Forum Discussion
Inserting a checkbox into Excel Online
Hello, is there any way to insert a checkmark box in the Online version of Excel, which doesn't have access to the Developer tab? Thank you!
No, it's not supported
Best workaround I have for the moment is to format the cell to WINGDINGS font, and type in 'x' for the check. It'll come out with this character ☒ which I think it's visibly acceptable and feels just as intuitive as clicking on a Google-style checkbox.
Just means you'll end up with an array of 'x' and they're not boolean TRUE FALSE values but still very workable.
I believe the new check boxes, that are more like conditional formats rather than form controls, do work online. On the desktop they are set using
> Insert / Cell Controls / Checkbox
The checkbox appears as formatting within a cell that actually contains TRUE/FALSE. Applying further condition formatting can achieve other effects such as the red/green cells shown in the picture. Clicking on the cell still toggles the setting.
Nope, it's only on Desktop, Beta. Status is in What's New https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/excel-blog/what-s-new-in-excel-january-2024/ba-p/4026581
There must be some logic to that! On the desktop I have the option of using form controls or even VBA events and shapes. It is online that there is a dearth of controls so I had hoped that might be the primary platform targeted .
Hi, EveSC1300 , I was facing the same problem as you after I researched and found a solution for this problem, I hope it will help you, the check box is not checked box by ticking, but you can create it this way as a drop list:
Step 1: Click on the Spreadsheet field you want to add the check box.Step 2: From the ribbon menu click on Data --> Data validation.
Step 3: Click on Setting --> Allow --> List --> Source copy this "☐, ☑" and paste it inside the field --> click Ok.
Step 4: Align the text into the center, now you can see, that it is worked.
Good luck!
- Thank you for your workaround!
If it is the functionality you need, rather than the appearance, I believe Slicers can be used to restrict the categories presented within a Pivot Table. The list could then be used within FILTER to down-select tabular data..
- As a workaround, it's possible to use checkbox characters - just copy paste:
☐ ☒ This would be very useful in 365. We have some projects sat in excel as a record of what to do and next steps. So many people have the file open that you can't pull the copy locally to add more information with check boxes.
- Here's the way to upvote that, so it becomes something they enable in the web version.
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/e83db177-a674-ec11-a81b-6045bd7bf64c- Link seems to be dead. I found an updated link: https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/bd683a8a-6f0c-ed11-b83d-000d3a4d97ea
- This is a bummer. With the move to office 365, teams and other web based applications, you would think this would have a solution; especially considering that Google Sheets supports this. We're migrating all of our business documents and forms off of Google into Microsoft and are finding these shortcomings all over the place.
- Our organization is also moving from Google Workplace to Microsoft. Just so sad, there is no checkbox in online excel. Google spreadsheet has it. Its an amazing tool to add in Online Excel.
No, it's not supported
SergeiBaklan et al.
I just found out that the Boolean checkbox feature is at the Beta stage, and it hasn't been rolled out as yet!
Like many, I used the checkbox in Google Sheet as common a row or column.
I was so shocked on learning that this feature is beta in Excel!
In VB/VBA this option is native, but you'll have to load a form first!
Let's Microsoft rollout an update soon!
- Thanks Sergei!
