Office Settings & Configuration

How to Delete Check Boxes from Excel Cells (In-Cell, ActiveX, and Form Controls)

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to remove various types of check boxes from cells within a Microsoft Excel worksheet.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Cleaning up an Excel spreadsheet by removing unwanted check boxes that are either embedded in cells, ActiveX controls, or floating form controls.
Observed behavior: The check boxes remain on the worksheet and cannot be deleted with a single method, requiring different approaches depending on the specific check box type.

Before you start

Determine whether the check boxes you want to delete are in-cell check boxes, ActiveX controls, or form controls, as each type requires a different removal approach. Ensure you save a backup of your workbook before bulk deleting objects.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove New In-Cell Check Boxes

Use this straightforward method if the check boxes are embedded directly inside the cell values rather than floating above them.

Select the cells

Click and drag to highlight all the specific cells that contain the in-cell check boxes you wish to remove.

Clear cell contents

Press the 'Delete' or 'Backspace' key on your keyboard to clear the contents of the selected cells, which will remove the embedded check boxes.

Solution 2

Delete ActiveX Check Box Controls

ActiveX controls are more advanced and require enabling Design Mode before they can be interacted with or removed from the sheet.

Solution 3

Bulk Delete Form Controls using 'Go To Special'

If you have multiple floating form control check boxes scattered across your worksheet, use the 'Go To Special' feature to select and delete them all at once.

Easily Manage Spreadsheets with WPS

Use WPS Spreadsheet to Manage Form Controls and Check Boxes

WPS Office provides an intuitive and lightweight alternative for handling complex spreadsheet tasks. You can easily insert, manage, and delete check boxes or form controls with full compatibility with Microsoft Excel.

1. Open your file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open the Excel (.xlsx) file containing the check boxes you want to manage.
2. Access the Developer tools: Navigate to the 'Developer' tab on the ribbon to access form controls and ActiveX options.
3. Enable Design Mode: If you are dealing with complex controls, click 'Design Mode' to easily select the target check box.
4. Delete the check box: Simply click on the unwanted check box and press the 'Delete' key to remove it from your sheet.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats and form controls.Lightweight software that loads large, object-heavy spreadsheets faster.Familiar ribbon interface makes finding developer tools and the selection pane incredibly easy.Free to download and use for your daily office productivity tasks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I click and select the check box to delete it?

If you cannot select a check box by clicking on it, it might be an ActiveX control. You need to enable 'Design Mode' from the Developer tab before you can click, select, or delete ActiveX objects.

How do I delete a check box without deleting the text in the cell?

If the check box is a floating form control, you can right-click it (or Ctrl+click) to select the shape itself, then press Delete. The underlying cell text will remain untouched. However, if it is a new in-cell check box, the check box itself is the cell's value.

How do I display the Developer tab to access Design Mode?

To show the Developer tab in Excel, right-click anywhere on the ribbon and select 'Customize the Ribbon'. In the right-hand pane, check the box next to 'Developer' and click 'OK'.

Will using 'Go To Special' > 'Objects' delete my charts and images too?

Yes, selecting 'Objects' from the 'Go To Special' menu will highlight all objects on the worksheet, including charts, images, drop-down menus, and shapes. Ensure you deselect any objects you want to keep by holding the Ctrl key and clicking them before pressing Delete.

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