CheckBox styles and templates

[ This article is for Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x developers writing Windows Runtime apps. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation ]

This topic describes the styles and templates for the CheckBox control. You can modify these resources and the default ControlTemplate to give the control a unique appearance.

Visual states

These are the VisualStates defined in the control's default style.

VisualState name VisualStateGroup name Description
Normal CommonStates The default state.
PointerOver CommonStates The pointer is positioned over the control.
Pressed CommonStates The control is pressed.
Disabled CommonStates The control is disabled.
Checked CheckStates IsChecked is true.
Unchecked CheckStates IsChecked is false.
Indeterminate CheckStates IsThreeState is true, and IsChecked is null.
Focused FocusStates The control has focus.
Unfocused FocusStates The control doesn't have focus.
PointerFocused FocusStates The control has focus obtained through a pointer action.

 

For more info about focus states, see Control.FocusState.

Theme resources

These resources are used in the control's default style.

Dark theme brushes

To change the colors of the control in the dark theme, override these brushes in App.xaml.

<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#CCFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxBorderThemeBrush" Color="#CCFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxContentDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66FFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxContentForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxDisabledBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#66FFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxDisabledBorderThemeBrush" Color="#66FFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#DEFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPointerOverBorderThemeBrush" Color="#DEFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPointerOverForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPressedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPressedBorderThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />  
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />

Light theme brushes

To change the colors of the control in the light theme, override these brushes in App.xaml.

<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#CCFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxBorderThemeBrush" Color="#45000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxContentDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxContentForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxDisabledBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#66CACACA" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxDisabledBorderThemeBrush" Color="#26000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#DEFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPointerOverForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPointerOverBorderThemeBrush" Color="#70000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPressedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPressedBorderThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="CheckBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />

Other resources

<x:Double x:Key="CheckBoxBorderThemeThickness">0</x:Double>

Shared resources

The control template uses these resources that are shared with other control templates. Changing these values will affect other controls that use these resources.

<FontFamily x:Key="ContentControlThemeFontFamily">Segoe UI</FontFamily>
<x:Double x:Key="ControlContentThemeFontSize">14.667</x:Double>
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="FocusVisualBlackStrokeThemeBrush" Color="Black" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="FocusVisualWhiteStrokeThemeBrush" Color="White" />

For more info on theme resources, including the values that are used for the HighContrast theme, see XAML theme resources reference.

