The tilde method
Wrap your text in double tildes to cross it out, so ~~text~~ sends the words with a line through them. This mirrors Discord and is fast once it becomes muscle memory.
The formatting toolbar
If you prefer buttons, Slack shows a formatting toolbar beneath the message box. Select your text and click the strikethrough icon, the letters with a line through them. You can toggle it on and off the same way.
Good uses in Slack
Strikethrough works well for marking a task as done in a thread, retracting a message without deleting it, or adding a light joke. It keeps the original readable while signalling the change to your teammates.
Taking it elsewhere
Slack strikethrough is app formatting, so it stays inside Slack. If you need the crossed out text to survive a copy into a plain text tool, paste the Unicode version from the generator instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrap text in double tildes, like ~~text~~, or use the strikethrough button in the formatting toolbar.
Yes, in your Slack preferences under Advanced you can switch between the toolbar and pure Markdown style input.
The words appear in notifications, though the styling may be simplified depending on your device.
Yes. You can create and paste it on Android, iPhone, tablets, and desktop devices without installing a special font.
Yes. Unicode combining marks travel with the letters, although an older app or unsupported font may render them differently.
Use it sparingly, keep the phrase short, and provide the intended meaning in nearby plain text because screen readers may not announce the visual line.
