How to Stop Google Docs from Automatically Generating Checklists

The Automated Checkboxes

Google Docs is programmed to anticipate your formatting needs, often converting plain text symbols into interactive elements. One of the more recent additions to this aggressive auto-formatting suite involves checklists. If you type a pair of empty square brackets (“[]”) at the beginning of a line and press the Spacebar, Docs will instantly delete your brackets and replace them with an interactive, clickable checklist box.

While this is a fantastic feature if you are actively trying to create a to-do list, it is incredibly frustrating if you are simply trying to use square brackets for formatting. Perhaps you are writing a technical document where empty brackets denote an array in programming syntax, or you are creating a form intended to be printed out and filled in by hand. Having the software constantly convert your text into interactive web elements forces you to continuously press Ctrl + Z to undo the formatting. You can disable this specific automation.

How to Stop Automatic Checklist Generation

You can turn off the bracket substitution within the Preferences menu.

1. Open a document in Google Docs.
2. Look at the top toolbar and click on Tools.
3. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Preferences window, ensure you are on the General tab.
5. Look down the list of checkboxes for the option labelled Automatically detect lists.
6. Click the checkbox to remove the checkmark.
7. Click the blue OK button to save your changes.

From now on, typing empty square brackets will result in exactly what you typed: plain text brackets. If you genuinely want an interactive checklist, you will now need to manually click the “Checklist” icon located in the formatting toolbar at the top of the screen.