Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2024 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016

You can insert form controls like check boxes, option, or toggle buttons to make data entry easier. Check boxes work well for forms with multiple options. Option buttons are better when your user has just one choice. Toggle buttons indicate a state between an enabled or disabled state when the button is clicked.

Example of an ActiveX check box control

Example of an ActiveX option button control

Example of an ActiveX toggle button control

To add an ActiveX control, you’ll need the Developer tab on your Ribbon.

Note: To enable the Developer tab, click File > Options > Customize Ribbon , select the Developer check box, and click OK

  1. To add a check box, click the Developer tab, click Insert, and under ActiveX Controls, click Button image.

    To add an option button, click the Developer tab, click Insert, and under ActiveX Controls, click Button image.

    To add a toggle button, click the Developer tab, click Insert, and under ActiveX Controls, click Button image.

  2. Click in the cell wherever you want to add the control.

    Tip: You can only add one checkbox or option button at a time. To speed things up, after you add your first control, right-click it and select Copy > Paste.

  3. To edit the ActiveX control, make sure that you are in design mode. On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Mode.

  4. To set the control properties, on the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.

    You can also right-click the control, and then click Properties.

    The Properties dialog box appears. For detailed information about each property, select the property, and then press F1 to display a Visual Basic Help topic. You can also type the property name in the Visual Basic Help Search box. For more information on properties, also see Properties (Microsoft Forms) on MSDN.

Formatting a control

  1. To format a control, right-click the control, and then click Properties.

  2. In the Properties dialog box, modify a property as necessary.

Deleting a control

  • Right-click the control, and press DELETE.

See Also

Add a check box or an option button (Form controls)

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