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How to add a check mark or an X to a PDF on a Mac

Tick boxes on a PDF that has no clickable boxes, on a Mac. Type a check mark in Preview, size it to fit, and copy it to every box quickly.

The problem

The form has little squares to tick, but clicking them does nothing, because it is a flat or scanned form with no real boxes.

How do I put a tick in a box on a PDF on a Mac?

If clicking the box ticks it, it is a real form field and you are done. If not, add the tick yourself with a text box:

  1. Open the PDF in Preview and click Show Markup Toolbar.
  2. Click the Text tool and drag the new box over the first square.
  3. Delete the word Text and type a check mark (see below), or a capital X.
  4. Use the A button to set the size so it fits inside the square.
  5. Copy it with Command C, paste with Command V, and drag each copy to the next box.
  6. Save.

How do I type a check mark on a Mac?

Press Control Command Space to open the character viewer, type check in its search, and double click ✓ or ✔. It is then in the viewer's recent characters for next time.

Can I draw a tick instead?

Yes. The Sketch tool turns a quick drawn tick into a clean shape. It suits a few boxes; for many, the text method is faster.

Our take

Use an X if you are unsure the reader's app shows symbols. A check mark depends on a font that has it; a capital X looks right in every app and on every printer, and on a form it means the same thing.

Before you send it

Open the file in another app to make sure the ticks show. For filling forms in general, see fill in a PDF form and fill a form that is not fillable. Simply PDF's editor, with a key, writes added marks into the page on save, so they show in every app.

Questions

How do I put a tick in a box on a PDF on a Mac?

If the box is clickable, click it. If not, add a text box in Preview's Markup toolbar and type a check mark or an X.

How do I type a check mark on a Mac?

Press Control Command Space to open the character viewer and search for check.

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