How to Make a Checklist in Google Docs (Interactable)

Google Docs introduced a real interactive checklist feature back in June, 2016.

It was pretty clunky before that, you had to do it all manually.

Hmm …

How do you add it?

Place your cursor where you want to add the checklist.

Then, click on the three dots in the top right corner.

Select the drop down under the “Checklists“ icon.

Wait, what’s the one on the right?

• Right = Checklist with no strikethrough.
• Left = Checklist with strikethrough.

You’ll see that you can add any text in the checklist.

Press enter to add more items to the list.

👌Perfect.

Checklist Template In Google Docs

You may want to create a fillable and printable blank checklist template. You can do that by simply replacing the items with dashes like this:

You can even do multiple columns, like this:

Convert the Checklist In To A Bullet List and Vice Versa

Yes, you can also convert it to any other type of list (like a bullet list, numbered list and so on …).

Right Click on the checklist boxes column.

Select the list you prefer.

For this example I’ll choose a bullet list.

And that’s it!

Appreciate the quick guide.

Bonus Tips

•••

Horizontal Checklist in Google Docs

Most users are familiar with vertical checklists, but you can also create a horizontal checklist in Google Docs using tables. Simply create a one-row table with multiple columns and insert checkboxes in each cell.

Keyboard Shortcut for a Checklist

To instantly insert a checklist or convert a bullet/numbered list into a checklist, Press Ctrl + Shift + 9 (Windows) or ⌘ + Shift + 9 (Mac).

Collaborating on a Checklist

In a shared Google Docs document, each collaborator can check off tasks in real-time. Hmm … 🤔

We’ve explored the features and functionality of checklists in Google Docs, including how to create a checklist, convert bullet or numbered lists, and even create a horizontal checklist using tables. What would you like me to cover next?