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A checkbox tracker looks simple, but counting the checked boxes by

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eye becomes unreliable as tasks grow.

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Google Sheets stores ordinary checkbox states as true or false values.

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In this fictional three-task list, two boxes start checked.

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We will add checkboxes, enter a COUNTIF formula for true values,

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and toggle one box to verify the count changes with the state.

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Paste the fictional task list into a fresh Sheet.

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Put task names in column A and use B two through

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B four for the completion state.

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Select B two through B four and use Insert, then Checkbox

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to create ordinary checkboxes.

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Set Draft brief and Publish page checked, leaving Review copy unchecked.

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Verify the three states are true, false, true before adding the count.

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In a separate summary cell, enter equals COUNTIF open parenthesis B

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two colon B four comma TRUE close parenthesis.

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COUNTIF tests each cell in that range against the true value.

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The expected answer is two because B two and B four are checked.

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Place the formula outside B two through B four so it

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cannot replace a checkbox or accidentally count itself.

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Uncheck the Publish page box in B four.

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The count should drop from two to one without editing the formula.

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Check it again and the count should return to two.

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This is a useful diagnostic: if the count does not change,

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inspect whether the summary range points at the actual checkbox cells

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and whether the boxes use custom values instead of standard true and false.

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COUNTA counts cells that are not empty.

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An unchecked standard checkbox still contains a false value, so COUNTA

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of B two through B four can return three even when

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only two tasks are complete.

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COUNTIF with TRUE asks the question you actually mean: which cells are checked.

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Keep that distinction clear if you later calculate a completion percentage.

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Sheets can be configured to use custom checked and unchecked values

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in checkbox data validation.

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If your own checklist stores words such as Done and Open,

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a TRUE criterion will not measure it correctly.

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Inspect the checkbox rule or a cell's underlying value, then adapt

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the criterion to the actual checked value.

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The supplied exercise uses ordinary true and false checkboxes.

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The exercise passes when the default state returns two, unchecking B

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four returns one, and restoring it returns two again.

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The answer file states each expected transition.

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On a larger tracker, decide whether blank future rows should be

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in the count range; a large open-ended range can hide mistakes

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if unrelated true values appear below the task list.