How to Use Strikethrough in Google Docs to Add or Remove Text

Strikethrough is a simple way to mark text as deleted, outdated, or no longer needed without actually removing it from a document. In Google Docs, you can add or remove strikethrough with a few quick actions on desktop, and the process is just as easy once you know where to look.

This guide shows you how to format text with strikethrough, remove it when you no longer need it, and choose the fastest method for your device.

How to Use Strikethrough in Google Docs to Add or Remove Text

What Strikethrough Does in Google Docs

Strikethrough draws a line through selected text. It is commonly used for edits, task lists, revisions, and notes where you want to keep the original text visible but show that it has been crossed out.

Key Fact Strikethrough is a formatting option, not a permanent change. You can turn it on and off without affecting the text itself.

Add Strikethrough in Google Docs on a Computer

Select the text you want to cross out.
Open the Format menu at the top of Google Docs.
Point to Text, then choose Strikethrough.
The selected text will now have a line through it.

Quick Tip If you use strikethrough often, the keyboard shortcut is much faster than opening the menus.

Use the Keyboard Shortcut for Strikethrough

Select the text.
Press Alt + Shift + 5 on Windows or ChromeOS.
On Mac, press Command + Shift + X.
The selected text will be crossed out immediately.

Note Keyboard shortcuts can vary slightly depending on your browser or keyboard layout, but these are the standard Google Docs shortcuts for strikethrough.

Remove Strikethrough Text

To remove strikethrough, select the crossed-out text and use the same command again. In Google Docs, formatting shortcuts and menu options usually toggle the style on and off.

Highlight the text with strikethrough.
Open Format > Text > Strikethrough again, or use the same keyboard shortcut.
The line through the text should disappear.

Warning If the text still looks crossed out after removing strikethrough, check whether another formatting option is also applied, such as underline or a document style that changes the text appearance.

Add or Remove Strikethrough on Mobile

The Google Docs mobile app also supports strikethrough, but the option is tucked inside the formatting tools rather than being as immediate as the desktop shortcut.

Open the document in the Google Docs app.
Select the text you want to edit.
Tap the Format icon, usually shown as an A with lines or a similar text-formatting button.
Find Strikethrough and tap it to apply or remove the effect.

Best For Quick edits on the go when you need to mark something as removed without deleting it from the document.

When Strikethrough Is Most Useful

Editing drafts where you want to show removed wording
Collaborative documents with suggestions or revision notes
Shared task lists where completed items should remain visible
Notes where you want to preserve old information for reference

Why It Matters Using strikethrough instead of deleting text can make revisions easier to review, especially in documents where you want others to see what changed and why.

If the Strikethrough Option Is Missing

If you do not see strikethrough in the menu, make sure text is selected first. Google Docs only shows many formatting actions when there is active text to format.

Select actual text instead of placing the cursor in an empty area
Check that you are editing in Google Docs and not viewing the document in a limited preview mode
Try the keyboard shortcut if the menu option is hard to find
Refresh the page if the editor appears to be loading incorrectly

Note The wording and placement of formatting buttons can look slightly different between desktop, mobile, and browser versions of Google Docs.

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