Google Docs checklists can display completed items with or without strikethrough. Choose the presentation that suits the list’s purpose rather than manually striking through each completed line.
Create the checklist
- Select existing item paragraphs or place the cursor where the list should begin.
- Choose the Checklist control from the toolbar.
- Open Format > Bullets & numbering > Checklist to choose the available completion style.
- Check and uncheck a sample item to inspect the behavior.
Use a temporary sample or restore the real item’s original state after testing. A checked box should not be left behind as an accidental claim that the task is complete.
Choose a readable completion style
Strikethrough can make finished actions visually distinct, but a long list of crossed-out text may be harder to read. A checklist without strikethrough can be useful when completed wording remains an important reference.
Keep item wording concise and action-oriented. If checking an item requires evidence or approval, state that requirement clearly instead of relying on the box alone to express it.
Distinguish a checklist from an assigned task
An ordinary checkbox is not automatically a task assigned to another person’s Google Tasks. Task assignment has separate controls and eligibility requirements in supported work or school accounts.
Before sharing a final status list, review which items are checked, who is responsible for maintaining them, and what the completion state means. Inspect the exported output if recipients will use a static copy; a printed checkbox cannot provide the same interactive workflow as the live document. Keep the status understandable through labels and context as well as visual formatting.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.