How to Do Strikethrough Text on WhatsApp — S̶t̶r̶i̶k̶e̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ Guide (2026)
How to Make Strikethrough Text on WhatsApp
There are two ways to create strikethrough text on WhatsApp. The first is WhatsApp's built-in tilde shortcut — wrap your text in ~tildes~ like this. The second is using a Unicode strikethrough generator for text that works in names, status and anywhere WhatsApp's native formatting is not available. The free WAUtility Strikethrough Text Generator handles both styles.
Method 1 — WhatsApp Native Strikethrough (Tilde Shortcut)
WhatsApp has a built-in shortcut to create strikethrough text in messages:
- Open any WhatsApp chat.
- Type your text with a tilde (~) before and after it:
~your text here~ - Send the message — the text will appear with a strikethrough line.
This works in individual chats, group chats and WhatsApp Status captions. However it does NOT work in your WhatsApp profile name, About section, or group names — for those you need the Unicode method below.
Method 2 — Unicode Strikethrough Generator (Works Everywhere)
Unicode strikethrough uses a combining diacritical mark (U+0336) applied to each character. The result — G̶e̶n̶e̶r̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ T̶e̶x̶t̶ — works in WhatsApp names, status, group names and any other text field.
- Go to the Strikethrough Text Generator.
- Type your text.
- Copy the strikethrough result.
- Paste into any WhatsApp field — name, status, message, group name.
WhatsApp Strikethrough Formatting Cheat Sheet
| Format | Shortcut | Works In Messages? | Works In Name/Status? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~~Strikethrough~~ | ~text~ | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| *Bold* | *text* | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| _Italic_ | _text_ | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Unicode Strikethrough | Generator tool | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Unicode Bold | Generator tool | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Popular Uses for Strikethrough Text on WhatsApp
Strikethrough text is widely used on WhatsApp for humorous purposes — crossing out the "wrong" option in a joke ("I'm fine I'm dying"), adding a sarcastic correction, or making to-do lists with completed items crossed off. It is also used creatively in WhatsApp Status updates to show a change of mind or a humorous correction.
For more text formatting options on WhatsApp, use the WhatsApp Message Formatter for a visual editor with bold, italic, monospace and strikethrough — all with a live preview. You can also try Fancy Text Generator for 20+ unique Unicode font styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my strikethrough text not working on WhatsApp?
If the tilde shortcut is not working, check that you have no spaces between the tildes and the text (~text~ works, ~ text ~ does not). If strikethrough is still not appearing, make sure you are on the latest version of WhatsApp. The Unicode generator method always works regardless of app version.
Can I use strikethrough in a WhatsApp group name?
Yes — but only with the Unicode method, not the tilde shortcut. Use the Strikethrough Generator to create the text, then paste it into the group name field when editing.
Does strikethrough text work on WhatsApp Web?
Yes. Both the tilde shortcut and the Unicode generator method work on WhatsApp Web. On WhatsApp Web, you can also right-click selected text to see formatting options including strikethrough.
Generate WhatsApp Strikethrough Text Instantly
Use the WAUtility Strikethrough Text Generator for Unicode strikethrough that works everywhere in WhatsApp — names, status, messages and group names. Free, instant, no signup.