Google Sheets that weren't given here? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.