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Download NowWhat Is Strikethrough in Excel?
A strikethrough is a horizontal line drawn through the middle of text in a cell. It shows that the text is no longer valid, has been completed, or has changed.
The original content stays visible but is visually marked as finished or outdated.
Strikethrough is purely visual formatting. It does not change the underlying cell value.
A cell showing 500 with a line through it still holds the numeric value 500, and formulas referencing that cell will calculate normally.
Common Uses for Strikethrough Text
- Task Lists: Mark tasks as completed without removing them.
- Editing and revisions: Show changes while keeping the original text visible.
- Errors: Flag mistakes that have been noted but not yet removed.
- Decision tracking: Cross out ideas or options that were considered but not selected.
- Price changes: Show original prices alongside updated ones.
How Do You Strikethrough in Excel with a Keyboard Shortcut?
The keyboard shortcut is the fastest way to apply or remove strikethrough in Excel. Select the cell (or cells) you want to format, then press the shortcut. Press it again to remove the strikethrough.
Windows Shortcut (Ctrl + 5)
- Select the cell, range of cells, or highlight specific text within a cell.
- Press Ctrl + 5 on your keyboard.
- The strikethrough is applied instantly. Press Ctrl + 5 again to toggle it off.
Mac Shortcut (Command + Shift + X)
- Select the cell or text you want to format.
- Press Command + Shift + X.
- The strikethrough is applied. Press Command + Shift + X again to remove it.
Tip: Ctrl + 5 also works on Mac in many Excel versions. If Command + Shift + X does not respond, try Ctrl + 5 as a fallback.
How to Apply Strikethrough Using Format Cells
If you prefer using the dialog box (or want to apply multiple formatting changes at once), the Format Cells method gives you full control.
- Select the cell or cells you want to strikethrough.
- Right-click and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu. Or press Ctrl + 1 (Command + 1 on Mac).
- Go to the “Font” tab.
- Check the “Strikethrough” box under Effects.
- Click OK. Excel applies a line through the text.
This method is useful when you want to combine strikethrough with other formatting changes (font color, size, bold) in a single step.
How to Add a Strikethrough Button to the Quick Access Toolbar
If you use strikethrough regularly, adding a dedicated button to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) saves time. This is a one-time setup.
- Click the small dropdown arrow at the right end of the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Select “More Commands…” from the dropdown menu.
- In the Excel Options dialog, set the “Choose commands from” dropdown to “All Commands.”
- Scroll down the list and select “Strikethrough.” Click the “Add” button to move it to the QAT panel on the right.
- Click OK to save.
The Strikethrough icon now appears in your Quick Access Toolbar. Select any cells and click the icon to toggle strikethrough on or off with a single click.
How to Strikethrough in Excel for the Web
Strikethrough works in Excel for the web (Excel Online). There are two ways to apply it:
Keyboard shortcut: Select the cells and press Ctrl + 5. This works the same as the desktop version and is the fastest method.
Ribbon button: On the Home tab, look for the strikethrough button (an “ab” with a line through it) in the Font group.
In some layouts, you may need to click the ellipsis (…) next to the font options to reveal it.
LIMITATION Note: In Excel for the web, you cannot select non-adjacent cells. To strikethrough cells in different parts of your sheet, you need to select and format each contiguous range separately.
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How to Apply Strikethrough Automatically with Conditional Formatting
Conditional formatting lets Excel apply strikethrough automatically when a condition is met.
This is ideal for task lists, project trackers, and to-do lists where you want items to appear crossed out as soon as they are marked done.
Strikethrough When a Cell Says “Done”
The task text will then show a strikethrough. Here’s how:
- Select the cells with your task names where you want conditional strikethrough (for example, A2:A20).
- Go to Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
- Select “Use a formula to determine which cells to format.”
- Enter a formula that references the status column. For example:
=$C6="done"- Click the “Format” button.
- Go to the Font tab. Check “Strikethrough.” Optionally, change the font color to light grey for a visual fade effect.
- Click OK twice
Now, when you type “done” in column C for any task, Excel automatically applies strikethrough to the corresponding task text in column B.
WHY $C2?
The dollar sign before the column letter ($C) locks the column reference while letting the row number adjust. This is called a mixed cell reference.
It ensures the rule checks column C for every row in your selected range. Learn more about Excel cell references.
Strikethrough Based on a Date or Status Column
You can adapt the formula to trigger strikethrough based on other conditions. For example, to strikethrough tasks where the completion date in column D is in the past:
=$D2<TODAY()Or to strikethrough when a dropdown value equals a specific status:
=$B2="Cancelled"The same conditional formatting approach works with any TRUE/FALSE formula.
For a detailed guide on conditional formatting rules, see the full conditional formatting tutorial.
How to Use Checkboxes to Strikethrough Completed Tasks
Combining checkboxes with conditional formatting creates an interactive to-do list. Check a box, and the task text automatically gets a strikethrough.
