How to add a check mark in Google Docs
To add a check mark in Google Docs, go to Insert → Special characters, type “check” in the search box and click ✓. If you want boxes people can tick, use a checklist instead: Ctrl + Shift + 9 (Command + Shift + 9 on a Mac).
Quick answer
Insert → Special characters → search “check” → click ✓. For tickable boxes: Ctrl + Shift + 9.
Step by step
Open Special characters
Click where the tick should go, then choose Insert → Special characters.
Search for it
Type check in the search box. Docs shows ✓, ✔, ☑ and ✅ among the results.
Click the one you want
The character is inserted at the cursor. Close the panel, or leave it open to add more.
Draw it if searching fails
The panel also has a drawing box: sketch a tick with the mouse and Docs suggests matching characters.
Checklists you can click
Google Docs has a real checklist format. Select some lines and click the checklist button on the toolbar, or choose Format → Bullets & numbering → Checklist. Each line gets a box; clicking it adds a tick and, depending on the style, strikes the item through. This is better than typed ✓ characters for to-do lists that change, because the state is stored rather than typed.
Turn a shortcut into ✓ automatically
If you type ticks often, add your own substitution. Go to Tools → Preferences → Substitutions, enter a trigger such as (y) in the left column, paste ✓ into the right and make sure the row is ticked. From then on Docs swaps the trigger for the check mark when you type a space after it. The rule is saved to your Google account, so it follows you to any computer. Google’s defaults include (c), (r) and arrows such as ->, but not a tick, so this step is needed.
Copy and paste
Docs accepts any Unicode character, so the quickest route is often to copy ✓ from our check mark symbols page and paste it. On a Windows keyboard you can also hold Alt and type in Chrome, but ✓ has no alt code, so copy-paste or Special characters is the way.
In Google Sheets
Sheets supports =UNICHAR(10003) for ✓ and has true checkboxes under Insert → Checkbox. The Excel instructions in check mark in Excel apply almost word for word. For Word documents, see check marks in Word, and for every code of ✓, the check mark reference.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shortcut for a check mark in Google Docs?
Not by default. Create one in Tools → Preferences → Substitutions, or use Ctrl + Shift + 9 to start a checklist.
How do I make a checkbox in Google Docs?
Use Format → Bullets & numbering → Checklist, or press Ctrl + Shift + 9 (Command + Shift + 9 on Mac).
Why can’t I find the tick in Special characters?
Search for “check” rather than “tick”, or draw the mark in the drawing box.