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Many times, symbols can be better visuals than letters or numbers. If you want to insert a check mark symbol into your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, it takes only a few clicks.

While you can certainly use interactive checkboxes for things like creating a checklist in Microsoft Excel, you don't always need that extra step or added work. You can simply place a checkmark next to something like a completed task, fulfilled order, or confirmed data.

Related: How to Insert a Check Mark or Checkbox in PowerPoint

How to Add a Check Mark Symbol in Excel

A check mark in Microsoft Excel is nothing more than a symbol, a character like an equal sign or arrow. And with the font options available, you can choose from a few different check mark styles.

Select the cell where you want to place the check mark. Go to the Insert tab, click the Symbols drop-down arrow on the right side of the ribbon, and pick "Symbol."

Go to Insert, Symbols, and select Symbols

There are a few font styles that offer check mark symbols. And you can enter the Character Codes to jump right to them.

Make sure you're on the Symbols tab and select "Wingdings" in the Font drop-down list. Then, type "252" in the Character Code box. There's your first check mark option!

Wingdings check mark in Excel

If you look two spaces to the right of that check mark style, you'll see another. For reference, the Character Code is 254.

Wingdings check mark in Excel

To see what Segoe has to offer, select "Segoe UI Symbol" in the Font drop-down list. Then type one of the following codes into the Character Code box.

Segoe UI Symbol check marks

Once you decide on the check mark style you want, click "Insert" and then "Close." The check mark will pop into the cell.

Check mark in Excel

You can copy the check mark to other cells, use AutoFill, or access it again quickly later. If you reopen the Symbols window, you'll see your Recently Used Symbols at the bottom. So you can just select the check mark and hit "Insert."

Recently Used Symbols

Related: How to Fill Excel Cells Automatically with Flash Fill and Auto Fill

How to Edit or Remove a Check Mark

Because a checkmark is a symbol inserted into a cell, you can edit it just like text. Select it or the cell and use the Font or Alignment sections of the ribbon on the Home tab like you would any other character.

You can change the color, size, format, alignment, or whatever you choose.

Colored check marks in Excel

And if needed, you can remove a checkmark by selecting it and hitting Delete.

Interested in doing something similar in Excel? Check out how to change the currency symbol you use in Excel.

Related: How to Add a Check Mark or Tick Mark in Word