How to Make a Check Mark in Excel

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to insert a check mark symbol in your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, look no further. In this guide, we’ll show you two simple methods to make a check mark in Excel – one using the symbols library, and another by using a keyboard shortcut. Whether you need to indicate task completion, approval status or a simple tick mark for reference, these techniques will save you time and effort.

Method 1: Inserting a Check Mark from the Symbols Library

The easiest way to make a check mark in Excel is by inserting a symbol from the Symbols library. Here’s how:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the check mark.
2. Click on the Insert tab on Excel’s ribbon menu.
3. Click on the Symbol button in the Symbols section.
4. A new window will open. Select the Wingdings font from the dropdown list.
5. Scroll down until you find the check mark symbol (✓) or use the search function to locate it quickly.
6. Click on the check mark symbol to select it and click Insert.
7. The check mark symbol will now be inserted into the selected cell.

Pro Tip:

You can quickly insert a check mark into many cells by using the copy and paste function. Select the cell with the check mark symbol and press Ctrl + C to copy it. Select the cells where you want to paste the check mark and press Ctrl + V to paste it.

Method 2: Inserting a Check Mark Using a Keyboard Shortcut

If you need to insert multiple check marks in your Excel spreadsheet, using a keyboard shortcut can save you a lot of time. Here’s how:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the check mark.
2. Press Alt + 0252 (on the numpad) and release the keys.
3. The check mark symbol (✓) will be inserted into the selected cell.

Pro Tip:

If you use another keyboard layout than US QWERTY, the Alt code for the check mark symbol may be different. You can find the Alt code for your keyboard layout by searching online for “Alt code for check mark” followed by your keyboard layout name.

Alternative Check Marks

If you’re not a fan of the Wingdings check mark (✓), don’t worry, there are other options available in the Symbols library. Here are a few alternatives:

• The tick mark (✔) – Also available in the Wingdings font, this check mark is more square-shaped than the traditional tick.
• The ballot X (✗) – This symbol indicates rejection or failure, and can be found in the Wingdings 2 or 3 fonts.
• The heavy check mark (✔) – A bold version of the standard check mark, this symbol is available in several fonts, including Arial and Times New Roman.

Experiment with different check mark symbols to find the one that works best for your spreadsheet needs.

Conditional Formatting with Check Marks

If you’re using check marks to indicate completion status or approval status in your Excel spreadsheet, you can take it a step further by using conditional formatting. Here’s how:

1. Select the range of cells that you want to apply the conditional formatting to.
2. Click on the Home tab on Excel’s ribbon menu.
3. Click on the Conditional Formatting button in the Styles section.
4. Select New Rule, then click on Use a formula to determine which cells to format option.
5. In the formula box, enter the formula =A1=”✓” (replace A1 with the top-left cell of your selected range).
6. Click on the Format button, then select the formatting options you want to apply to cells that contain a check mark.
7. Click OK to close the formatting dialog box, then click OK again to apply the conditional formatting.

Now, any cell in the selected range that contains a check mark will be formatted according to your chosen formatting style.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to make a check mark in Excel is a valuable skill that can save you time and make your spreadsheets more organized and visually appealing. Whether you prefer to use the Symbols library or a keyboard shortcut, Excel offers many ways to insert check marks into your cells. And by using conditional formatting, you can take your check mark usage to the next level. We hope that this guide has been helpful and informative.

FAQ

Here are some common questions related to making a check mark in Microsoft Excel:

Can I change the color of the check mark symbol in Excel?

Yes, you can change the color of the check mark symbol by using the font color formatting tools. Simply select the cell or range of cells that contains the check mark, and then select the font color you want from the “Font Color” drop-down menu on the Home tab of the Excel ribbon.

My keyboard doesn’t have a numpad. How can I use the Alt code to insert a check mark in Excel?

If your keyboard doesn’t have a numpad, you can still use the Alt code to insert a check mark, but you’ll need to use the on-screen keyboard. To open the on-screen keyboard in Windows, go to the Start menu, type “on-screen keyboard” and select the option that appears. Once the on-screen keyboard is open, use it to enter the Alt code (Alt + 0252) and insert the check mark symbol into your Excel spreadsheet.

Can I insert a check box instead of a check mark in Excel?

Yes, you can insert a check box in Excel by using the Developer tab. First, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and check the box next to “Developer” in the list of available tabs. Click OK to save your changes. Then, go to the Developer tab and click on the “Insert” drop-down menu. Select “Check Box (Form Control)” or “Check Box (ActiveX Control)” to insert the check box into your spreadsheet. You can then link the check box to a cell to show a check mark when the box is checked.

Is there a way to insert a check mark automatically when I enter data in a cell?

Yes, you can use Excel’s data validation feature to automatically insert a check mark into a cell when you enter certain data. First, select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply the validation to. Go to the Data tab on Excel’s ribbon menu and click on the “Data Validation” button. In the Data Validation dialog box, select “List” from the “Allow” drop-down menu. In the “Source” field, enter the values “✓” and ” ” (a blank space), separated by a comma. Click OK to apply the data validation. Now, when you enter “✓” into the selected cell, Excel will automatically replace it with a check mark symbol.

Can I remove the check mark symbol from a cell in Excel?

Yes, you can remove the check mark symbol from a cell by selecting the cell and pressing the delete key on your keyboard. This will remove the check mark symbol from the cell and leave it blank.