'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Wingdings Checkmarks Showing as Empty Squares in Word
Question details
Users opening older Word documents find that checkmarks previously inserted using the Wingdings font are displaying as empty squares.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (2019, Microsoft 365)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening legacy DOC or DOCX files containing Wingdings checkmarks in modern versions of Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- Checkmark symbols inserted using the legacy Wingdings font fail to render properly and appear as empty boxes or squares instead.
Ensure you have the Wingdings font installed on your computer and verify that the document is not restricted from editing before attempting to replace the missing characters.
Replace Empty Squares with Standard Unicode Checkmarks
The most reliable way to fix missing Wingdings symbols in modern Word versions is to replace them with universally supported Unicode checkmarks.
Legacy fonts like Wingdings can cause compatibility issues across different devices and modern Word versions. Replacing them with Unicode characters ensures the checkmarks will display correctly everywhere.
Highlight the empty square symbol in your document and press the 'Delete' or 'Backspace' key.
Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Symbol' in the Symbols group, and select 'More Symbols'.
Change the font dropdown to '(normal text)' or 'Segoe UI Symbol'. In the Character code box at the bottom, type '2713' or '2714' to immediately jump to the standard checkmark symbols.
Click the 'Insert' button to add the modern, compatible checkmark to your document, then click 'Close'.
Verify and Install the Wingdings Font
If you must preserve the original document formatting exactly as it was created, ensure the Wingdings font is installed on your operating system.
Open Legacy Documents and Fix Symbols in WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers outstanding compatibility for older Word documents, correctly rendering legacy fonts and symbols. You can also quickly insert modern checkmarks and edit formats with zero hassle.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your legacy document containing the formatting issues.
- 2. Insert standard checkmarks: Go to the 'Insert' tab, click 'Symbol', and select a standard checkmark from the Custom Symbols menu.
- 3. Save as modern format: Go to 'Menu' > 'Save As' and choose the .docx format to ensure cross-platform compatibility moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my checkmarks turn into square boxes in Word?
This typically occurs when a document uses a specific legacy font like Wingdings for the checkmarks, but that font is either not installed on the computer viewing the file or is not fully supported by the newer version of Word you are using.
Does converting a .doc file to .docx fix the missing symbols?
No, simply converting the file format from .doc to .docx does not resolve missing font issues. You must either install the missing Wingdings font on your system or manually replace the empty squares with standard Unicode checkmark symbols.
How can I quickly insert a checkmark using my keyboard?
In Word, you can quickly insert a Unicode checkmark by typing the character code '2713' and immediately pressing 'Alt + X' on your keyboard. This will instantly convert the code into a standard checkmark symbol.
