Does Confluence wiki markup have real checkboxes?

No. Wiki markup offers status icons like (/) for a green check, (x) for a red cross, and (-) for a dash. Real, clickable checkboxes are action items, created in the editor by typing [] at the start of a line.

What are Confluence action items?

Interactive tasks in Confluence Cloud pages: they have a checkbox, can be assigned with @mentions, carry due dates, and roll up into each user's task list. Type [] in the editor to create one.

Should my converted checklist use (x) or plain bullets for open items?

Use (x) when you want the open state to stand out in reviews, and plain bullets when the page is a simple reference list. Both are valid wiki markup.

Can I keep nested subtasks from Markdown?

Yes. Indented Markdown task items become nested bullets (** in wiki markup), keeping the parent/child structure of the checklist.

Confluence wiki markup guide

Markdown Checklists to Confluence

Convert Markdown task lists (- [ ] and - [x]) into Confluence-friendly checklists using (/) and (x) status icons, or the editor's action items.

Direct answer

Confluence wiki markup has no checkbox syntax, so Markdown task items map to bulleted lines with status icons: - [x] becomes * (/) for done and - [ ] becomes * (x) or a plain bullet for open items. For assignable, clickable checkboxes, use Confluence action items in the Cloud editor instead.

Open Markdown to Confluence converter

When to use this

A Markdown to-do list or launch checklist needs to live on a Confluence page.
Meeting notes with - [ ] action items are moving into Confluence.
You want done/not-done state visible at a glance without hand-editing every line.

Steps

Keep one task per Markdown checkbox line, starting with - [ ] or - [x].
Convert the list — completed items pick up the (/) icon and open items stay visibly unchecked.
Paste the wiki markup through Insert > Markup and preview the icons.
If tasks need owners and due dates, recreate them as Confluence action items ([] in the Cloud editor) instead of icons.
Keep sub-tasks as indented bullets under their parent task.

Example conversion

Markdown input

### Launch checklist

- [x] Freeze main branch
- [x] Run load test
- [ ] Update status page
- [ ] Notify support

Confluence wiki output

h3. Launch checklist

* (/) Freeze main branch
* (/) Run load test
* (x) Update status page
* (x) Notify support

Common mistakes

Do not paste - [ ] syntax directly into a Confluence page — it renders as literal brackets.
Do not expect wiki-markup icons to be clickable; (/) and (x) are static status symbols, not checkboxes.
Do not mix icon checklists and action items on the same list — pick one so state lives in one place.

FAQ

Does Confluence wiki markup have real checkboxes?: No. Wiki markup offers status icons like (/) for a green check, (x) for a red cross, and (-) for a dash. Real, clickable checkboxes are action items, created in the editor by typing [] at the start of a line.
What are Confluence action items?: Interactive tasks in Confluence Cloud pages: they have a checkbox, can be assigned with @mentions, carry due dates, and roll up into each user's task list. Type [] in the editor to create one.
Should my converted checklist use (x) or plain bullets for open items?: Use (x) when you want the open state to stand out in reviews, and plain bullets when the page is a simple reference list. Both are valid wiki markup.
Can I keep nested subtasks from Markdown?: Yes. Indented Markdown task items become nested bullets (** in wiki markup), keeping the parent/child structure of the checklist.

Markdown Checklists to Confluence

Direct answer

When to use this

Steps

Example conversion

Common mistakes

FAQ

Related Confluence guides

Markdown Runbook to Confluence

Confluence Technical Spec Template

Markdown Incident Review to Confluence

Markdown Meeting Notes to Confluence

Paste Markdown into Confluence

Markdown Table to Confluence

Markdown Code Blocks to Confluence