How to Strikethrough Text on WhatsApp

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 14, 2021

WhatsApp allows you to strikethrough text in your messages. This is a great way to show emphasis when changing or correcting someone's message. Simply add a ~ to strikethrough your text.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
iOS

1
Open WhatsApp.
2
Tap CHATS. It's along the bottom of your screen.
3
Tap the conversation you wish to strikethrough text in.
4
Tap the text field. This is at the bottom of the screen. Tapping it will open up the keyboard.
5
Type your message up until the point where you wish to start the strikethrough.
6
Add a ~. This is the beginning of the strikethrough tag.
- On an iOS device, the ~ is found by tapping the 123 button or the .?123 button, then the #+= button. Tap the ~. It is the fourth button from the left on the second row of buttons.
7
Type the section you wish to strikethrough. Do not enter a space between the ~ and the first letter of the section you wish to strikethrough.
8
Add an ~ at the end of the section you wish to strikethrough. This ends the strikethrough tag.
- Do not enter a space between the end of the strikethrough and the ~. The text between the ~ will now appear with a line through it in the textbox.
9
Continue typing the rest of your message.
10
Tap the send arrow. The message will appear in the conversation history. The text will appear with a line through it without the ~ at either end of the section.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Android

1
Open WhatsApp.
2
Tap CHATS. It's along the top of your screen.
3
Tap the conversation you wish to strikethrough text in.
4
Tap the text field. This is at the bottom of the screen. Tapping it will open up the keyboard.
5
Type your message up until the point where you wish to start the strikethrough.
6
Add a ~. This is the beginning of the strikethrough tag.
- On an Android device, the ~ is found by tapping Sym at the bottom left of the screen, then 1/2. Tap the ~. It is the second button from the left on the second row of buttons.
7
Type the section you wish to strikethrough. Do not enter a space between the ~ and the first letter of the section you wish to strikethrough.
8
Add an ~ at the end of the section you wish to strikethrough. This ends the strikethrough tag.
- Do not enter a space between the end of the strikethrough and the ~. The text between the ~ will now appear with a line through it in the textbox.
9
Continue typing the rest of your message.
10
Tap the send arrow. The message will appear in the conversation history. The text will appear with a line through it without the ~ at either end of the section.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I want a word to be ~surrounded~ by wavy dash without the strike through? Is it possible to remove the feature?

X_IamKingBG

Community Answer

It is not possible to remove the feature, but you can add a space between the wavy dash and text to type something without the feature.