How to Add Checkbox in PDF for Free
Summary :
This article explains how to insert clickable checkbox into PDFs and how to fill in existing checkboxes in PDF forms.
Table of Contents
Checkboxes in PDF forms are like little “yes or no” buttons, used to choose from a list of options. Adding checkboxes to a PDF might sound like a “tick”lish task, but it’s easier than you think!
This page shows how to add checkboxes to a PDF, and how to check existing boxes in a PDF form for free.
How to Add Fillable Checkboxes to PDF Online for Free
PDFgear online fillable PDF creator allows you to add interactive checkboxes into PDFs so other people can tick the checkbox with a simple click.
PDFgear is free to use, it works in your web browser, there’s no sign-up, and there’s no watermark.
Step 1. Go to PDFgear’s online fillable PDF maker. Click the “Select PDF file” button to open the PDF.
Step 2. Once your PDF is opened, go to the upper-left menubar where you’ll find a variety of fillable form fields. Click Checkbox from there.
Step 3. Click anywhere on the PDF page to insert the checkbox there.
Drag and drop the inserted checkbox or the border of which to reposition/resize it.
Step 4. Right-click inside the check box and select Properties for more customizations like value, tooltip, form field visibility, text formatting, etc.
Step 5. Click on the Download file button to get the fillable PDF form you created.
Make sure to use the Download file instead of the Print file button which makes the form fields non-fillable.
How to Check a Box in PDF Online for Free
If you’re only trying to tick on the boxes in the fillable PDF form you receive, PDFgear also has an online PDF form filler for that.
PDFgear online PDF form filler allows you to fill out PDF forms with tick marks. It works for the case where the PDF form is meant to be filled by yourself.
Step 1. Go to PDFgear online PDF form filler, click Select PDF File, and choose your PDF file.
Select PDF File
Step 2. Click on the existing checkbox to fill in with a tick mark. It’s simple like that!
Click to Check the Box
Step 3. Lastly, go to the upper-right corner and click the Download file or Print file button to save a fillable/non-fillable version of the PDF form.
Download File
However, this method only works with fillable/interactive PDF forms, if you find the PDF is non-editable, check the next tutorial.
How to Add Checkboxes Shapes in Non-Fillable PDF Forms
PDFgear software allows you to insert checkboxes and tickmark shapes into PDF, whether the PDF form is fillable or not.
Moreover, it allows you to insert the checkmark and box shapes on any part of a PDF page, instead of the fillable areas only.
And just like PDFgear online tools, PDFgear software is also free of charge.
Step 1. First, download and install PDFgear on your device on Windows or Mac device. Then launch PDFgear, and click the “Open File” button to open the PDF you need.
Open a PDF in PDFgear to Add Checkboxes
Step 2. Once the PDF file is open, go to the Form section from the top menu bar. From there, you will find various options for filling out PDF forms.
Open the Form Filling Tools
Step 3. Click on the checkmark or the box shapes as needed, and click on the PDF page to insert it. You can also adjust the size of the shapes by dragging their borders.
Add Checkboxes to PDF Using PDFgear
Step 4. Once you are done working with your PDF files, go to the upper-left corner and click the “Save” or “Save As” button to save the changed PDF on your device.
FAQs
How can I add multiple checkboxes in bulk to a PDF form?
To add multiple checkboxes quickly, PDFgear allows you to copy and paste existing checkboxes. Right-click on an inserted checkbox and click Copy, and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac) to duplicate it.
How can I make the checkboxes required in a PDF form?
In Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can make checkboxes mandatory by setting a “Required” field property. When a user tries to submit the form, they will receive an error message if the checkbox is not checked.
Is it possible to add a pre-checked checkbox in a PDF?
Yes, you can pre-check a checkbox in a PDF. When creating the form, simply click on the checkbox and select the “Checked” option in the properties. This will ensure that the checkbox appears selected by default when the user opens the form.
Can I save a PDF with checkboxes that can be checked/unchecked by someone else?
Yes, when you add checkboxes to a PDF and save the document in PDFgear, the checkboxes are interactive elements that can be checked or unchecked by users who open the PDF with a compatible viewer that supports form filling, such as PDFgear or Adobe Reader.
How to Add a Clickable Checkbox in PDF Without Acrobat?
Go to PDFgear online fillable PDF maker, click the Checkbox icon from the upper-left side, click on the PDF to insert it, and click Download file button to save the fillable PDF.
How to Add a Clickable Checkbox in PDF Using Adobe Acrobat?
To add a clickable checkbox in PDF using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, go to the ‘Prepare Form‘ mode under the ‘More Tools’ tab. Click on the checkbox to create it and then access its properties by double-clicking on it.
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