Add a checklist to a document
Last updated: September 4, 2026
Add a checklist anywhere in a document to keep notes and action items together. Insert one with the To-do list option in the slash menu, tick items off inline, and nest sub-tasks under a parent item. The checked state is saved with the document, so everyone with access sees the same progress.
Add a checklist
- Open the document and place your cursor on the line where the checklist should start.
- Type / to open the slash menu, then start typing todo or checklist and choose To-do list. You can also select existing text and choose To-do list from the list dropdown in the formatting toolbar.
- Type your first item and press Enter to start the next one.
Each new line continues the checklist. Press Enter on an empty item to end the list and return to normal text.
Check items off
Click the checkbox to the left of an item to mark it complete. Completed items stay in place so you keep a record of what is done. The state is saved automatically and persists across sessions for everyone who can open the document.
Nest sub-tasks
To break an item into smaller steps, put the cursor on the line below it and press Tab (or use the indent button in the toolbar). The line becomes a sub-task of the item above. Press Shift+Tab to move it back out. Each checkbox reflects only its own state: ticking a parent does not tick its children, and vice versa.
| Action | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Start a checklist | Type / and choose To-do list |
| Add the next item | Press Enter on the current item |
| Complete an item | Click its checkbox |
| Create a sub-task | Press Tab on the line below an item |
| Outdent a sub-task | Press Shift+Tab |
| End the checklist | Press Enter on an empty item |
Frequently asked questions
Where are my checked items stored? With the document itself, so the state persists across sessions and is visible to anyone with access to that document.
Can I add more than one checklist to a document? Yes, as many as you need, anywhere in the document.
Do sub-tasks roll up to the parent item? No. Each checkbox is independent.
Will other people see when I check something off? Yes. Anyone with access sees the current state when they open the document.
Can I turn an existing bullet list into a checklist? Yes. Select the list and choose To-do list from the list dropdown in the formatting toolbar.