Inserting a checkbox can have an interactive effect on your PowerPoint slides. Adding an engaging element to your audience’s attention allows them to make them a part of the presentation.
In this article, we will show you how to add checkboxes to your PowerPoint presentations. The clickable checkbox method below uses ActiveX controls in PowerPoint for Windows desktop. These controls are not supported in PowerPoint for Mac or the web.
Enable Developer Mode
Show the Developer tab to access the checkbox controls. This does not enable ActiveX by itself. In Microsoft 365 and Office 2024, ActiveX is disabled by default, so the older screenshots below may show controls that your installation blocks. Follow these steps to display the tab.
1. Go to the ‘File’ menu and select ‘Options’.
2. click on the “Customize Ribbon” tab.
3. In the “Main Tabs” area, check the Developer option and click “OK”.
A new Developer tab will now show up on the PowerPoint ribbon at the top of the window. If it is missing, return to Customize Ribbon and check that Developer is selected under Main Tabs.
If you cannot insert the control or see a blocked-content message, check File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > ActiveX Settings. Microsoft recommends leaving ActiveX disabled unless it is necessary. Changing this setting affects other Office files too, so use only trusted files and ask your administrator if the setting is managed. Showing the Developer tab or restarting PowerPoint will not remove an ActiveX block.
Inserting Checkboxes
If ActiveX is permitted on your Windows installation, you can now add checkboxes to your presentation. Here’s how:
1. Select the “Developer” tab.
2. In the “Controls” section, select the “Check Box” button.
3. Click and drag on your slide to place the checkbox exactly where you want it.
4. Change the checkbox label by right-clicking the check box and using “CheckBox Object” to edit the text, as shown below. You can also select the control, open Developer > Properties, and change its Caption property.
5. Done! You now have a Check box in your PowerPoint Presentation. Run the slide show to click it: PowerPoint keeps controls in design mode while you edit the slide.
To format the checkbox further:
1. Click on “Developer” tab.
2. Next, click the desired check box.
3. Last, select “Properties” option.
This will open up the properties window to change the property of the checkbox. Use Caption for the text beside the box and Font for its text appearance. Close Properties before testing the control in Slide Show view.
For a checklist that only needs to look checked, use a static symbol instead. On Windows, click inside a text box, choose Insert > Symbols > Symbol, select Wingdings, and use character code 254 for a tick inside a box. On Mac or the web, you can type or paste a box symbol such as ☐ or ☑ into a text box. Symbols are visual marks, so clicking them will not toggle a check or collect audience responses.
Conclusion
You can easily add checkboxes to your PowerPoint slides now that you know how. Checkboxes are a simple way to keep your audience involved and to gather their input as you present. Don’t forget to try this if you want to make your presentations more exciting and interactive.
