Question: I made some checkboxes with PySimpleGUI like so: import PySimpleGUI as sg WINDOW_SIZE = (1280, 710) CHECKBOX_SIZE = (1000, 40) sg.theme('Dark Blue 3') indicator_column = [ [sg.Checkbox("First", size=CHECKBOX_SIZE)], [sg.Checkbox("Second")], # in the actual code there are more checkboxes ] layout = [ [sg.Column(indicator_column)] ] window = sg.Window('Window Title', layout, finalize=True, size=WINDOW_SIZE) while True: event, values = window.read() print(event, values) if event == sg.WIN_CLOSED or event == 'Exit': break window.close()  I want to adjust the size of the checkbox by using its size property, but this seems to have no effect. Why doesn't the first checkbox have a custom size when set as in the above code? How can I change the size?

Answer: You'll find one solution posted on Trinket where you can execute it. It's based on a PySimpleGUI Demo Program, also posted in the PSG Repo and in the psgdemos PyPI release. Like the normal Checkbox Element, you can click the box or the text next to it. This bit of code also flips the text, something not normally done so you can remove that line of code if desired. Another way is to use Text Elements instead of Image Elements, swapping Base64 images with UNICODE chars. To get the value of a checkbox 1: window[window[('-IMAGE-', 1)].metadata  Or you can add to your event loop right after your read: values['-CB 1-'] = window[('-IMAGE-', 1)].metadata values['-CB 2-'] = window[('-IMAGE-', 2)].metadata  Like this  event, values = window.read() print(event) if event == sg.WIN_CLOSED or event == 'Exit': break values['-CB 1-'] = window[('-IMAGE-', 1)].metadata values['-CB 2-'] = window[('-IMAGE-', 2)].metadata  and then reference the checkboxes using the values dictionary just as if they were PySimpleGUI Checkbox Elements: if values['-CB 1-']: # your checkbox is true    import PySimpleGUI as sg """ Demo - Custom Checkboxes done simply The Base64 Image encoding feature of PySimpleGUI makes it possible to create beautiful GUIs very simply These 2 checkboxes required 3 extra lines of code than a normal checkbox. 1. Keep track of the current value using the Image Element's Metadata 2. Change / Update the image when clicked 3. The Base64 image definition Enable the event on the Image with the checkbox so that you can take action (flip the value) """ def main(): layout = [[sg.Text('Fancy Checkboxes... Simply')], [sg.Image(checked, key=('-IMAGE-', 1), metadata=True, enable_events=True), sg.Text(True, enable_events=True, k=('-TEXT-', 1))], [sg.Image(unchecked, key=('-IMAGE-', 2), metadata=False, enable_events=True), sg.Text(False, enable_events=True, k=('-TEXT-', 2))], [sg.Button('Go'), sg.Button('Exit')]] window = sg.Window('Custom Checkboxes', layout, font="_ 14") while True: event, values = window.read() print(event, values) if event == sg.WIN_CLOSED or event == 'Exit': break # if a checkbox is clicked, flip the vale and the image if event[0] in ('-IMAGE-', '-TEXT-'): cbox_key = ('-IMAGE-', event[1]) window[cbox_key].metadata = not window[cbox_key].metadata window[cbox_key].update(checked if window[cbox_key].metadata else unchecked) # Update the string next to the checkbox (optional) window[('-TEXT-', event[1])].update(window[cbox_key].metadata) window.close() if __name__ == '__main__': checked = b'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' unchecked = b'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' main()   Using Text elements instead of Image elements If you don't want to include the custom images, you can change them into simple UNICODE characters and change the Image elements into Text elements. The PySimpleGUI element parameters are often the same and in this care they are. So all that you have to change in the code is the value of the two variables and change the word Image to Text in the layout. import PySimpleGUI as sg """ Demo - Custom Checkboxes done simply The Base64 Image encoding feature of PySimpleGUI makes it possible to create beautiful GUIs very simply These 2 checkboxes required 3 extra lines of code than a normal checkbox. 1. Keep track of the current value using the Image Element's Metadata 2. Changle / Update the image when clicked 3. The Base64 image definition Enable the event on the Image with the checkbox so that you can take action (flip the value) Copyright 2022 PySimpleGUI """ def main(): layout = [[sg.Text('Fancy Checkboxes... Simply')], [sg.Text(checked, key=('-IMAGE-', 1), metadata=True, enable_events=True), sg.Text(True, enable_events=True, k=('-TEXT-', 1))], [sg.Text(unchecked, key=('-IMAGE-', 2), metadata=False, enable_events=True), sg.Text(False, enable_events=True, k=('-TEXT-', 2))], [sg.Button('Go'), sg.Button('Exit')]] window = sg.Window('Custom Checkboxes', layout, font="_ 14") while True: event, values = window.read() print(event, values) if event == sg.WIN_CLOSED or event == 'Exit': break # if a checkbox is clicked, flip the vale and the image if event[0] in ('-IMAGE-', '-TEXT-'): cbox_key = ('-IMAGE-', event[1]) text_key = ('-TEXT-', event[1]) window[cbox_key].metadata = not window[cbox_key].metadata window[cbox_key].update(checked if window[cbox_key].metadata else unchecked) # Update the string next to the checkbox window[text_key].update(window[cbox_key].metadata) window.close() if __name__ == '__main__': checked = '☑' unchecked = '☐' main()   One advantage of using the Text element addresses your question about size more directly. You can change the size of the checkbox by changing the font size for the Text element. I changed it to a size 20 font. The window has a size of 14 and I left the other checkbox a size 14. This is the difference: sg.Text(checked, key=('-IMAGE-', 1), metadata=True, enable_events=True, font='_ 20')    size parameter footnote.... The size parameter you'll find explained in the API call reference as part of the docs. All of the elements' parameters are explained in the documentation. For nearly all elements, it specifies the size of the entire element in characters wide and rows high. For the Checkbox, it's only the width that's being used. If you have another element next to it, then the width will push that other element over if it's longer than the text of the Checkbox.