How to Add Google Sheets Radio Buttons (2023 Update)

In this article we will show how to give a list of checkboxes the same functionality as radio buttons in google sheets with apps script.

Add Google Sheets Radio Button

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1. Format The Sheet And Add Checkboxes

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First, format the sheet and add checkboxes in the process. For example, we have the following sheet below where we will add checkboxes to the range B2:E6. 

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To add the checkboxes, select the range.

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After selecting the range, click Insert then select Checkbox. 

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The checkboxes are now inserted.

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By default, you can tick two or more checkboxes along the same row at the same time. We want to modify this behavior by using a custom script to, thus making Google Sheets clear the other checkboxes when a new one along the same row is ticked. This will give us the same functionality as a radio button in our google sheet.

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2. Click Extensions, then Select Apps Script

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We insert the script through Google Apps Script. Click Extensions, then select Apps Script.

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A new tab will load containing Google Apps Script.

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3. Paste the Script

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Copy the following script, taken from Ben Collins:

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/**
 * onEdit to uncheck checkboxes as required
 */
function onEdit(e) {
  // get event object data: sheet name, row number and column number
  const sheet = e.range.getSheet();
  const row = e.range.rowStart;
  const col = e.range.columnStart;

  switch(col) {
    // case when column B is checked
    case 2:
      sheet.getRange("C" + row + ":E" + row).uncheck();
      break;
    // case when column C is checked
    case 3:
      sheet.getRangeList(["B" + row,"D" + row + ":E" + row]).uncheck();
      break;
    // case when column D is checked
    case 4:
      sheet.getRangeList(["B" + row + ":C" + row,"E" + row]).uncheck();
      break;
    // case when column E is checked
    case 5:
      sheet.getRange("B" + row + ":D" + row).uncheck();
       break;

    // cell is outside of columns B to D
    default:
      return;
  }
}
  

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Go to the Apps Script tab, clear the code area, then paste the script.

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Click the Save project button. 

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4. Run the Script

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We can now run the script. Click Run the selected function.

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The Execution log will appear, and you will get an error. It is fine. 

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5. Use the Sheet

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Go back to the tab containing the Google Sheet, and start ticking the checkboxes. You will notice that when you tick another checkbox along a row with a checkbox already ticked, the previously-ticked checkbox will be unchecked. 

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Congratulations! You are able to implement the script very well.

FAQs

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What if I only have three choices per row?

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Let’s say you want to add choices on Columns B, C, and D only. You only need to modify the script a bit. You can copy the script below:

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/**
 * onEdit to uncheck checkboxes as required
 */
function onEdit(e) {
  // get event object data: sheet name, row number and column number
  const sheet = e.range.getSheet();
  const row = e.range.rowStart;
  const col = e.range.columnStart;

  switch(col) {
    // case when column B is checked
    case 2:
      sheet.getRange("C" + row + ":D" + row).uncheck();
      break;
    // case when column C is checked
    case 3:
      sheet.getRangeList(["B" + row , "D" + row]).uncheck();
      break;
    // case when column D is checked
    case 4:
      sheet.getRangeList(["B" + row + ":C" + row]).uncheck();
      break;

    // cell is outside of columns B to D
    default:
      return;
  }
}
  

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The script can be copied from the link below:

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https://github.com/rvbautista/radio-buttons-google-sheets/blob/main/README.md 

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And you will get the following result:

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What if the Checkboxes are in Different Columns?

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Then you need to edit the script itself. Check the link below for a guide to editing the script to accommodate other columns.

‍https://github.com/rvbautista/radio-buttons-google-sheets/blob/main/README.md