To add radio buttons in Microsoft Word, turn on the Developer tab, then go to Developer > Legacy Tools and choose Option Button (ActiveX Control) under ActiveX Controls. Give each button a caption, put the buttons that belong together in the same group, and turn off Design Mode to test them. ActiveX radio buttons work in Word for Windows; if people will fill in the form on a Mac, on the web, or on paper, use one of the alternatives below.
Step 1: Show the Developer tab
- Select File > Options.
- Choose Customize Ribbon.
- Under Main Tabs on the right, check Developer and select OK.
Step 2: Insert an option button
- Click where the first choice should go.
- On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, select Legacy Tools (the toolbox icon).
- Under ActiveX Controls, select Option Button. Word inserts a button labeled “OptionButton1” and switches on Design Mode.
Step 3: Set the label and group
- Right-click the new button and choose Properties.
- Change Caption to the text you want next to the button, such as “Yes.”
- Set GroupName to a name for this question, such as Question1. Buttons with the same GroupName work together, so only one can be selected at a time.
- Close the Properties window.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for each choice, using the same GroupName for all choices in one question and a new GroupName for the next question. You can also copy and paste a finished button, then change its Caption.
Step 4: Test the buttons
Select Design Mode on the Developer tab to turn it off. Click the buttons: selecting one should clear the others in its group. Turn Design Mode back on whenever you need to edit them.
Step 5: Protect the form (optional)
To stop people from editing the rest of the document, use Developer > Restrict Editing and choose the editing restriction that fits your form. Test the form again afterward, because protection settings can change how controls respond.
Alternatives when ActiveX won’t work
- Check box content control: on the Developer tab, insert a Check Box Content Control. It works in more versions of Word, though it doesn’t enforce “one choice only.” See how to insert a checkbox in Word.
- Drop-down list: for a single answer from several options, a Drop-Down List Content Control is often clearer. See how to edit a drop-down list in Word.
- Printed forms: insert an empty circle symbol with Insert > Symbol next to each choice so people can fill it in by hand.
- Online forms: Microsoft Forms supports true single-choice questions and collects responses for you.
Troubleshooting
- Legacy Tools is grayed out: the document may be in Compatibility Mode or protected. Save it as a .docx file and stop protection first.
- More than one button can be selected: the buttons have different GroupName values. Make them match.
- Buttons don’t work for someone else: they may be using Word on a Mac or the web, or their security settings block ActiveX controls. Use a content control instead.
Related guides
Building a full form? See how to add fillable fields in Word.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.