Google Docs has a built-in checklist tool, but many people never spot it because it sits in the toolbar instead of a menu. Two other routes exist as well: one through the Format menu and one through a keyboard shortcut. Here’s how to make a checklist in Google Docs using each method, plus how to manage items once your list is up and running.
Add a Checklist in Google Docs From the Toolbar
This is the fastest route when starting from a blank page.
Open your document and click where the list should begin. In the toolbar, find the checklist icon. It sits near the bullet list and numbered list buttons and looks like a small checkbox with a checkmark inside. Click it once.
A checkbox appears on the current line. Type your first item, press Enter, and the next checkbox shows up on its own.
To check off an item, hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click the box. The text gets a strikethrough and the box fills in. Press Enter twice when you’re done adding items to exit the list and return to normal text.
How to Make a Checklist in Google Docs Using the Format Menu
Prefer menus over toolbar icons? The same feature lives under Format.
Click where the list should start. Go to Format, hover over Bullets & numbering, then select Checklist. Google Docs also shows two checklist styles here: one that strikes through checked items and one that leaves the text alone.
The result matches the toolbar button exactly. Some people find the menu path easier to remember when they’re still learning the editor. If you’re also tweaking page setup, this guide on changing margins in Google Docs covers the layout side of document formatting.
Create a Checklist With a Keyboard Shortcut
Once memorized, this beats both methods above for speed.
Place your cursor at the starting point and press Ctrl+Shift+9 on Windows or ChromeOS, or Cmd+Shift+9 on Mac. A checklist starts on that line. Type an item, hit Enter to continue, and Enter twice to exit.
There’s a second trick worth knowing: type two square brackets [] followed by a space, and Google Docs converts it into a checkbox automatically. Chromebook users who want more time-savers like this can pull up the full ChromeOS list with the built-in keyboard shortcut viewer.
| Method | Steps | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Toolbar icon | Click the checklist icon in the toolbar | Quick visual access |
| Format menu | Format → Bullets & numbering → Checklist | Menu-based preference |
| Keyboard shortcut | Ctrl+Shift+9 / Cmd+Shift+9 or [] + space | Speed |
Check, Uncheck, and Organize Checklist Items
A few actions cover almost everything you’ll do with a Google Docs checklist after creating it.
Ctrl+click (Cmd+click) a checkbox to mark it done. The same click toggles it back to unchecked, so mistakes take one second to fix.
To turn an item into a sub-item, press Tab with the cursor on that line. Shift+Tab moves it back out. This works well for splitting a big task into smaller steps without starting a second list.
To delete an item, put the cursor at the start of its line and press Backspace. If you review long lists at night, switching on dark mode for Google Docs makes extended sessions easier on the eyes.
Convert an Existing List Into a Google Docs Checklist
Already wrote your items as a plain bullet list? No need to retype anything.
Select the text, then click the checklist icon in the toolbar or press the keyboard shortcut. Google Docs swaps the bullets for checkboxes and keeps your text intact. Select a checklist and click the bullet icon to switch back the other way.
Running a spelling pass before sharing the list helps too. Here’s how to use Grammarly in Google Docs if the built-in checker isn’t catching enough.
What Google Docs Checkboxes Can’t Do
Checkboxes in Google Docs are interactive, but they don’t connect to any task system. Checking a box only applies strikethrough styling inside the document. Nothing syncs to Google Tasks or an external app, and no reminders fire.
One exception exists on paid Google Workspace plans: hovering left of a checkbox shows an option to assign it as a task with a due date. On free accounts, the list stays a visual tracker only.
You can also insert static checkbox symbols through Insert → Special characters, though those don’t respond to clicks at all. The process mirrors typing special characters on a Chromebook, and it’s only worth it for printed documents.
That covers every way to make a checklist in Google Docs. Pick whichever method matches how you work.
FAQs
What is the shortcut to make a checklist in Google Docs?
Press Ctrl+Shift+9 on Windows or ChromeOS, or Cmd+Shift+9 on Mac. You can also type two square brackets [] and press space to insert a single checkbox instantly.
How do I check off items in a Google Docs checklist?
Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click the checkbox. The item gets struck through and the box fills in. The same Ctrl+click unchecks it again.
Can I turn a bullet list into a checklist in Google Docs?
Yes. Select the bulleted text, then click the checklist icon in the toolbar or press Ctrl+Shift+9. Google Docs replaces the bullets with checkboxes and keeps your text unchanged.
Do Google Docs checkboxes sync with Google Tasks?
Not by default. Checkboxes only add strikethrough styling. On paid Google Workspace plans, you can assign a checkbox as a task with an assignee and due date.
How do I add sub-items to a checklist in Google Docs?
Place the cursor on the item and press Tab to indent it as a sub-item. Press Shift+Tab to move it back to the main level.
