How to Strike Through on Google Docs (Desktop & Mobile)

Strikethrough in Google Docs adds a horizontal line through your text, which is useful for showing completed tasks, edits, or crossed-out items without deleting the content. You can apply it to existing text or enable it before typing, on both the desktop website and the mobile apps. This guide covers every method, including keyboard shortcuts and the menu bar.

What You’ll Need

• A Google account (free) and an internet connection
• A document open in Google Docs
• For desktop: a keyboard (for shortcuts) or a mouse/trackpad
• For mobile: the Google Docs app (Android or iOS) or a mobile browser

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Desktop – Using the Format Menu (Works Every Time)

1. Open your document in Google Docs on a computer (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge).
2. Select the text you want to strike through. Click and drag your cursor over the text, or double-click a word to select just that word. To select the entire document, press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac).
3. Click the Format menu in the top toolbar.
4. Hover over Text in the dropdown menu.
5. Click Strikethrough. The selected text will now have a line through it.
6. To remove the strikethrough, select the struck-through text again and repeat steps 3–5. The menu item will show a checkmark when the format is active.

Method 2: Desktop – Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

1. Select the text you want to format (or place your cursor where you want to start typing struck-through text).
2. Press Alt+Shift+5 on Windows or ChromeOS, or Cmd+Shift+X on Mac.
3. The text will immediately get a strikethrough. Press the same shortcut again to toggle it off.
4. If you didn’t select text first, whatever you type next will have the strikethrough applied until you toggle it off.

Method 3: Mobile App (Android and iOS)

1. Open the Google Docs app and open your document.
2. Tap the edit (pencil) icon in the bottom-right corner to enter edit mode.
3. Select the text you want to strike through. Tap and hold a word, then drag the blue handles to expand the selection.
4. Tap the Format icon (the letter “A” with lines, usually at the top-right of the toolbar).
5. In the menu that appears, tap the Strikethrough icon (the letter “S” with a line through it).
6. Tap anywhere outside the menu to close it. The text now has a line through it.
7. To remove it, select the text again and tap the same icon.

Method 4: Mobile Browser (No App Needed)

1. Open Google Docs in your phone’s browser (like Chrome or Safari) and switch to “Desktop site” mode if the mobile view doesn’t show the menu.
2. Select the text as you would on desktop (tap and drag).
3. Tap the Format button (the “A” icon) at the top.
4. Choose Text then Strikethrough.
5. This method is less reliable than the app; if you don’t see the option, use the mobile app instead.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to select text first: If you click Strikethrough without selecting anything, you’ll only apply it to the next character you type, which can confuse you later.
• Using the wrong shortcut: On Mac, Ctrl+Shift+X won’t work; you must use Cmd+Shift+X. On Windows, Alt+5 (without Shift) does nothing.
• Applying it to the whole paragraph: If you click once in a paragraph without selecting, some users accidentally apply the format to the entire paragraph when they mean to do it to one word. Always make a precise selection.
• Confusing strikethrough with underline: The strikethrough line goes through the middle of the text; the underline goes below. Check the icon in the toolbar before clicking.

Tips

• Use it for task lists: Keep a to-do list in Docs and strike through completed items instead of deleting them. This preserves your history.
• Combine with other formats: You can apply strikethrough together with bold, italic, or color. Select the text, apply strikethrough, then apply the other formats.
• Copy-paste behavior: When you copy text with strikethrough and paste it into another document (like Word or an email), the formatting usually carries over. If it doesn’t, use “Paste without formatting” (Ctrl+Shift+V) and re-apply.
• Check the toolbar: The strikethrough icon (an “S” with a line) is not in the main toolbar by default. You can add it by clicking the “More” (three dots) icon and dragging it to your toolbar for one-click access.
• Use for edits: When collaborating, strike through text you want to remove instead of deleting it, so your collaborators can see what changed.

Troubleshooting

• Shortcut not working: First, make sure you’re in the document body and not in a comment or a dialog box. Check your keyboard language – some layouts map the “5” key differently. If you’re on a Mac, verify you’re using the Cmd key, not Ctrl. As a fallback, always use the Format menu.
• Strikethrough option is grayed out: This happens when you’re not in edit mode (e.g., you’re in “Suggesting” mode) or if you’ve selected a table cell or an image. Click the pencil icon to switch to editing, or select actual text characters.
• Applied to the wrong text: Undo immediately with Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac). Then re-select the correct text and re-apply.
• Mobile app doesn’t show the icon: Make sure you’ve selected text first. The Format menu only shows text options when text is selected. If you’re on a small screen, scroll horizontally in the toolbar to find the “A” icon.
• Strikethrough prints but doesn’t show on screen: This is rare but can happen with certain fonts or zoom levels. Try zooming in (Ctrl+Plus) or changing the font to a standard one like Arial.
• Formatting disappears after refresh: Check your internet connection. If the document is offline, changes may not sync. Reconnect and wait a few seconds for the sync to complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I strike through text in the Google Docs mobile app?
A: Yes. Tap the pencil icon to edit, select the text, tap the format “A” icon, and choose the strikethrough “S” icon.

Q: Is there a way to add a strikethrough button to the main toolbar?
A: Yes, on desktop. Click the “More” (three dots) icon at the end of the toolbar, find the strikethrough icon, and drag it up to the toolbar. It will stay there until you remove it.

Q: Does strikethrough work in Google Sheets or Slides?
A: Yes, but the shortcuts differ. In Sheets, use Ctrl+Shift+5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+X (Mac). In Slides, use the same shortcuts as Docs.

Q: Can I remove strikethrough from all text at once?
A: Select all (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), then click Format > Text > Strikethrough. This toggles it off for all selected text that has it, but it will also apply it to any text that doesn’t have it. To avoid that, select only the struck-through text.

Q: Will strikethrough show up when I print the document?
A: Yes, it prints exactly as it appears on screen, provided your printer and driver support standard text formatting.

Q: Why does my strikethrough look like a double line?
A: You may have applied both strikethrough and a highlight or underline. Check the text’s formatting by selecting it and looking at the toolbar. Remove the extra format from the Format menu.

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