Default style

<!-- Default style for Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.CheckBox -->
<Style TargetType="CheckBox">
    <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent" />
    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxContentForegroundThemeBrush}"/>
    <Setter Property="Padding" Value="2,3,0,0" />
    <Setter Property="HorizontalAlignment" Value="Stretch" />
    <Setter Property="VerticalAlignment" Value="Center" />
    <Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Left"/>
    <Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Top"/>
    <Setter Property="FontFamily" Value="{ThemeResource ContentControlThemeFontFamily}" />
    <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="{ThemeResource ControlContentThemeFontSize}" />
    <Setter Property="Template">
        <Setter.Value>
            <ControlTemplate TargetType="CheckBox">
                <Border Background="{TemplateBinding Background}"
                        BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
                        BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}">
                    <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
                        <VisualStateGroup x:Name="CommonStates">
                            <VisualState x:Name="Normal" />
                            <VisualState x:Name="PointerOver">
                                <Storyboard>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="NormalRectangle"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="NormalRectangle"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Stroke">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPointerOverBorderThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="CheckGlyph"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPointerOverForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="IndeterminateGlyph"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPointerOverForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                </Storyboard>
                            </VisualState>
                            <VisualState x:Name="Pressed">
                                <Storyboard>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="NormalRectangle"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPressedBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="NormalRectangle"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Stroke">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPressedBorderThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="CheckGlyph"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="IndeterminateGlyph"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                </Storyboard>
                            </VisualState>
                            <VisualState x:Name="Disabled">
                                <Storyboard>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="NormalRectangle"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxDisabledBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="NormalRectangle"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Stroke">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxDisabledBorderThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="CheckGlyph"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="IndeterminateGlyph"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                    <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="ContentPresenter"
                                                                   Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
                                        <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource CheckBoxContentDisabledForegroundThemeBrush}" />
                                    </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                                </Storyboard>
                            </VisualState>
                        </VisualStateGroup>
                        <VisualStateGroup x:Name="CheckStates">
                            <VisualState x:Name="Checked">
                                <Storyboard>
                                    <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="CheckGlyph"
                                                     Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
                                                     To="1"
                                                     Duration="0" />
                                </Storyboard>
                            </VisualState>
                            <VisualState x:Name="Unchecked" />
                            <VisualState x:Name="Indeterminate">
                                <Storyboard>
                                    <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="IndeterminateGlyph"
                                                     Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
                                                     To="1"
                                                     Duration="0" />
                                </Storyboard>
                            </VisualState>
                        </VisualStateGroup>
                        <VisualStateGroup x:Name="FocusStates">
                            <VisualState x:Name="Focused">
                                <Storyboard>
                                    <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="FocusVisualWhite"
                                                     Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
                                                     To="1"
                                                     Duration="0" />
                                    <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="FocusVisualBlack"
                                                     Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
                                                     To="1"
                                                     Duration="0" />
                                </Storyboard>
                            </VisualState>
                            <VisualState x:Name="Unfocused" />
                            <VisualState x:Name="PointerFocused" />
                        </VisualStateGroup>
                    </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
                    <Grid>
                        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                            <ColumnDefinition Width="27" />
                            <ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
                        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                        <Grid VerticalAlignment="Top">
                            <Rectangle x:Name="NormalRectangle"
                                       Fill="{ThemeResource CheckBoxBackgroundThemeBrush}"
                                       Stroke="{ThemeResource CheckBoxBorderThemeBrush}"
                                       StrokeThickness="{ThemeResource CheckBoxBorderThemeThickness}"
                                       UseLayoutRounding="False"
                                       Height="21"
                                       Width="21" />
                            <Path x:Name="CheckGlyph"
                                  Data="F1 M 0,58 L 2,56 L 6,60 L 13,51 L 15,53 L 6,64 z"
                                  Fill="{ThemeResource CheckBoxForegroundThemeBrush}"
                                  Height="14"
                                  Stretch="Fill"
                                  Width="16"
                                  Opacity="0"
                                  FlowDirection="LeftToRight" />
                            <Rectangle x:Name="IndeterminateGlyph"
                                       Width="9"
                                       Height="9"
                                       Fill="{ThemeResource CheckBoxForegroundThemeBrush}"
                                       Opacity="0"
                                       UseLayoutRounding="False" />
                            <Rectangle x:Name="FocusVisualWhite"
                                       Stroke="{ThemeResource FocusVisualWhiteStrokeThemeBrush}"
                                       StrokeEndLineCap="Square"
                                       StrokeDashArray="1,1"
                                       Opacity="0"
                                       StrokeDashOffset="0.5"
                                       Width="27"
                                       Height="27" />
                            <Rectangle x:Name="FocusVisualBlack"
                                       Stroke="{ThemeResource FocusVisualBlackStrokeThemeBrush}"
                                       StrokeEndLineCap="Square"
                                       StrokeDashArray="1,1"
                                       Opacity="0"
                                       StrokeDashOffset="1.5"
                                       Width="27"
                                       Height="27" />
                        </Grid>
                        <ContentPresenter x:Name="ContentPresenter"
                                          ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding ContentTemplate}"
                                          ContentTransitions="{TemplateBinding ContentTransitions}"
                                          Content="{TemplateBinding Content}"
                                          Margin="{TemplateBinding Padding}"
                                          HorizontalAlignment="{TemplateBinding HorizontalContentAlignment}"
                                          VerticalAlignment="{TemplateBinding VerticalContentAlignment}"
                                          Grid.Column="1" 
                                          AutomationProperties.AccessibilityView="Raw"/>
                    </Grid>
                </Border>
            </ControlTemplate>
        </Setter.Value>
    </Setter>
</Style>