Strikethrough in Excel: Complete Guide, Shortcuts & Troubleshooting

Alright, let's talk strike through in Excel. You know, that line through text? Like this: done task. Seems simple, right? But honestly, sometimes it feels like Excel hides the easiest things. I remember trying to cross out an item on a shared budget sheet once, frantically clicking every menu while my teammate chuckled over Zoom. Embarrassing. If you've ever googled "how to strike through in excel" or wondered why it vanishes sometimes, stick around. This isn't just theory – we're covering the messy reality of using strikethrough daily.

Why bother mastering strike through in excel? It’s way more than marking tasks done. Think tracking changes without full Track Changes (annoying for quick edits), visually flagging obsolete data without deleting it (safety net!), or creating simple approval workflows. It's a visual shorthand everyone gets. But Excel doesn't make it *super* obvious how to use it well everywhere – desktop, web, even your phone.

Exactly How to Apply Strikethrough (All Methods, Including the Weird Ones)

Forget vague instructions. Here’s exactly where to find strikethrough in excel, depending on how you roll. I personally live by the keyboard shortcut, but sometimes the mouse is unavoidable.

Keyboard Shortcuts (My Daily Driver)

This is the fastest way once muscle memory kicks in. Seriously saves hours over a year.

• Windows: Ctrl + 5. Not Ctrl+S (save)! Hit Ctrl and the number 5 key. It toggles.
• Mac: Command + Shift + X. Feels a bit more awkward than Windows, but you get used to it.

Just select the cell(s) or double-click into a cell to select specific text, then hit the keys. Boom. Done. Undo it the same way.

The Ribbon Route (For Mouse Lovers)

It’s always there. Fine if you use it occasionally. Gets tedious fast for heavy editing though.

Right-Click / Format Cells (The Deep Menu)

Right-click your selection > Choose Format Cells (or press Ctrl + 1). Go to the Font tab. Under Effects, check the Strikethrough box. Click OK.

This feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut for simple strikethrough. But! It's essential if you're applying it alongside other formatting changes (like font color or size) in one go. Also, the *only* reliable way to apply it to *part* of a word inside a cell without using the formula bar.

Oh, the Quick Access Toolbar! Almost forgot. If you hate hunting on the ribbon, right-click the strikethrough button on the ribbon and choose "Add to Quick Access Toolbar". It sits at the very top, always visible. One click anytime. Pretty handy.

Strikethrough on Excel for Web (Browser)

It's mostly the same! Ribbon button is there (Home > Font group > a̶b̶c̶). Keyboard shortcut? Ctrl + 5 works in Chrome/Edge. On Mac browsers, Command + Shift + X usually works. Format Cells dialog is accessible too. Surprisingly robust.

Strikethrough on Excel Mobile (Phone/Tablet)

This is where it gets fiddly.

• Android/iOS App: Tap the cell. Tap the paintbrush icon (Format) at the top. Go to the Font tab. Toggle Strikethrough on/off. More taps than desktop, but it's there.
• Mobile Browser: Tricky. The formatting options are limited. You *might* find it under a "More formatting" menu, but honestly, it's often easier to wait for the desktop app if you do a lot of strikethrough. Mobile browser Excel is better for viewing than deep editing.

Not ideal, but functional for marking off a couple of things on the go.

Beyond Basics: Power User Strikethrough Tricks

Okay, you know *how* to strike through in excel. Now let's make it work smarter. This is where most guides stop, but this stuff saves real headaches.

Formatting Only PART of the Text in a Cell

You want "Project Alpha Beta". How?

1. Double-click the cell (or press F2) to edit it.
2. Carefully select *only* the text you want struck through ("Alpha").
3. Now apply strikethrough using ANY method above (shortcut Ctrl+5 is fastest here, or the ribbon button).
4. Press Enter.

Warning: If you just select the whole cell and apply strikethrough, it hits *all* the text. Be precise with that text selection! Using the Format Cells dialog is the most reliable method for finicky partial formatting, especially inside long text strings.

Conditional Formatting Magic (Automatic Strike Through!)

