6 Simple Ways to Add a Check Mark to a Word Document

Quick ways to add a checkmark icon in Word using the "Insert" menu and shortcuts

If you want to create a simple checklist or keep track of tasks in Microsoft Word, you can insert a checkmark symbol. Word has a built-in Symbols menu that includes the checkmark icon. You can easily access this in the "Insert" tab. You can also set a keyboard shortcut or apply the style to a bullet list. This wikiHow will show you how to add a checkmark symbol (✓) or checkbox to a Microsoft Word document on both Windows and Mac computers.

Things You Should Know

  • Go to "Insert" → "Symbol" → "More Symbols" → select "Wingdings" → select check mark → "Insert".
  • Click the bullet list arrow → "Define New Bullet" → "Symbol" → select "Wingdings" → select check mark → "OK".
  • On a full-sized keyboard, use the shortcut "ALT" + "0252" (Number Pad). Change the font to "Wingdings".
Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Using the Insert Menu (Windows)

  1. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 1
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    Place your cursor where you want the check mark to appear. You can put a checkmark before, after, or in between characters.
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    Click Insert. This will be on the top toolbar, between Home and Draw.
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  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 3
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    Click Symbol. This will be in the Symbols section, next to Equation.
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    Click More Symbols…. A new window will open.
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    Click the "Font" drop-down menu and select Wingdings. The drop-down menu will be at the top of the window, in the Symbols tab.
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    Select the check mark symbol. When you switch to Wingdings, you'll see a new collection of symbols. Find the check mark located near the bottom of the selection. You may need to scroll down.
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    7
    Click Insert. This will add the check mark to your document.
    • The window won't close after clicking Insert. You can place your cursor in another area and click Insert again to add another checkmark in another location.
    • When you're finished, click Close to return to your document.
    • If you need to add another checkmark later, click Insert → Symbol → select the checkmark from the drop-down menu. It will now appear since you used it recently.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Using the Insert Menu (Mac)

  1. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 8
    1
    Place your cursor where you want the check mark to appear. You can put a checkmark before, after, or in between characters.
  2. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 9
    2
    Click Insert. This will be on the top toolbar, between Home and Draw.
  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 10
    3
    Click Advanced Symbol. You can find this on the right side, next to Equation.
  4. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 11
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    Click Symbols. This is the left tab. You may already be on this tab.
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    5
    Select the check mark symbol. Scroll through the available symbols until you find the checkmark, then click it.
    • If you can't find the checkmark icon, click the "Font" drop-down menu, scroll down, and select Wingdings. New symbols will appear. Select the checkmark.
  6. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 13
    6
    Click Insert. This is the blue button in the bottom-right corner. The check mark will be added to your document.
    • The window won't close after clicking Insert. You can place your cursor in another area and click Insert again to add another checkmark in another location.
    • When you're finished inserting a check mark symbol, click Close to return to your document.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Creating a Check Mark Shortcut (Windows)

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    Click the Insert menu in Word. Another easy way to add a check mark to your Word document is to create a simple keyboard shortcut. Start by clicking the Insert tab, which is on the top toolbar between Home and Draw.
  2. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 15
    2
    Click Symbol. This will be in the Symbols section, next to Equation.
  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 16
    3
    Click More Symbols…. A new window will open.
  4. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 17
    4
    Click the "Font" drop-down menu and select Wingdings. The drop-down menu will be at the top of the window, in the Symbols tab.
  5. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 18
    5
    Select the check mark symbol. When you switch to Wingdings, you'll see a new collection of symbols. Find the check mark located near the bottom of the selection. You may need to scroll down.
  6. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 19
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    Click Shortcut Key…. This will be on the bottom-left corner, next to AutoCorrect....
  7. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 20
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    Assign a shortcut. Click the "Press new shortcut key" field if your cursor isn't already in the field. Use a combination of a modifier key (such as Alt) and an alphanumeric key.
    • For example, press ALT + C at the same time. This will assign the checkmark symbol to this shortcut.
    • Avoid using a combination of keys that already represents a different shortcut. (Ex: CTRL + C, which already represents Copy.)
  8. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 21
    8
    Click Assign. This will assign your shortcut to the checkmark symbol.
    • Click Close on the Customize Keyboard window and Symbol window.
  9. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 22
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    Use your shortcut. If you set ALT + C as your shortcut, press it on your keyboard.
    • The checkmark symbol will be entered wherever your cursor is.
    • Make sure to save your document.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

