How to Remove Checkboxes from Excel (6 Ways)

Often, we use checkboxes in Excel to demonstrate our task status and many more. In this article, we discuss how to remove check boxes from Excel. In order to do that, we’ll use multiple Excel features, and tools as well as VBA macro.

The animated GIF shown below is an overview of this article, which represents the removal of checkboxes.

Overview of Removing check boxes from Excel

In the following sections, we’ll learn more about the dataset and observe each method in detail.

In the first place, let’s assume the To-Do List dataset shown in the B4:E17 cells containing the “Date”, “Tasks/Items”, “Importance”, and “Status” columns respectively. Here, we want to remove checkboxes from the cells, hence let’s glance at each method with the necessary illustrations.

Dataset for removing check boxes from excel

Here, we have used the Microsoft Excel 365 version; you may use any other version at your convenience.


1. Removing Checkboxes from Excel with Go To Command

Excel’s Go To Special feature can select multiple types of control elements. In the case of selecting Checkboxes, Go To Special does it with ease.

📌 Steps:

  • Initially, go to Home >> Select Find & Select (in the Editing section) >> Select Go To Special.

Selecting Go To Special in the Find & Select option

Now, this opens the Go To Special window.

  • Next, select Objects >> click OK.

Selecting objects in the Go To Special window

  • At this point, all the checkboxes in the worksheet get selected, as you can see in the following image >> hit the DELETE key.

Press delete key

Eventually, the final output should appear in the figure shown below.

remove check boxes from excel with Go To Special command


2. Using Excel Select Objects Option to Remove Multiple Checkboxes

For one thing, in the Home Ribbon >> Editing section, Excel offers another feature to remove checkboxes with the Select Objects option which enables the default selection within the worksheet.

📌 Steps:

  • First of all, select Find & Select (in the Editing section) >> choose Select Objects from the options.

Choosing Select Objects option in the Find & Select drop-down

At this point, Select Objects enables the default selection.

  • Then, hold down the left mouse button >> Drag the cursor over the checkbox to select the whole range >> click on the DELETE key.

Selecting check boxes and pressing delete key

Ta-dah! That is how simple it is to remove check boxes from Excel.

remove check boxes from excel with Select Objects option

As a note, both Go To Special and Select Objects are similar features. You can use one of them as you desire.


3. Erasing Single Checkbox by Right-Click and Delete Command

For instance, the first thing to remove a checkbox is to be able to select it. However, clicking on them doesn’t do the trick. Rather, you have to Right-Click on any checkbox to select them and then remove the selected ones by simply clicking the Delete key.

📌 Steps:

  • To begin with, Right-click to choose a checkbox >> press the DELETE button on your keyboard.

Right click to select check box

Lastly, the image below shows the final output.

remove check boxes from excel using right click and delete button

Although it’s very tedious work, you can Repeat the process to select as many checkboxes as you want. For better representation, we select all the checkboxes using this process and then remove them by tapping the DELETE key.


4. Applying Selection Pane Tool to Eliminate Checkboxes from Excel

Besides, we can employ the Selection Pane to also remove checkboxes, so just follow along.

📌 Steps:

  • First and foremost, jump to the Find & Select drop-down >> click on Selection Pane.

Choosing Selection Pane in the Find & Select tool

  • Following this, Left-Click to select all the checkboxes as shown below >> tap DELETE.

Selecting check boxes from the Selection Pane and tapping delete

Finally, this removes all the checkboxes at once.

remove check boxes from excel with Selection Pane


5. Get Rid of Multiple Checkboxes from Excel Manually

As we mentioned earlier, one of the steps to remove a checkbox is to be able to select it. In this case, pressing the CTRL key and then clicking on any checkboxes allows us to select them. Afterward, simply delete them by hitting the DELETE key on the keyboard.

📌 Steps:

  • At the very beginning, right-click each of the checkboxes to select them >> tap on DELETE.

Right click to manually select check box and click delete button

Subsequently, this removes all the checkboxes, as evident in the screenshot below.

remove check boxes from excel manually


6. Applying Excel VBA Code to Remove Checkboxes

Last but not least, if you often need to remove checkboxes from Excel, then you may consider the VBA Code below. It’s simple & easy, just follow along.

📌 Steps:

  • First, proceed to the Developer tab >> click the Visual Basic button.

Opening Visual Basic editor

  • Second, go to the Insert tab >> select Module.

Inserting module

For ease of reference, copy the code from here and paste it into the window as shown below.

Sub Delete_check_box()

For Each objects In ActiveSheet.Shapes

    If objects.Type = msoFormControl Then
    If objects.FormControlType = 1 Then objects.Delete
    End If

Next

End Sub

VBA code for remove check boxes from excel

Code Breakdown

In the following section, we’ll explain the VBA code used to remove checkboxes.

  • In the first portion, the sub-routine is given a name, here it is Delete_check_boxes().
  • Next, use a For Loop to iterate through each shape in the active worksheet and use the If Then statement to delete them.

VBA Code explanation

  • Third, close the VBA window >> click the Macros button >> hit Run.

Executing macro

Consequently, the results should look like the picture given below.

remove check boxes from excel with VBA code


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Conclusion

In short, this article discusses all relevant methods to remove check boxes from Excel. Now, we hope all the methods mentioned above will prompt you to apply them to your Excel spreadsheets more effectively. Furthermore, if you have any questions or feedback, please let me know in the comment section.


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Maruf Islam
Maruf Islam

MARUF ISLAM is an excellent marine engineer who loves working with Excel and diving into VBA programming. For him, programming is like a superhero tool that saves time when dealing with data, files, and the internet. His skills go beyond the basics, including ABACUS, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Maxsurf, and Hydromax. He got his B.Sc in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET, and now he's switched gears, working as a content developer. In this role, he creates techy content... Read Full Bio

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