How to Strikethrough in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you need to mark something as completed, incorrect, canceled, or no longer relevant, strikethrough in Excel is the fastest way to do it. Instead of deleting data and losing the record, you can keep the text visible while drawing a line through it. That makes spreadsheets easier to read, easier to audit, and much better for tracking changes.

The good news is that Excel gives you more than one way to apply strikethrough. Whether you are using Windows, Mac, Excel for the web, or just want a quick keyboard shortcut, this guide walks you through the process step by step. You will learn the main method, a few alternatives, and some common fixes if the formatting does not behave as you expect.

Summary

Here is the quickest answer:

• Select the cell, text, or range you want to strike through.
• Open the font formatting options.
• Turn on Strikethrough.
• If you want a shortcut, use:
  • Windows: Ctrl + 5
  • Mac: Command + Shift + X

Tutorial – How to Strikethrough Text in Excel

This section shows the standard method for applying strikethrough to a cell or selected text in Excel. It works well when you want to keep your spreadsheet readable while showing that an item is finished, removed, or no longer active.

Step 1: Select the cell or text you want to format

Click the cell, or highlight the specific text inside a cell if only part of the content should be crossed out.

After you select it, you should see the cell outlined, or the text inside the formula bar highlighted if you are editing part of the cell content. If you want to strikethrough multiple cells, drag across the range first.

Step 2: Open the Font formatting options

Go to the Home tab on the ribbon, then find the Font group and open the formatting controls.

On most versions of Excel, you can do this by clicking the small arrow in the corner of the Font section, or by right-clicking the selection and choosing Format Cells. This is where Excel stores the main text-styling tools.

Step 3: Check the Strikethrough box

In the Format Cells window, go to the Font tab, check Strikethrough, and click OK.

Once you confirm, the selected text should immediately show a line through the middle. If it does not, make sure the correct cell or text is still selected and that no other formatting is overriding it.

Step 4: Verify the result in the worksheet

Look back at your worksheet and confirm the text now appears crossed out.

You should still be able to read the original entry, but it will be visibly marked as inactive or completed. This is especially useful for task lists, inventory sheets, budget tracking, and project logs.

Alternative Methods or Edge Cases

Excel users often need a faster method or a different approach, depending on the version they use. Here are the most useful alternatives.

• Use the keyboard shortcut

  • Windows: Select the cell or text, then press Ctrl + 5.
  • Mac: Select the cell or text, then press Command + Shift + X.
  • This is the quickest option if you use strikethrough often.

• Use the ribbon menu

  • On some Excel versions, you can find strikethrough under the Home tab in the font tools.
  • If the button is visible, select the text and click it directly.
  • This is handy if you do not want to open the full Format Cells dialog.

• Strikethrough only part of a cell

  • Double-click the cell or press F2 to edit it.
  • Highlight just the text you want crossed out.
  • Then apply strikethrough using the shortcut or the formatting menu.
  • This works best for mixed text, like “Paid, pending, approved.”

• Use Excel for the web

  • Select the text or cell.
  • Open the Home tab and use font formatting options.
  • If the shortcut does not work in your browser, the menu method is usually more reliable.

• Remove strikethrough

  • Repeat the same steps, then uncheck Strikethrough or press the shortcut again.
  • Excel toggles the formatting on and off in many cases, so the same command often removes it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does strikethrough delete the data in Excel?

No. Strikethrough only changes the appearance of the text. The data stays in the cell, which makes it useful for tracking changes without losing information.

Can I strikethrough only part of a cell?

Yes. Double-click the cell or press F2, highlight the specific text, and then apply strikethrough. This is useful when a cell contains multiple words and only one part needs to be marked off.

What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel?

On Windows, use Ctrl + 5. On Mac, use Command + Shift + X. If the shortcut does not work, try the Format Cells method instead.

Why is strikethrough not showing up?

The most common reason is that the wrong text or cell is selected. Another possibility is that a conditional format or protected worksheet is overriding your formatting. Try reapplying the setting, or check whether the sheet is locked.

Can I use strikethrough in Excel Online?

Yes, but the exact controls may look slightly different from the desktop app. If the shortcut is not supported in your browser, use the Home tab formatting tools instead.

Tips

• Use strikethrough for completed tasks instead of deleting them, especially in shared workbooks where history matters.
• If you apply it often, memorize the keyboard shortcut. It is much faster than opening format menus every time.
• If you only want to cross out part of a sentence, edit the cell first, then highlight just the words you want.
• Combine strikethrough with cell color or a status column for cleaner task tracking.
• If a workbook is shared, check whether the sheet is protected before troubleshooting formatting issues.

Troubleshooting

• If the shortcut does nothing, make sure Excel is the active app and the cell is selected before pressing the keys.
• If you are trying to strikethrough part of a cell and it keeps formatting the whole cell, enter edit mode first with double-click or F2.
• If the formatting disappears after you save and reopen the file, check for conditional formatting rules that may be resetting the appearance.
• If the cell is locked or the sheet is protected, you may need permission to change formatting.
• If Excel looks different from screenshots online, you may be using a Mac, Excel for the web, or a newer ribbon layout. The feature is still there, just in a different spot.

Conclusion

Strikethrough in Excel is a simple formatting tool, but it solves a common problem fast. It lets you mark items as done, canceled, or outdated without deleting the record, which keeps your spreadsheet clean and useful.

Whether you use the Format Cells menu, the ribbon, or a keyboard shortcut, the process takes only a few seconds. Once you know the method, you can apply it anywhere in Excel with almost no effort.