Need strikethrough text for something outside a spreadsheet — a caption, bio, or chat message?
Use the generator →The Excel Strikethrough Shortcut
Select your cell or text and press:
- Windows:
Ctrl + 5 - Mac:
Cmd + Shift + X
Unlike Word, Excel doesn't put a strikethrough button on the Home ribbon by default, which is why this shortcut is worth memorizing rather than hunting for it in the interface.
Using Format Cells
If you'd rather use a menu, select the cell, press Ctrl+1 to open Format Cells, go to the Font tab, and check Strikethrough under Effects. Click OK to apply it.
Removing Strikethrough
Strikethrough toggles on and off with the same shortcut — select the cell and press Ctrl+5 again to remove it, or reopen Format Cells (Ctrl+1) and uncheck the Strikethrough box under Effects.
Automatic Strikethrough with a Checkbox
A common use case is crossing out a to-do row automatically when its checkbox is checked. To do this:
Insert a checkbox from the Insert menu and link it to a cell.Right-click the checkbox, choose Format Control, and set a cell link.
Select the row you want to strike through.Or just the relevant cells.
Open Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.Choose "Use a formula to determine which cells to format."
Enter a formula like
=$A2=TRUEand set the format to Strikethrough.Replace A2 with your checkbox's linked cell.
Finding or Filtering Strikethrough Cells
Excel has no built-in filter specifically for strikethrough formatting. The most reliable workaround is Find & Select > Find, then opening Format in the dialog and setting Strikethrough as a search criterion — it will highlight matching cells, though it won't build a live filter. If you applied strikethrough through conditional formatting tied to a checkbox, a simpler approach is filtering on the checkbox's linked column directly instead of the formatting itself.
Excel Desktop vs. Excel Online vs. Mobile
The Ctrl+5 shortcut works identically in Excel Online (the browser version) and the Windows desktop app — no differences there. On Mac, Cmd+Shift+X covers both the desktop app and Excel Online in a Mac browser. The mobile apps for iOS and Android don't support keyboard shortcuts at all: tap the cell, tap the Font formatting option in the toolbar, and toggle Strikethrough from the panel that appears.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel?
Ctrl+5 on Windows, or Cmd+Shift+X on Mac.
How do I strikethrough using Format Cells?
Press Ctrl+1, go to the Font tab, and check Strikethrough under Effects.
Can I auto-strikethrough a row when a checkbox is checked?
Yes, with Conditional Formatting using a formula like =$A2=TRUE pointing at your checkbox's linked cell.
How do I filter or find strikethrough text in Excel?
Use Find & Select > Find, open Format, and choose Strikethrough as a search criterion. There's no native live filter for it.
Why is my text automatically showing as strikethrough?
Likely an existing conditional formatting rule. Check Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules.
How do I remove strikethrough formatting in Excel?
Press Ctrl+5 again to toggle it off, or uncheck Strikethrough in Format Cells (Ctrl+1).
Does the Ctrl+5 shortcut work in Excel Online?
Yes — it works the same in Excel Online as in the desktop app. Use Cmd+Shift+X on Mac in both.
Can I strikethrough text in the Excel mobile app?
Yes — tap the cell, open the Font formatting option in the toolbar, and toggle Strikethrough. No keyboard shortcut exists on mobile.
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