How to Draw a Line Through Text in Google Docs | Three Ways to Strike Through

To draw a line through text in Google Docs, use the Strikethrough formatting option via the Format menu, the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac).

Editing a document often means marking words to delete without losing them entirely. That single horizontal line through the center of your text — strikethrough — is the clean way to show edits, track changes, or indicate completed tasks. Google Docs has a built-in feature for this, and there are three fast routes to it: the menu, the keyboard, and a search trick. Each takes about two seconds once you know where to look.

The Menu Path for Strikethrough on Desktop and Mobile

If you prefer clicking through menus, the Format menu is the most straightforward path. Highlight the text you want to cross out, then click Format in the top toolbar, hover over Text, and select Strikethrough. The line appears instantly through the center of the selected characters.

On mobile (Android and iOS), tap the Format icon — a capital “A” with four tiny lines — then tap the Strikethrough icon, which looks like an “S” with a line through it. It sits in the same pop-up menu as bold, italic, and underline. The change applies as soon as you tap it.

The Keyboard Shortcuts That Save the Most Time

For anyone who edits frequently, the keyboard shortcut is the fastest method. On Windows and ChromeOS, highlight the text and press Alt + Shift + 5. On Mac, press Command + Shift + X. The line appears immediately, and pressing the same shortcut on already-struck text removes the formatting.

The most common mistake is trying the wrong keys. The Windows shortcut is Alt + Shift + 5, not Ctrl + Shift + X or Alt + Shift + X. If the shortcut does nothing, a browser extension may have hijacked the key combination. Check chrome://extensions/shortcuts in Chrome to reassign or disable any conflicting bindings.

The Search Menus Shortcut for When You Forget the Path

Forgot the shortcut? Google Docs has a hidden menu search tool. Press Alt + / (forward slash) to open a search bar, then type “strikethrough” and press Enter. It runs the command directly, no menu navigation required. This works on any desktop browser and is a good fallback when neither memory nor muscle is cooperating.

Strikethrough Methods at a Glance

Why the Drawing Tool Is Not the Answer

Some users open Insert > Drawing, draw a horizontal line, save it, and attempt to drag that line over their text. This approach does not work well. The drawn line becomes a floating image that does not stay attached to the text — if the text shifts or the document is edited, the line stays behind. It also never sits perfectly centered through every character. Strikethrough is the only native “line through text” feature, and it handles alignment automatically. Skip the drawing tool for this job.

What to Expect When Others View or Copy the Strikethrough Text

Strikethrough text behaves predictably in most scenarios, but a few situations require planning. In a shared document with multiple editors, strikethrough text can be hard to distinguish from deleted text if the editor is not in Suggesting Mode. Switch to Suggesting Mode (click the pencil icon and select Suggesting) so your changes appear as tracked edits, not permanent deletions. For extra clarity, combine strikethrough with gray text color.

When you copy strikethrough text to Microsoft Word or a plain text editor, the formatting may not transfer. Word supports strikethrough and usually preserves it; plain text editors strip all formatting. If you need to preserve the line, paste into a destination that supports rich text first, then check the result.

The feature works on all devices—laptops, desktops, tablets, and phones—and on every Google Docs plan. Free Google accounts include it, and no paid subscription unlocks anything extra. It is available globally in all regions, and the only requirement is a modern browser on desktop or the Google Docs app on mobile.

Common Strikethrough Problems and Fixes

Keyboard Shortcuts vs. Menu: Which One Should You Use?

If you edit text regularly, learn the shortcut. Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac) takes less than a second and works every time. If you only use strikethrough occasionally, the Format menu path is perfectly fine and equally reliable. The Search Menus trick (Alt + /) is a strong middle ground — fast enough once you build the habit, easy to remember, and doesn’t require looking at your keyboard.

Whichever method you choose, the result is the same: a clean horizontal line through your text that sticks with the content as you edit, copy, and share the document.