Excel Strikethrough Shortcut Tutorial

Introduction

Strikethrough is a formatting feature in Microsoft Excel that draws a horizontal line through text or numbers in a cell, commonly used to indicate completed tasks, corrections, or items to be ignored without deleting the data. This tutorial provides a detailed guide on using the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough, along with alternative methods to apply this formatting efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, these steps will help you master strikethrough in Excel.

Method 1: Using the Keyboard Shortcut

The keyboard shortcut is the fastest way to apply strikethrough in Excel, and it works across various scenarios, including single cells, multiple cells, or specific text within a cell.

Steps for Windows

1. Open Your Workbook: Launch Microsoft Excel and open the workbook where you want to apply strikethrough.
2. Select Cell(s):
   • Click a single cell to format its content.
   • Drag to select a range of cells.
   • Hold Ctrl and click to select non-adjacent cells.
3. Apply Strikethrough: Press Ctrl + 5. A line will appear through the content of the selected cell(s).
4. Remove Strikethrough: Select the same cell(s) and press Ctrl + 5 again to toggle off the formatting.

Steps for Mac

1. Open Your Workbook: Launch Excel on your Mac and open the desired workbook.
2. Select Cell(s):
   • Click a single cell.
   • Drag to select multiple cells.
   • Hold Command to select non-adjacent cells.
3. Apply Strikethrough: Press Command + Shift + X. The selected cell(s) will show a strikethrough.
4. Remove Strikethrough: Press Command + Shift + X again on the same cell(s) to remove the formatting.

Applying to Partial Cell Content

To apply strikethrough to only part of a cell’s text:

1. Double-click the cell to enter edit mode.
2. Highlight the specific text or numbers you want to format.
3. Press Ctrl + 5 (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac).
4. Press Enter to save the changes.

Note: The shortcut is consistent across Excel versions, including Excel for Microsoft 365, 2021, and 2019, as confirmed by Microsoft Support.

Method 2: Using the Format Cells Dialog

For users who prefer a graphical interface or need to adjust multiple formatting options, the Format Cells dialog is a reliable alternative.

Steps

1. Select Cell(s): Highlight the cell(s) you want to format.
2. Open Format Cells:
   • Right-click the selected cell(s) and choose “Format Cells…”.
   • Alternatively, press Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or Command + 1 (Mac).
3. Enable Strikethrough:
   • In the Format Cells dialog, navigate to the “Font” tab.
   • Under the “Effects” section, check the “Strikethrough” box.
4. Apply Changes: Click “OK” to apply the strikethrough formatting.

Note: This method is ideal when combining strikethrough with other font settings, such as bold or italic, as described by Ablebits.

Method 3: Adding Strikethrough to the Quick Access Toolbar

For frequent strikethrough users, adding a dedicated button to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) simplifies the process to a single click.

Steps

1. Access QAT Settings:
   • Click the dropdown arrow next to the Quick Access Toolbar (located above the ribbon, typically at the top-left of the Excel window).
   • Select “More Commands…”.
2. Add Strikethrough Command:
   • In the Excel Options dialog, set the “Choose commands from” dropdown to “All Commands”.
   • Scroll through the list and select “Strikethrough”.
   • Click “Add” to move it to the QAT.
3. Save Changes: Click “OK” to add the button to the QAT.
4. Use the Button:
   • Select the cell(s) you want to format.
   • Click the strikethrough button on the QAT to apply or remove the formatting.

Note: This method is particularly useful for users who prefer mouse-based interactions over keyboard shortcuts, as highlighted by Xelplus.

Method 4: Using the Ribbon (Graphical Menu)

You can also apply strikethrough via Excel’s ribbon without adding a button to the QAT.

Steps

1. Select Cell(s): Highlight the cell(s) to format.
2. Navigate to Home Tab: Click the “Home” tab on the ribbon.
3. Open Font Settings:
   • In the “Font” group, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner to open the Format Cells dialog.
4. Enable Strikethrough:
   • Go to the “Font” tab.
   • Check the “Strikethrough” box under “Effects”.
5. Apply: Click “OK” to apply the formatting.

Note: This method is similar to the Format Cells dialog but accessed through the ribbon, as explained by How-To Geek.

Limitations: Excel for the Web

Strikethrough is not directly available in Excel for the web, as noted by Microsoft Support. To apply strikethrough:

1. Open the workbook in the Excel desktop application.
2. Apply strikethrough using any of the methods above.
3. Save the workbook and reopen it in Excel for the web to view the formatting.

Additional Tips

• No Impact on Cell Values: Strikethrough is a visual effect and does not alter the cell’s data or formulas. For example, a cell with the value 30 will still contribute 30 to calculations even with strikethrough applied.
• Non-Adjacent Cells: To format non-adjacent cells, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while selecting cells, then apply the shortcut or other methods.
• Conditional Formatting: Advanced users can automate strikethrough using conditional formatting. For example, apply strikethrough to cells where a condition (e.g., “Task = Done”) is met. See Ablebits for detailed instructions.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: While shortcuts differ between Windows (Ctrl + 5) and Mac (Command + Shift + X), the functionality is identical across Excel versions.

Summary Table

Method	Steps Summary	Best For
Keyboard Shortcut	Windows: Ctrl + 5 Mac: Command + Shift + X	Quick, frequent use
Format Cells Dialog	Right-click > Format Cells > Font tab > Check Strikethrough > OK	Combining with other font settings
Quick Access Toolbar	Add Strikethrough to QAT via Excel Options > All Commands	Mouse-based users, frequent use
Ribbon (Graphical Menu)	Home > Font group > Format Cells > Font tab > Check Strikethrough > OK	Users familiar with ribbon navigation
Excel for the Web	Use desktop app to apply, then view in web version	Web-based users with desktop access

Conclusion

The strikethrough feature in Excel is a versatile tool for visually managing data without altering its content. The keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl + 5 for Windows, Command + Shift + X for Mac) offer the quickest solution, while the Format Cells dialog and Quick Access Toolbar provide flexible alternatives. By mastering these methods, you can efficiently organize and present your Excel data. For users of Excel for the web, leveraging the desktop application ensures full access to this feature.