Convert taxonomy tags to checkboxes in the WordPress admin area.
This plugin lets you swap the auto-complete / search style interface for a checkbox list, without changing any underlying data.
It allows you to pick from a list of the existing tags, so that admin users do not need to remember each tag.
By default it does not allow new tags to be created on the fly, which keeps the tags list under control. You can optionally enable inline add per taxonomy, and an add / edit link.
- Replace the tags ui with a checkbox list
- No alteration to front end functionality, or the underlying data / terms
- Option to control the height of the taxonomy metabox, between default (200px max), full, and custom (px)
- Optional inline add control for new terms, enabled per taxonomy
- Optional link to the taxonomy edit screen via an
+ Add / Edit {taxonomy}style link - Optional per-taxonomy search box with
Off,Always, andMin Termsmodes - Customization via filters
- Upload the entire
runthings-taxonomy-tags-to-checkboxesfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the
Pluginsmenu in WordPress. - Navigate to
Settings>Taxonomiesto configure your preferences.
Go to the Taxonomies settings page, select the desired taxonomies, configure height options, and enable the edit link if needed.
No change is made to the underlying taxonomy or its terms. Only the admin interface is swapped out.
Yes, toggle the "Show system taxonomies" checkbox to view all available taxonomies.
The configuration screen needs a user with manage_options cap to edit it, but the changes are applied to anyone with editor access to post types that display those taxonomies.
You can post ideas or contribute to the project over at the GitHub repository, which can be found at https://github.com/runthings-dev/runthings-taxonomy-tags-to-checkboxes
-
Example taxonomy with the checklist ui enabled and an edit link
-
Taxonomy settings screen
- Feature - Add a suspect-term cleanup tool in
Settings > Taxonomiesto identify and remove likely erroneous numeric terms created by a previous bug - Feature - Add
runthings_ttc_cleanup_capabilityandrunthings_ttc_cleanup_taxonomiesfilters for cleanup tool permissions and scope overrides - Fix - Prevent accidental creation of numeric term names in the classic integration path
- Feature - Add optional inline term creation controls in both Classic and Gutenberg editors
- Feature - Add optional taxonomy search panel with
Off,Always, andMin Termsdisplay modes - Improvement - Add
runthings_ttc_search_settingsfilter for per-taxonomy search behavior overrides
- Feature - Add Gutenberg (block editor) support for taxonomy meta boxes instead of using compatibility mode
- Improvement - Rename "Auto" height option to "Default" for clarity
- Improvement - Consistent minimum height applied to all taxonomy panels
- Fix - Fatal error when a taxonomy has been deleted after being configured in the plugin (thanks @mikenucleodigital)
- Fix - Plugin cleanup on uninstall now works correctly
- Fix - Prevent duplicate taxonomy panels showing in the block editor when using built-in taxonomies like Tags (thanks @swinggraphics)
- Bug fix - Admin options table was not displaying correctly on mobile devices
- Add fade transition to row actions
- Bump tested up to 6.9
- Bump WordPress tested up to field to support 6.8 branch.
- Initial release
- Works with custom and built-in taxonomies
- Control the height of the metabox
- Optionally include an add/edit link
- Filter
runthings_ttc_selected_taxonomiesto short-circuit the override
This filter allows developers to modify the array of taxonomies selected for the custom checkbox interface.
add_filter( 'runthings_ttc_selected_taxonomies', function( $selected_taxonomies ) {
// Disable the override for the 'category' taxonomy.
return array_values( array_diff( $selected_taxonomies, [ 'category' ] ) );
} );$selected_taxonomies(array): An array of taxonomy slugs. Remove a slug value from the array to disable the checkbox list override.
This filter allows developers to override per-taxonomy search UI behavior.
add_filter( 'runthings_ttc_search_settings', function( $search_settings ) {
$search_settings['post_tag'] = [
'mode' => 'always', // valid values: off, always, min_terms
'threshold' => 20, // used when mode is min_terms
];
return $search_settings;
} );$search_settings(array): A map of taxonomy slugs to search config arrays (mode,threshold).
This filter allows developers to override the required capability for accessing cleanup notices and actions.
$capability(string): Required capability slug. Default:manage_options.
This filter allows developers to override which taxonomies are scanned by the cleanup tool.
$taxonomies(array): Array of taxonomy slugs to scan.$config(RunthingsTaxonomyTagsToCheckboxes\Config): Plugin config instance.
Built by Matthew Harris of runthings.dev, copyright 2025.
Visit runthings.dev for more WordPress plugins and resources.
Contribute or report issues at GitHub repository.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html.
Icon - Check Box List by unlimicon from Noun Project, https://thenounproject.com/browse/icons/term/check-box-list/ (CC BY 3.0)