How to Strikethrough in Google Docs
The complete guide to crossing out text in Google Docs: keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Chromebook, menu steps, mobile app formatting on iOS & Android, and how to undo.
Windows & Chromebook Shortcut
Highlight text and press Alt + Shift + 5. On ChromeOS, this is the standard hotkey. Press again to toggle off.
Mac (macOS) Shortcut
Highlight text and press ⌘ + Shift + X. You can also use the top menu: Format > Text > Strikethrough.
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)
The quickest method to cross out text in Google Docs on any desktop browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox):
- Windows & Chromebook: Highlight your text and press Alt + Shift + 5.
- Mac / Apple: Highlight your text and press Cmd + Shift + X (or ⌘ + Shift + X).
To cross out multiple words at once, hold Shift and use the arrow keys to select your phrase before triggering the shortcut.
Method 2: Format Menu in the Top Toolbar
If you prefer using the mouse or cannot remember the shortcut:
- Highlight the text you want to cross out.
- Click Format in the top navigation bar.
- Hover over Text.
- Click Strikethrough from the flyout menu (you will see the keyboard shortcut listed beside it).
Method 3: Google Docs Mobile App (iPhone, iPad & Android)
On mobile devices, keyboard shortcuts aren't available, but the format panel is built in:
- Open your document in the Google Docs app on your phone or tablet.
- Double-tap the word you want to cross out (or drag the blue selection handles over a sentence).
- Tap the Format icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a capital letter A with horizontal lines).
- In the bottom formatting panel under the Text tab, tap the Strikethrough button (represented by an S with a line through it: S).
- Tap anywhere on the document to dismiss the panel. Your text is now struck through!
Method 4: How to Remove or Undo Strikethrough
To clear strikethrough formatting and restore normal text:
- Toggle hotkey: Select the struck-through text and press Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac) again.
- Clear all formatting: Press Ctrl + \ (Windows) or Cmd + \ (Mac) to instantly reset text to the document default font and style.
Strikethrough in Google Sheets & Google Slides
Working across other Google Workspace applications?
- Google Sheets: Uses the exact same shortcut! Highlight any cell or text in the formula bar and press Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac).
- Google Slides: Google Slides does not support the Alt + Shift + 5 shortcut on Windows. Instead, click Format > Text > Strikethrough, or use our Unicode Strikethrough Generator to copy and paste crossed-out text directly into slide shapes and titles.
Topic Cluster
Cross-Platform Strikethrough Guides
Looking for shortcuts and instructions for other software and chat applications?
Google Docs Strikethrough
Hotkeys (Alt+Shift+5 / Cmd+Shift+X), menu steps, and mobile app guide.
Microsoft Word Strikethrough
Ribbon access keys, Font dialog, double strike, and custom shortcut setup.
Excel Strikethrough Guide
Ctrl+5 shortcut, Format Cells, and checkbox conditional formatting.
Discord Strikethrough Guide
~~Tilde~~ markdown, bold strike, spoilers, and code block solutions.
WhatsApp Strikethrough Guide
~Tilde~ syntax, bold strike, and crossed-out text for WhatsApp About status.
All Keyboard Shortcuts
Complete cross-platform cheatsheet for Windows, Mac, and web apps.
Google Docs FAQs
Common questions about shortcuts, mobile app formatting, and sharing crossed-out text.
What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Google Docs?
In Google Docs on Windows and Chromebook, press Alt + Shift + 5. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + X. This immediately strikes through any selected words, paragraphs, or list items.
How do you cross out text in the Google Docs mobile app on iPhone and Android?
In the Google Docs mobile app, highlight the words you want to cross out, tap the "A" formatting icon at the top of the screen (next to the undo/redo arrows), and tap the strikethrough icon (an "S" with a line through it) in the bottom formatting panel.
How do I remove strikethrough in Google Docs?
Select the crossed-out text and press Alt + Shift + 5 again (or Cmd + Shift + X on Mac). Alternatively, click Format > Text > Strikethrough, or press Ctrl + \ (Cmd + \ on Mac) to clear all character formatting.
Can I strikethrough text in Google Sheets and Google Slides?
In Google Sheets, press Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac). In Google Slides, there is no default hotkey on Windows; click Format > Text > Strikethrough, or paste Unicode crossed-out text from our generator directly into your presentation text boxes.
Why does text copied from Google Docs lose its strikethrough when pasted into social media?
Google Docs stores formatting using internal rich-text HTML styling. Social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X automatically strip rich-text formatting and paste plain text. To keep the cross-out line intact when pasting onto social platforms, use our Unicode Strikethrough Generator, which embeds physical diacritical marks into the plain text stream.