Strikethrough Text on WhatsApp

Method 1 — WhatsApp native tilde formatting (messages only)

Inside any WhatsApp chat message, group message, or broadcast, wrapping your text with single tilde characters applies native strikethrough formatting:

~your text here~

This is processed by the WhatsApp client on both ends before the message is displayed. The tilde characters are hidden and the text appears with a horizontal line through it. This method works on:

• WhatsApp iOS
• WhatsApp Android
• WhatsApp Web
• WhatsApp Desktop (Windows and Mac)

On mobile, you can also select text in the message input field and long-press to get a formatting context menu that includes a strikethrough button — this adds the tildes automatically.

The native tilde method does not work in group names, group descriptions, contact names (saved in your phonebook), or your WhatsApp status — those fields render text as plain Unicode without applying the tilde formatting.

Method 2 — Unicode combining characters (group names, status, everywhere)

For WhatsApp fields that do not process tilde formatting, Unicode combining strikethrough (U+0336) is the solution. The text with the combining characters embedded renders with a strikethrough line on any Unicode-compliant display — which includes every device that runs WhatsApp.

This method works in:

• WhatsApp group names
• WhatsApp group descriptions
• WhatsApp status messages ("About")
• Contact names you save in your phonebook (the struck name then appears in WhatsApp conversations)
• Regular messages (as an alternative to tildes)

How to set a struck WhatsApp group name

To name a WhatsApp group with strikethrough text: generate your group name with the tool on this page, copy the output, open WhatsApp, navigate to the group, tap the group name at the top to edit group info, long-press in the name field, paste, and confirm.

All members of the group will see the struck name in their chat list and at the top of the group conversation, since WhatsApp stores and displays the name as-is without stripping combining characters.

WhatsApp status (About) with strikethrough

The "About" field in WhatsApp (visible to your contacts when they view your profile) shows a short text that can be styled with Unicode combining characters. Go to Settings → Profile → About → edit the field → paste struck text from the generator → save. This is a low-profile but creative way to personalize your WhatsApp identity.

Combining both methods in a message

In a WhatsApp message, you can mix native tilde formatting and Unicode styled text in the same message. Use tildes for the primary struck content (cleaner rendering) and Unicode style for any portion that needs to be struck but is adjacent to other non-formatted text where tilde would create ambiguity. There is no technical restriction on mixing both in a single message.

Common WhatsApp strikethrough use cases

• Correcting yourself mid-message: "bring ~coffee~ tea tomorrow"
• Crossed-out task lists in group chats: completed shopping items, done to-dos
• Price correction in business broadcast messages: "~$50~ now $35"
• Creative group names for friend groups, family chats, and workspaces
• Humorous "redacted" messages where the struck text is still readable
• Status messages showing a life update: "~student~ developer"