  1. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 23
    1
    Place your cursor where you want the check mark to appear. You can put a checkmark before, after, or in between characters.
    • This method will only work if you have a full-sized keyboard that has a numeric keypad.
  2. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 24
    2
    On your full-sized keyboard, hold down Alt and type 0252. You should be using the 0252 on your number pad. This is the section on the far-right of your keyboard. Make sure your Number Lock (NumLock) is enabled.
    • The character will appear as an umlaut in most fonts.
  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 25
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    Highlight the character and change the font to "Wingdings". It must be changed to Wingdings in order to appear as a checkmark.
  4. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 26
    4
    Use the on-screen keyboard (optional). Use these steps only if you don't have a full-sized keyboard.
    • On Windows, type "on-screen keyboard" into the Start menu and launch the program.
      • Click Options on the keyboard and check the box next to Turn on numeric key pad. Click OK.
      • Click NumLock to enable it. The key will turn blue and reveal the numbers.
      • Hold Alt on your physical keyboard and use your mouse to click 0252 on the on-screen keyboard.
      • You may need to press any key on your keyboard for the umlaut to appear.
      • Highlight the character and change the font to "Wingdings".
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Using Character Viewer (Mac)

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    Place your cursor where you want the check mark to appear. You can put a checkmark before, after, or in between characters using a checkmark emoji.
  2. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 28
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    Click the Edit menu. You'll see it at the top-right corner of your Mac's screen.[2]
  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 29
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    Click Emoji & Symbols. This opens Character Viewer, which contains many symbols and emoji you can easily add to any document.
  4. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 30
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    Search for the check. Type check into the search bar to filter the symbols to display only checkmarks.
  5. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 31
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    Click the checkmark to add it to your document. You can now insert additional check mark symbols or close the Character Viewer to return to your document.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Creating a Clickable Check List

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    Enable the "Developer" tab in Word. If you need to create an entire clickable checklist in your document, you'll need to enable the Developer tab first. Go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon. Check the box for Developer underneath the Main Tabs header. Click OK.
  2. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 33
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    Click the Developer tab. After enabling it, this will be located between View and Help.
  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 34
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    Place your cursor where you want the check mark to appear. You can put a checkmark before, after, or in between characters.
  4. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 35
    4
    Click the checkmark box. This can be found in the Controls section. It looks like a box with a green checkmark inside. The checkmark box will be added to your document.
    • Click the box to mark the X inside.
    • This will save to your default layout, but you can always create a Word template to make it easier to create clickable checklists in the future.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Creating a Check Mark Bullet List

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    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
    • Use this method to create a list with checkmarks.
  2. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 37
    2
    Place your cursor where you want the check mark to appear. This is where you'll create your list.
  3. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 38
    3
    Click the bullet list arrow. This will be in the Paragraph section.
    • A drop-down menu will open.
  4. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 39
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    Click Define New Bullet…. You can find this at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
    • A new window will open.
  5. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 40
    5
    Click Symbol. This will be at the top of the pop-up window.
  6. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 41
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    Click the "Font" drop-down menu and select Wingdings. The drop-down menu will be at the top of the window, in the Symbols tab.
  7. Image titled Add a Check Mark to a Word Document Step 42
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    Select the check mark symbol. When you switch to Wingdings, you'll see a new collection of symbols. Find the check mark located near the bottom of the selection. You may need to scroll down.
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    Press OK twice. You'll need to click OK to close the Symbol window and Define New Bullet window.
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    Use your checkmark list. Click the bullet list drop-down menu and select the checkmark from the Bullet Library.
    • Enter any line of text you want, then press Enter to create a new checkmark on the next line.
    • If needed, you can format your document if you want to adjust the style.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I insert a check mark in a box in a word document?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Change font to Marlett and type a lower case "a". You'll get a check mark!
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/insert-a-check-mark-symbol-9f39c129-236e-45be-8c91-263b43dc1e1a
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-emoji-and-symbols-on-mac-mchlp1560/mac

About This Article

Rain Kengly
Written by:
Rain Kengly
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been viewed 1,537,973 times.
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Co-authors: 18
Updated: March 15, 2023
Views: 1,537,973
Categories: Office
Article SummaryX

1. Click Insert.
2. Click Symbol.
3. Click More Symbols.
4. Select Wingdings as the font.
5. Click the check mark.

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