How to Make a Checklist in Google Docs

To make a checklist in Google Docs, click the checklist button on the toolbar—it sits just left of the bulleted and numbered list icons—then start typing your items. You can also open Format > Bullets & numbering > Checklist. Click a box to mark an item done, and you get to decide whether checked items pick up a strikethrough. Press Tab on a checklist line to nest it as a sub-item, and on a Google Workspace account you can hover a checkbox and assign that item to someone with a due date.

Add a checklist from the toolbar#

The fastest route is the toolbar. Put your cursor where the list should start, click the checklist icon (a small box with a check), and type your first item. Press Enter to drop to the next line, which automatically gets its own empty box. Press Enter on a blank item to break out of the list. If you’d rather stay on the keyboard, Ctrl+Shift+9 starts a checklist and Ctrl+Alt+Enter toggles the box on the current line.

Next to the checklist icon is a small dropdown arrow. Open it and you’ll see two styles: one that adds a strikethrough to the text when the box is checked, and one that leaves the text alone. Pick whichever reads better—both behave the same otherwise.

Turn an existing list into a checklist#

Already typed everything out? Select the lines—plain paragraphs, bullets, or a numbered list—and click the checklist button. Google Docs converts each selected line into its own checkbox item. A checklist pairs well with a table laid out in the same document when you need columns of detail alongside your tasks.

Check items off and choose the strikethrough#

Click directly on a checkbox to mark that item complete. Depending on the style you picked, the text either stays as-is or gets crossed out. Click the box again to uncheck it.

Method	Where to find it	Best for
Toolbar button	Left of the list icons	Fast, everyday use
Format menu	Format > Bullets & numbering	When the toolbar is hidden
Mobile app	Format icon on your phone	Editing on the go

Make a checklist in the mobile app#

Open the doc in the Google Docs app for Android or iOS, tap where you want the list, then tap the format icon (the A with horizontal lines). Open the list options and choose the checklist style. Typing and Enter work the same as on desktop, and tapping a box marks the item done. To have the app draft the list for you, use the built-in AI tools in Google Docs to generate a starting point.

Checklists sync through your Google account, so a list you check off on your laptop shows the same state on your phone moments later. Keep the strikethrough style on for anything you review often—crossed-out text makes finished work easy to skim at a glance.

Common questions#

How do I create sub-items in a Google Docs checklist?#

Put your cursor on the checklist line and press Tab to indent it under the item above. Press Shift+Tab to move it back out to the parent level.

Can I assign a checklist item to someone in Google Docs?#

On Google Workspace business and education accounts you can hover over a checkbox, click the assign icon that appears, and add an assignee with an optional due date, which creates a task. Personal Gmail accounts do not have this option.

How do I remove the strikethrough from a checked item in Google Docs?#

Open the small dropdown arrow next to the checklist button on the toolbar and pick the style that leaves the text unchanged. Switching styles clears the automatic strikethrough on checked items.

How do I turn a bulleted or numbered list into a checklist?#

Select the existing lines, then click the checklist button on the toolbar or use Format > Bullets & numbering > Checklist. Each selected line becomes its own checkbox item.