This is gold. Make Excel automatically strike through tasks when you mark them "Done". Here's how:

Imagine Column A has tasks, Column B has status ("Not Started", "In Progress", "Done").

1.  Select your task cells (e.g., A2:A100).
2.  Go to Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
3.  Choose "Use a formula to determine which cells to format".
4.  In the formula box, type: =$B2="Done"  (Assuming Status is Column B, starting row 2. Adjust as needed!)
5.  Click the Format button.
6.  Go to the Font tab.
7.  Check Strikethrough.
8.  (Optional but Recommended) Set a font color, like light gray, to make "Done" items fade.
9.  Click OK twice.

Now, whenever you type "Done" in Column B, the task in Column A gets automatically crossed out! Change the status, strikethrough goes away. This is a game-changer for task lists, inventories, anything with statuses.

Removing Strikethrough (Beyond Just Toggling)

Usually, reapplying the same method (shortcut/button) removes it. But what if it's buried in conditional formatting or mixed with other formats?

• Clear Specific Format: Select the cells. Go to Home > Clear > Clear Formats. Warning! This nukes ALL formatting (colors, fonts, everything). Use sparingly.
• Conditional Formatting Removal: If it's applied via CF, go to Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules. Find the rule applying strikethrough and delete or edit it.
• Format Cells Dialog: Select cells, Ctrl+1, Font tab, uncheck Strikethrough. Safer than Clear Formats if you only want to remove the line.

Why Does My Strikethrough Disappear?! Common Annoyances

Ah, the frustration. You apply strike through in excel, and poof, it's gone later. Why?

Strikethrough vs. Alternatives: When NOT to Use It

Strikethrough is great, but it's not always the best tool. Don't be that person crossing out entire rows messily.

• Track Changes: Need a full audit trail of who changed what and when? Use Review > Track Changes. Strikethrough alone gives no history.
• Deleting Data: If data is truly obsolete and shouldn't be seen, delete it or move it to an archive sheet. Strikethrough leaves it visible.
• Highlighting Errors: For data validation errors, use Conditional Formatting with fill colors (red/yellow) – more visually urgent than a line.
• Crossing Out Whole Rows/Columns: Looks messy. Better to hide the row/column (right-click > Hide) or use cell fill color (light gray) across the row to indicate "inactive".

The sweet spot for strikethrough in excel is marking individual items as complete or obsolete *without* removing them, preserving context within a list or dataset.

Strikethrough FAQ: Your Real Questions Answered

Here are the actual questions I've been asked or searched myself over the years:

Can I use strikethrough in Excel Online/Web App?

Yes! As mentioned earlier, it's fully supported. Look for the a̶b̶c̶ button on the Home tab in the Font group, or use Ctrl+5 (Windows browsers). Works well.

Is there a formula to apply strikethrough?

Sadly, no. Formulas calculate *values*, not direct cell formatting. You cannot have a formula like =IF(B2="Done", APPLY_STRIKETHROUGH(A2), A2). This is a key limitation. Conditional Formatting is the solution here. It uses formulas to *trigger* the formatting (like strikethrough), but the formatting itself isn't applied by a formula inside the cell.

Can I search for cells with strikethrough formatting?

Not easily with standard Find (Ctrl+F). That searches values, not formats. Your options:

• Manual Scan: Painful for large sheets.
• VBA Macro: The only true way to *find* cells based purely on strikethrough format. Requires writing code.
• Workaround: If you used strikethrough consistently for a specific meaning (e.g., only for "Done" tasks), combine Find with that status text or use Conditional Formatting that also applies a unique, easily searchable characteristic (like a specific cell fill color for "Done" items).

This is a genuine gap in Excel's native functionality.

Does strikethrough affect formulas or calculations?

Absolutely not! Strikethrough is purely visual formatting. A cell containing "100" with strikethrough is still just the number 100 to Excel. Any formula referencing that cell (=SUM(A1:A10)) will use the value 100, completely ignoring the strikethrough. Formatting doesn't change data.

Why choose strikethrough instead of just changing the font color to grey?

Great question! Both de-emphasize. But:

• Strikethrough: Universally signals "cancelled," "completed," or "obsolete." The line through text is a stronger visual cue than just grey. It immediately shows the item is no longer active/valid.
• Grey Text: Signals "less important," "secondary," or "inactive." It doesn't inherently mean "done" or "cancelled." Might be harder to distinguish from other faded text.

