Outlook on Windows and Mac
Strikethrough in Outlook button and shortcut
Every version of Outlook has a strikethrough button. It just lives in a different place in each one.
Updated · strikethroughtext.online
Classic Outlook for Windows
- In a new message or a reply, select the text.
- Open the Format Text tab in the message window.
- In the Font group, click ab̶c̶ (Strikethrough).
Classic Outlook uses Word’s editing engine, so the Font dialog and its Double strikethrough option are there too: right-click the selected text and choose Font.
If the button is greyed out, the message is in Plain Text. Switch to HTML on the same Format Text tab.
Make a keyboard shortcut
Outlook has no strikethrough shortcut out of the box, but classic Outlook lets you build one:
- Open a new message window.
- Click the small arrow at the end of the Quick Access Toolbar and choose More Commands.
- Under Choose commands from, pick All Commands, select Strikethrough and click Add.
- Click OK. Now press Alt: each toolbar button shows a number, and Alt plus that number strikes the selection.
New Outlook and Outlook on the web
The new Outlook for Windows and Outlook in the browser share the same editor.
- Select the text in your message.
- Use the formatting toolbar at the top of the message. If you can’t see it, select Format text first.
- If strikethrough isn’t shown, click ··· (more options) at the end of the toolbar and choose Strikethrough.
Outlook for Mac
Select the text and choose Format → Font from the menu bar, then tick Strikethrough. The message formatting toolbar may also show the button directly, depending on your window width.
Where it helps in email
Rescheduling. “We’re meeting Tuesday 2pm Wednesday 10am” puts the change where nobody can miss it.
Inline answers. When replying inside someone’s message, strike the items you’ve handled and add your notes after them.
Meeting invites. Edit the invite body, strike the old details, and add the new ones before you send the update.
Subject lines
Outlook won’t format a subject line. Unicode strikethrough from this page can be pasted in and displays in most mail apps. Keep it to a word. Long runs of unusual characters in a subject can look like spam, to people and to filters.
Accessibility
Strikethrough in the body is visual. Some screen readers announce it and some don’t, so a reader may hear the old and the new details as if both were current. Add a word like “was” or “moved to” so the meaning doesn’t rely on the line alone.
Copy-paste version
For the places where Outlook formatting won't follow your text, like file names, chat apps or a social bio.
- strikethrough
- short strike
- wavy strike
- slash
- long slash
- double slash
- strike + underline
- strike + overline
- underline
- double underline
- overline
- dotted
- wave
- x below
- redacted
Questions people ask
Is there a strikethrough shortcut in Outlook?
Not by default. In classic Outlook for Windows you can make one: add Strikethrough to the Quick Access Toolbar in a message window, then press Alt and the number Outlook shows for it. On a Mac, use Format, then Font, and tick Strikethrough.
How do I strikethrough in Outlook?
In classic Outlook for Windows, select the text in your message and click the ab̶c̶ button on the Format Text tab. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, select the text and choose Strikethrough from the formatting toolbar, under the ··· more options button if it is not visible.
Why is the strikethrough button greyed out?
Your message is in Plain Text format, which cannot hold any formatting. In classic Outlook, go to the Format Text tab and choose HTML. Strikethrough becomes available.
Can I add strikethrough to an Outlook subject line?
Subject lines do not support formatting. You can paste Unicode strikethrough from this page into the subject; it displays in most email apps.
How do I strikethrough in an Outlook calendar invite?
The body of a meeting invite uses the same editor as email, so the same button works. Strike out the old time or room and add the new one, so attendees see what changed.