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To add a check mark that will not change when clicked, place the cursor where you want it and choose Insert > Symbol. Select a visible check mark, or choose More Symbols to browse characters and fonts. For a box readers can click to check or uncheck, use Word’s checkbox feature instead.

Insert a check mark from Word’s symbol menu

  1. Place the cursor at the insertion point in your document.

  2. Choose Insert > Symbol. If the check mark is not visible in the menu, open More Symbols.

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  3. Browse the available symbols and fonts, select the check mark you want, then double-click it or choose the insert option. Close the symbol dialog when you are done.

Menu labels and their placement can vary by Word version and platform. Microsoft’s instructions cover Word desktop editions and include a Mac route; see Microsoft’s check mark or tick mark instructions for platform-specific guidance.

Use a character code when you want a keyboard method

Word’s Alt+X conversion works with a Unicode hexadecimal code; it is not a universal check-mark shortcut. First, use the symbol dialog to identify the desired glyph and note its Character code and the from setting. If the setting is Unicode (hex), type the code at the insertion point and press Alt+X. Microsoft lists these codes for check marks in Segoe UI Symbol:

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Microsoft also documents a Windows desktop Office method using Wingdings. In the symbol dialog, choose the relevant font and use its Symbol (decimal) code: 252 is a check mark, and 254 is another option. With the cursor at the insertion point, hold Alt and enter the decimal code on the numeric keypad. These are font-specific decimal codes, not Unicode hexadecimal values. If the result is wrong, check both the selected font and the code type. For the code and font distinctions, see Microsoft’s character-code instructions.

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Choose between a static symbol and a clickable checkbox

A check mark inserted as text is a static symbol: clicking it will not toggle it. Microsoft describes these marks as “static symbols.” For a checklist that readers can check and uncheck, use Word’s checkbox functionality rather than inserting a character.

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Set a checkbox control to display a check mark

In Windows desktop Word, a checkbox content control on the Developer tab can be configured to show a check mark when selected. Microsoft’s instructions explain how to change the checked-box appearance from an X to a check mark: Change checked boxes from an X to a checkmark. The exact setup is specific to Windows desktop Word.

Use Character Map if you need a copy-and-paste fallback

On Windows, Character Map can copy a check-mark character into Word: choose a font, select a character that looks right, copy it, then paste it into the document. The character available depends on the font, so select one that contains the desired mark. Microsoft documents this workflow in its guide to Character Map and symbol insertion.

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Make a frequently used mark easier to insert

If you insert the same check mark often, Microsoft’s general symbol guidance suggests setting up an AutoCorrect entry. That turns a chosen text sequence into a shortcut for your symbol; it is useful for repeated insertion, but it still inserts a static character rather than a clickable checkbox. See Microsoft’s instructions for inserting a symbol in Word.

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