I often use them *together* via Conditional Formatting for "Done": Strikethrough + Grey text = crystal clear.

Can I make the strikethrough line thicker or a different color?

No. Unlike fonts themselves, Excel gives you zero control over the strikethrough line's appearance (weight, color, style). It uses a single, standard line weight based on your font size, matching the font color. If you need fancy lines, you'd have to manually draw lines with shapes, which is messy and doesn't behave well with cell changes.

Does strikethrough work with merged cells?

Yes, it works exactly the same as with regular cells. Select the merged cell(s), apply strikethrough via any method. It will apply to the entire content of the merged cell. Applying to partial text within a merged cell follows the "partial text" method above (double-click, select text, apply).

Putting It Into Practice: Real Use Cases for Strikethrough

Stop thinking just to-do lists. Here's where strike through in excel shines in the real world:

• Project Task Lists: Obviously. Mark tasks complete while keeping them visible for reference ("Phase 1: Research, Planning, Development").
• Budget Tracking: Cross out expenses that have been paid or items removed from the cart before finalizing. Avoids accidental double-paying.
• Inventory Management: Flag discontinued items or items currently out-of-stock without deleting them from the master list. Crucial for reordering.
• Meeting Agendas/Minutes: Cross out agenda items that were covered or action items that are completed.
• Drafting & Editing: Mark text for deletion in collaborative documents before finalizing removal. Safer than deleting immediately.
• Approval Workflows (Simple): "Approved by John [ ] [X]". A visual checkmark alternative.
• Content Calendars: Mark published or cancelled posts/social updates.
• Grocery Lists (Shared): Everyone knows what's been picked up. Classic.

The key is using it where the *history* or *context* of the crossed-out item remains valuable.

Troubleshooting Strikethrough Headaches

Sometimes Excel just fights you. Here's how to win:

Strikethrough Button Greyed Out?

This usually means:

1. The sheet or workbook is protected. Check Review > Protect Sheet/Workbook. You need the password to unprotect and format.
2. The cell is part of a protected range even if the sheet isn't fully protected.
3. The workbook is shared. Some formatting gets disabled in shared workbooks (an older, less stable feature). Try unsharing (Review > Share Workbook, uncheck "Allow changes...").
4. A very rare add-in conflict. Try starting Excel in Safe Mode (hold Ctrl while launching) to see if the button works then.

Strikethrough Looks Weird (Faint, Broken, Wrong Position)

• Faint/Broken Line: Usually a screen zoom/driver issue. Try a slightly different zoom level in Excel. Update your graphics drivers. Print preview usually renders it correctly.
• Wrong Position: Excel bases strikethrough position on the font metrics. Switching fonts (especially between very different ones like Arial and Calibri) can sometimes shift it slightly. There's no adjustment; try a different standard font.

Strikethrough Not Saving With the File

This is extremely rare. If it happens:

1. Ensure you're saving in a modern format (.xlsx, .xlsm). Older .xls formats *might* have issues, but unlikely.
2. Check if the strikethrough was applied via Conditional Formatting. Verify the CF rule is still there and correct.
3. Corrupt file? Try saving a copy. Open the original file again. If the copy is fine, the original might be damaged.
4. Check Trust Center settings (File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings) related to disabling active content or external links, though this usually affects macros/data connections, not basic formatting. A long shot.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Line (Wisely)

Look, strikethrough in excel isn't the flashiest feature. It's a humble line. But mastering it, especially the conditional formatting trick and understanding its limitations (like sorting and searching), genuinely makes life with spreadsheets smoother. It reduces clutter without losing history. It communicates status instantly.

Remember the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+5 / Cmd+Shift+X) – it’s the biggest time saver. Use Conditional Formatting to automate it based on status. Avoid crossing out entire rows; it looks amateurish. And accept that you can’t search for it easily or make it red and thick.

Got a strikethrough horror story or a clever use case I missed? There’s always something new to learn in Excel, even with simple things like crossing stuff out. Good luck!