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Strikethrough Keyboard Shortcuts

The complete cheat sheet for crossing out text on Windows, Mac, web apps, and mobile. Find the exact hotkeys for Excel, Word, Google Docs, Discord, and Slack.

Quick Answer Summary
Microsoft Excel

Win: Ctrl + 5

Mac: Cmd + Shift + X

Google Docs & Sheets

Win: Alt + Shift + 5

Mac: Cmd + Shift + X

Microsoft Word

Win: Alt, H, 4

Mac: Cmd + Shift + X

Discord & Markdown

Wrap: ~~text~~

Two tildes on each side

All Application Shortcuts

Filter by category or find hotkeys for your operating system.

Keyboard shortcuts for strikethrough across popular applications
ApplicationWindows / PCMac / macOSWeb & MobileHow to use
Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheetsCtrl + 5Cmd + Shift + XRibbon > Home > Strikethrough iconWorks on single cells, selected ranges, or partial text inside the formula bar.
Google SheetsSpreadsheetsAlt + Shift + 5Cmd + Shift + XFormat > Text > StrikethroughToggles strikethrough on selected rows, columns, or cell contents.
Microsoft WordDocumentsAlt, H, 4 (or Ctrl + D > Alt + K)Cmd + Shift + XHome Tab > Font > ab Strikethrough buttonWord Windows uses Ribbon key tips (Alt then H then 4) or the Font dialog.
Google DocsDocumentsAlt + Shift + 5Cmd + Shift + XFormat > Text > StrikethroughOne of the most uniform shortcuts across Chromebooks and Mac computers.
DiscordChat~~text~~~~text~~~~text~~ (wrap with two tildes)Type two tildes before and after words. Works across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android.
SlackChatCtrl + Shift + X (or ~text~)Cmd + Shift + X (or ~text~)~text~ (wrap with one tilde)Supports both standard keyboard shortcuts and inline markdown tildes.
WhatsAppChat~text~~text~~text~ (or select text > More > Strikethrough)Wrap words in a single tilde (~). On iPhone/Android, highlight text to see format options.
NotionDesign & NotesCtrl + Shift + SCmd + Shift + S~text~ or markdownHighlights selected text or block and toggles cross-out formatting.
Apple Pages / KeynoteDocumentsN/ACmd + Shift + XFormat inspector > Font > Advanced > StrikethroughStandard across native Apple productivity applications.
Microsoft OutlookDocumentsAlt, H, 4 (or Ctrl + D > Alt + K)Cmd + Shift + XFormat Text > Font > Strikethrough iconApplies to email drafts. In web outlook, use the toolbar strike button.

Quick Strikethrough Generator

Don't want to memorize shortcuts? Generate crossed-out text here:

Type below to instantly copy Unicode strikethrough text for any app.

Open Full 12-Style Tool →

Microsoft Word Strikethrough Guide

Unlike Excel and Google Docs, Microsoft Word on Windows does not feature a single two-key combination by default. Here are the three ways to strike through text in Word:

  1. Ribbon Key Tips: Press Alt, then H, then 4. This invokes the Home tab and triggers the Strikethrough command.
  2. Font Dialog: Select your text, press Ctrl + D (or Ctrl + Shift + F), tap Alt + K to tick the Strikethrough box, and press Enter.
  3. Custom Hotkey: Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts (Customize). Find the command Strikethrough and assign a custom hotkey like Ctrl + Shift + S.

Google Docs & Mac Shortcuts

Google Docs and macOS apps provide much more consistent shortcuts across different editors:

  • Google Docs (Windows / ChromeOS): Press Alt + Shift + 5.
  • macOS Universal: Press Cmd + Shift + X across Google Docs, Microsoft Word for Mac, Apple Pages, and Slack.
  • Slack Quick Strike: Highlight text and press Ctrl + Shift + X (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac).

Need to strike out text in a program that does not support hotkeys? Use our Strikethrough Text Generator to copy Unicode crossed-out text.

Topic Cluster

Cross-Platform Strikethrough Guides

Detailed walkthroughs and step-by-step shortcuts for specific applications:

Docs→

Google Docs Strikethrough

Hotkeys (Alt+Shift+5 / Cmd+Shift+X), menu steps, and mobile app guide.

Word→

Microsoft Word Strikethrough

Ribbon access keys, Font dialog, double strike, and custom shortcut setup.

Excel→

Excel Strikethrough Guide

Ctrl+5 shortcut, Format Cells, and checkbox conditional formatting.

Discord→

Discord Strikethrough Guide

~~Tilde~~ markdown, bold strike, spoilers, and code block solutions.

WhatsApp→

WhatsApp Strikethrough Guide

~Tilde~ syntax, bold strike, and crossed-out text for WhatsApp About status.

Cheatsheet→

All Keyboard Shortcuts

Complete cross-platform cheatsheet for Windows, Mac, and web apps.

Shortcut FAQs

Quick troubleshooting for broken shortcuts, Mac conflicts, and document styling.

What is the universal strikethrough shortcut on Mac?

On macOS, the most universal shortcut is Cmd + Shift + X. It works natively across Google Docs, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel for Mac, Microsoft Word for Mac, Apple Pages, Keynote, and Slack.

What is the strikethrough shortcut in Microsoft Word for Windows?

Microsoft Word does not have a single default two-key shortcut on Windows. Instead, you can press Alt, then H, then 4 in sequence using Ribbon access keys. Alternatively, press Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog box, tap Alt + K to toggle Strikethrough, and hit Enter.

What is the strikethrough shortcut in Microsoft Excel?

In Excel for Windows, press Ctrl + 5. In Excel for Mac, press Cmd + Shift + X. This toggles strikethrough on whole cells, cell ranges, or highlighted text in the formula bar.

What is the strikethrough shortcut in Google Docs?

In Google Docs, press Alt + Shift + 5 on Windows and ChromeOS. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + X.