A drop-down list in a Microsoft Word document lets readers select from a predefined list, handy if you’re building a form, quiz, or similar. Adding a drop-down list is fairly easy—here’s how.

Step 1: Enable the Developer Menu

The option to add a drop-down list is located in Word’s Developer menu. This menu is hidden by default, so you first need to enable it.

Start by opening Word and, in the lower left, select “Options.” If you already have a document open, select “File” in the top ribbon to reveal the Options command.

In the Word Options window that opens, on the left sidebar, select “Customize Ribbon.”

In the Customize the Ribbon pane on the right side, scroll down the list and click the “Developer” checkbox to place a checkmark in it. If a checkmark is already there, no action is required.

Click “OK” at the bottom of the window to close it and save your changes.

Step 2: Add a Drop-Down List

After adding the Developer menu, you’re now ready to add a drop-down list to your Word document (perfect when creating a fillable form, for example.) To start, either open an existing Word document or create a new document.

In your document, click to place the text cursor where you want to add the drop-down list.

Next, select the “Developer” menu.

In the Controls group, click the “Drop-Down List Content Control” icon (It looks like a drop-down icon.).

You now have a drop-down list in your document.

Step 3: Configure Your Drop-Down List

Your newly added drop-down list is currently empty. To configure it and add items, click the drop-down list to select it. Return to the Developer menu and, in the Controls group, click “Properties.”

This opens the Content Control Properties window. In the “Title” field, give your list a name—it appears on the document above the drop-down list when clicked.

Use the “Color” option to select a color scheme for your drop-down list.

If you want to prevent people from deleting your drop-down list, activate the “Content Control Cannot Be Deleted” option. However, unless you lock your document, anyone can disable this if they know how.

Now, add items to your drop-down list. To add your first item, under the Drop-Down List Properties section on the current window, click “Add.”

In the Add Choice window, enter your first drop-down choice in the “Display Name” field. The Value field automatically fills with what you type, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Then, click “OK” to add your choice. Repeat this process for each choice that you want to add to your drop-down list.

After you have added some choices, you can reorder them. To adjust an item’s position in the list, select it and then click either “Move Up” or “Move Down” on the right.

Finally, click “OK” to save your changes.

Your drop-down list now displays your added items. Click it to test it for yourself.

How to Delete a Drop-Down List

To remove a drop-down list from your document, right-click it and select “Remove Content Control.”

If you don’t see this option, click the drop-down list. Switch to the “Developer” tab on the ribbon and, within the Controls section, click “Properties.” Disable the “Content Control Cannot Be Deleted” option and then click “OK” at the bottom. Finally, right-click the drop-down and select “Remove Content Control.”

Did you know that you can add checkboxes to your Word documents, too? This is yet another way to let people select items in your documents.