This section covers both the new in-cell checkboxes (Microsoft 365) and the legacy method for older Excel versions.
New In-Cell Checkboxes (Microsoft 365)
Microsoft added native in-cell checkboxes to Excel in mid-2024. These are much simpler than the old form controls. The checkbox lives inside the cell, fills down like regular data, and works on Windows, Mac, and Excel for the web.
- Select the cells where you want checkboxes (for example, C2:C6).
- Go to Insert > Checkbox on the ribbon.
- Checkboxes appear in each cell. Clicking a checkbox toggles its value between TRUE (checked) and FALSE (unchecked).
- Now add a conditional formatting rule on your task column (B2:B6) using the formula =$C2=TRUE to apply strikethrough when the checkbox is checked.
IMPORTANT The new in-cell checkboxes require Microsoft 365 (subscription). They are not available in the perpetual license versions of Excel 2024, 2021, or earlier.
Legacy Form Control Checkboxes (Excel 2024, 2021, and Earlier)
If you are using a perpetual license version of Excel (2024, 2021, or earlier), you can still create checkbox-driven strikethrough using legacy form controls:
- Enable the Developer tab (File > Options > Customize Ribbon > check “Developer”).
- Go to Developer > Insert > Form Controls > Check Box.
- Draw the checkbox next to your task. Right-click the checkbox, select Format Control, and link it to a cell (for example, C2).
- The linked cell will show TRUE when checked and FALSE when unchecked.
- Apply a conditional formatting rule on the task cell using =$C2=TRUE with strikethrough formatting.
- You can hide the linked cells column afterward.
You can also add a FILTER function next to the list to show only the remaining (unchecked) tasks. This keeps a clean view of what is left to do.
Download the Free Strikethrough Practice Workbook
Download NowFor a full walkthrough on inserting and customizing checkboxes, see our guide on Excel checkboxes.
What Is Stale Value Formatting? (Why Excel Adds Strikethrough Automatically)
Starting in late 2024, Microsoft introduced a feature called Stale Value Formatting in Excel for Microsoft 365 (Windows, Version 2409 and later). This feature automatically applies a strikethrough to formula cells that have not been recalculated after their underlying data changed.
If you see strikethrough on cells you never formatted manually, this is almost certainly the cause.
When Does Stale Value Formatting Appear?
Stale Value Formatting activates when your workbook is in Manual or Partial Calculation mode. In these modes, Excel does not recalculate formulas automatically. When you change an input cell, any formula cells that depend on it become stale, and Excel draws a line through them to flag them as out of date.
This also affects cells in Partial Calculation mode (previously called Automatic Except Data Tables) when the stale cells involve data tables or Python formulas.
How to Turn Off Stale Value Formatting
There are two ways to handle it:
Option 1: Recalculate the workbook. Press F9 or go to Formulas > Calculate Now. This refreshes all formulas and the strikethrough disappears. However, it will reappear the next time you change data without recalculating.
Option 2: Disable the feature entirely. Go to Formulas > Calculation Options and uncheck “Format Stale Values.” Alternatively, go to File > Options > Formulas > Error Checking Rules and uncheck “Cells containing stale value.”
TIP FOR FINANCIAL MODELERS If you use Manual Calculation mode for performance (common in financial models), consider keeping Stale Value Formatting enabled. It prevents you from accidentally using outdated numbers. Just press F9 to clear the strikethrough when you are ready to recalculate.
Strikethrough in Excel FAQ
What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel?
Press Ctrl + 5 on Windows or Command + Shift + X on Mac. This shortcut toggles strikethrough on and off. It works on single cells, multiple cells, or partial text within a cell.
How do I remove strikethrough in Excel?
Select the cell(s) with strikethrough and press Ctrl + 5 again. If the strikethrough was applied through conditional formatting, you need to delete the conditional formatting rule instead (Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules).
Why does my Excel show strikethrough on cells I didn’t format?
This is likely Stale Value Formatting, a feature Microsoft introduced in late 2024. It automatically applies strikethrough to formula cells that haven’t recalculated in Manual or Partial Calculation mode. To disable it, go to Formulas > Calculation Options and uncheck Format Stale Values.
Does strikethrough work in Excel for the web?
Yes. In Excel for the web, use the Ctrl + 5 shortcut or click the strikethrough button in the Font group on the Home tab.
Can I strikethrough only part of the text in a cell?
Yes. Double-click the cell to enter edit mode, select the specific text you want to cross out, then press Ctrl + 5. Only the highlighted text will receive strikethrough formatting.
Does strikethrough affect cell values or formulas in Excel?
No. Strikethrough is purely visual formatting. A cell displaying a value with strikethrough still holds the original value and will calculate normally in formulas.
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Leila Gharani
Founder of XelPlus and ten-time Microsoft MVP. Leila helps over 500,000 professionals master Excel, Power BI, and data automation through practical, real-world training.
