How to make strikethrough text in Telegram

Strikethrough text in Telegram is created using two tildes (~~) on each side of the text, like ~~this~~, or by selecting text and choosing the strikethrough option from the formatting menu. This formatting works across all Telegram platforms — mobile, desktop, and web — and is useful for showing corrections, crossed-out prices, or humorous edits in your channel posts.

Understanding Strikethrough Formatting in Telegram

Strikethrough text displays with a horizontal line through the middle of each character, like this. Telegram introduced this formatting option alongside other text styles such as bold, italic, underline, and monospace. It is supported in personal messages, group chats, and — most importantly for content creators — in channel posts.

The strikethrough style is rendered natively by all official Telegram clients, meaning your subscribers will see it correctly whether they use the Android app, iOS app, Telegram Desktop, or Telegram Web. This makes it a reliable formatting tool for channel administrators who want to add visual variety to their posts.

Methods to Create Strikethrough Text

Method 1: Using Markdown Syntax (Tilde Characters)

The fastest way to create strikethrough text is by wrapping your text with double tildes:

  1. Type two tilde characters: ~~
  2. Type the text you want to strike through
  3. Type two more tilde characters: ~~
  4. Send the message

Example:

~~Old price $49~~ New price $29

This renders as strikethrough "Old price $49" followed by normal "New price $29."

Note: On most keyboards, the tilde character (~) is found by long-pressing the hyphen/minus key on mobile, or by pressing Shift + Backtick on desktop keyboards (the key is typically located to the left of the 1 key).

Method 2: Using the Built-in Formatting Menu (Mobile)

On Android:
1. Type your text in the message field
2. Long-press to select the text you want to format
3. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the selection toolbar
4. Choose Strikethrough from the formatting options

On iOS:
1. Type your text in the message field
2. Long-press to select the desired text
3. Tap BIU in the context menu
4. Select Strikethrough from the list

Method 3: Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Desktop)

Telegram Desktop supports keyboard shortcuts for text formatting:

  • Windows/Linux: Select text, then press Ctrl + Shift + X
  • macOS: Select text, then press Cmd + Shift + X

Alternatively, on Telegram Desktop:
1. Select the text you want to format
2. Right-click to open the context menu
3. Choose Formatting → Strikethrough

Method 4: Using the Formatting Toolbar (Telegram Desktop)

Recent versions of Telegram Desktop show a formatting toolbar when you select text in the message input field:

  1. Type your text
  2. Select the portion you want to strike through
  3. A floating toolbar appears above the selection
  4. Click the S button (strikethrough icon)

Method 5: Using Bot API for Channel Posts

If you manage your channel programmatically or through a content management platform, you can apply strikethrough formatting using Telegram's Bot API with parse_mode set to either MarkdownV2 or HTML:

MarkdownV2:

~Strikethrough text~

Note that in Bot API MarkdownV2 mode, strikethrough uses a single tilde on each side, unlike the double tilde used in the regular Telegram client.

HTML:
html
<s>Strikethrough text</s>

or
html
<del>Strikethrough text</del>

Both <s> and <del> tags produce the same visual result. Platforms like tgchannel.space that export Telegram channel content to web blogs preserve this formatting, ensuring your strikethrough text appears correctly on the web as well.

Practical Use Cases for Strikethrough Text

Price Comparisons and Discounts

~~$99~~ → $49 (50% OFF!)

This is one of the most popular uses. E-commerce and deal channels frequently use strikethrough to show original prices next to discounted ones.

Corrections and Updates

The event starts at ~~6 PM~~ 7 PM (time updated)

Instead of deleting the original information, you can show the change transparently, which builds trust with your audience.

Humor and Sarcasm

This update is ~~completely useless~~ an interesting design choice

Many entertainment and commentary channels use strikethrough for comedic effect, showing a "real thought" crossed out and replaced with a diplomatic version.

Task Lists and Progress Updates

Channel roadmap:
~~✓ Reach 1,000 subscribers~~
~~✓ Launch merch store~~
- Hit 5,000 subscribers
- Start podcast

Showing completed items with strikethrough gives your audience a sense of progress.

Editorial Notes in News Channels

The company reported ~~$2.3 billion~~ $2.1 billion in revenue
(Correction: initial figure was misreported)

News and analytics channels use strikethrough to maintain transparency when correcting previously published figures.

