Printing Problems

How to Fix Excel Printing TRUE or FALSE Instead of Checkboxes on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to print a spreadsheet with checkboxes correctly, but encounters an error where the printed page displays text values instead of visual checkboxes.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Mac (macOS)
Scenario: Printing an Excel workbook containing functional checkboxes linked to specific cells from Microsoft 365 on a Mac.
Observed behavior: The printed output and sometimes the PDF export shows the logical text values 'TRUE' or 'FALSE' representing the cell's state, rather than the visual checked or unchecked box controls.

Before you start

Verify your current macOS and Microsoft Office version numbers, and confirm that the checkboxes display normally within the Excel application interface before opening the print dialog.

Solution 1Recommended

Export the Workbook to PDF Before Printing

Use the macOS native PDF export feature within the print dialog as a workaround to preserve the visual appearance of the checkboxes before sending the file to the printer.

Because this rendering issue is tied directly to how Excel for Mac processes linked logical values during the print spooling phase, converting the spreadsheet to a PDF often bypasses the bug and locks in the visual controls.

Open the Print Dialog

In your open Excel workbook, click on 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Print', or press the 'Command + P' keyboard shortcut.

Access the PDF Options

In the bottom-left corner of the Print dialog box, locate and click the 'PDF' dropdown menu button.

Save as PDF

Select 'Save as PDF' from the dropdown list. Choose a location to save the file and click 'Save'.

Print via Mac Preview

Locate the saved PDF and double-click to open it in the Mac Preview application. Verify the checkboxes appear correctly, then go to 'File' > 'Print' to print the document.

PDF Rendering Check: If the saved PDF still shows TRUE or FALSE instead of the visual checkbox, this workaround may fail on your specific Office build, and you should proceed to report the bug to Microsoft.

Solution 2

Report the Rendering Behavior to Microsoft

Submit a bug report directly to Microsoft Support to ensure the development team is aware of the issue for future software patches.

Print flawlessly with WPS Office

Print Your Checkbox Spreadsheets Correctly with WPS Office

Bypass Microsoft 365 Mac printing bugs entirely by opening and printing your spreadsheet in WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office offers excellent compatibility with Excel formats and ensures visual form controls like checkboxes print exactly as they appear on your screen.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office for Mac from the official website.
2. Open Your Excel File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel (.xlsx) workbook containing the checkboxes.
3. Access the Print Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button and select 'Print', or simply press 'Command + P'.
4. Review Print Preview: Check the Print Preview window to ensure the visual checkboxes are displayed accurately on the page layout.
5. Print the Document: Click the 'Print' button to send the document to your printer with the checkboxes intact.

High compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files and form controls.Accurate print rendering for checkboxes without TRUE/FALSE text errors.Free and lightweight office suite optimized for macOS.Familiar, easy-to-use interface requires no learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel print TRUE/FALSE instead of the checkbox on Mac?

This occurs because the checkbox is linked to a specific underlying cell. Excel's print engine on Mac sometimes renders the raw logical value (TRUE for checked, FALSE for unchecked) of that linked cell instead of displaying the graphical checkbox control layered on top.

Does unlinking the checkbox fix the TRUE/FALSE printing issue?

Yes, if the checkbox is not linked to a cell, it will not output TRUE or FALSE when printed. However, unlinking breaks the data connection, meaning any formulas or conditional formatting relying on the checkbox state will no longer function.

Can I replace the checkboxes with graphics to fix this error?

While manually replacing form control checkboxes with static graphics or wingdings icons prevents the TRUE/FALSE print error, it is not an equivalent solution. Static graphics are not interactive, so users will no longer be able to click them to change their state.

Document & File Issues