Combining Strikethrough with Other Formatting

Telegram supports nesting multiple formatting styles. You can combine strikethrough with:

  • Bold + Strikethrough: Select text, apply bold, then apply strikethrough through the formatting menu
  • Italic + Strikethrough: Same approach using both styles
  • Strikethrough + Spoiler: Useful for creative content reveals

When combining formats through markdown syntax, the order matters. On desktop, it is most reliable to apply formatting through the menu or keyboard shortcuts rather than trying to nest markdown symbols.

Important: Not all combinations of nested formatting are guaranteed to render identically across every Telegram client version. Test complex formatting by sending a message to your Saved Messages first.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Test in Saved Messages first: Before posting to your channel, send the formatted text to your Saved Messages chat to verify it renders correctly on your device.
  • Use sparingly: Strikethrough loses its impact when overused. Reserve it for genuine corrections, price comparisons, or intentional comedic effect — not every other sentence.
  • Keep strikethrough segments short: Striking through entire paragraphs makes text hard to read. Limit strikethrough to individual words, numbers, or short phrases.
  • Pair with context: Always provide the replacement or correction near the strikethrough text so readers immediately understand the change. Writing ~~$99~~ $49 is clear; writing ~~$99~~ alone in one paragraph with the new price three paragraphs later is confusing.
  • Consider accessibility: Some users may have difficulty distinguishing strikethrough text, especially on small screens. When the crossed-out content is critical, add a brief text note like "(corrected)" alongside the formatting.
  • Remember the web version: If your channel content is published on the web through platforms like tgchannel.space, verify that your formatting translates well to HTML. Standard strikethrough converts cleanly, but heavily nested formatting may not always carry over perfectly.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using single tildes instead of double tildes in the client
Why it's wrong: In the regular Telegram app, a single tilde (~text~) does not produce strikethrough. You need double tildes (~~text~~). The single tilde syntax is only valid in the Bot API with MarkdownV2 parse mode.
How to avoid: Always use ~~ on both sides when typing manually in the Telegram app.

Mistake 2: Adding spaces between tildes and text
Why it's wrong: Typing ~~ text ~~ with spaces next to the tildes will often fail to apply formatting. The tildes must be directly adjacent to the text.
How to avoid: Write ~~text~~ with no spaces between the tildes and the first/last characters of your text.

Mistake 3: Trying to strikethrough across line breaks
Why it's wrong: Strikethrough formatting typically does not span across multiple lines or paragraphs in Telegram. Each line needs its own strikethrough markers.
How to avoid: Apply strikethrough to each line individually:

~~Line one~~
~~Line two~~

Mistake 4: Forgetting that older Telegram versions may not support all formatting
Why it's wrong: Very old versions of Telegram apps may not render strikethrough correctly and will show the raw tilde characters instead.
How to avoid: Encourage your audience to keep their Telegram app updated. This is rarely an issue in practice since most users run recent versions.

Mistake 5: Overusing strikethrough for aesthetic purposes
Why it's wrong: Excessive strikethrough makes posts visually cluttered and harder to read, potentially causing subscribers to skip your content entirely.
How to avoid: Limit strikethrough to cases where it serves a clear purpose — corrections, comparisons, or deliberate humor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does strikethrough work in Telegram channel posts?
Yes. All text formatting options available in regular chats — including strikethrough — work in channel posts. You can apply it using the same methods: tilde syntax, formatting menu, or keyboard shortcuts in the message composer before publishing.

Can I use strikethrough in Telegram captions for photos and videos?
Yes. Photo and video captions in Telegram support the same rich text formatting as regular messages, including strikethrough. Simply format the caption text before sending the media.

Will strikethrough text appear correctly when my channel is indexed on the web?
Most platforms that display Telegram content on the web, including tgchannel.space, convert Telegram formatting to standard HTML. Strikethrough is rendered using the <s> or <del> HTML tag, which all modern browsers display correctly.

Is there a character limit for strikethrough text?
There is no specific limit for strikethrough formatting. However, the overall Telegram message length limit applies — 4,096 characters for regular messages and 1,024 characters for media captions. Your strikethrough text simply needs to fit within these limits.

Can I edit a sent message to add strikethrough after the fact?
Yes. Tap and hold (mobile) or right-click (desktop) your sent message, choose Edit, select the text you want to modify, and apply strikethrough formatting. The edited message will display the updated formatting to all readers.