How to Strikethrough Text in a PDF: A Simple Guide

What Does Strikethrough PDF Text Mean?

Strikethrough formatting allows you to cross out text, indicating it should be removed or disregarded. This feature is handy when reviewing or editing content. It's commonly used in legal documents, academic papers, contracts, or presentations to mark outdated or irrelevant information. When collaborating digitally, strikethrough annotations allow multiple users to suggest edits without modifying the original file, streamlining the review process.

Tools You Can Use to Strikethrough Text in PDFs

This feature can be found in various PDF edition tools, including the standard ones like Mac Preview, Microsoft Edge and online tools like Smallpdf, and Google Drive.

How To Strikethrough Text In a PDF Document

Using Google Drive

1. Right-click the PDF and choose "Open with" > "Google Docs".
2. Highlight the text you want to strikethrough.
3. Go to the Format menu, then select Text > Strikethrough.
4. When you're done editing, save it as a PDF by clicking File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf).

Using Smallpdf

1. Open Smallpdf and upload your PDF.
2. Select the "Highlight" option from the toolbar.
3. Choose "Strikethrough" from the dropdown menu.
4. Drag your cursor over the text you want to strikethrough.

Using Preview on macOS

1. Open your PDF in Preview.
2. Click the "Markup" icon (the pencil).
3. Select the "Text" tool and choose "Strikethrough" from the formatting options.
4. Drag your cursor over the text you want to strikethrough.

Using Microsoft Edge PDF Viewer

1. Click the PDF link or drag the file into Edge to open it.
2. Select the + or - buttons in the top right, or use Ctrl + scroll wheel.
3. Select the pen or highlight icon, then select the text to mark.
4. Click the download icon or press Ctrl + S to save.

Strikethrough Not Working in PDF? Common Issues and Fixes

PDF permissions/restrictions:

• Issue: PDF document has restrictions that prevent editing, including strikethrough text. What to do: Use the Smallpdf unlocking tool. First, upload the locked PDF, enter the required password, and download the unlocked PDF.

Incompatible PDF viewer/editor:

• Issue: The PDF viewer or editor doesn’t support text annotations or strikethrough functionality. What to do: Go to Smallpdf and upload your PDF. Select the tools for text annotations or strikethroughs. If you’re using Smallpdf online, ensure you're using a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Clear your cache or try a different browser if the features aren’t working.

Strikethrough tool not visible:

• Issue: The Strikethrough tool is not visible in the toolbar. What to do: This might happen if you're using the wrong tool, such as compress or convert. Go to the Edit PDF or Annotate PDF tool directly on the Smallpdf platform.

Unable to select the text:

• Issue: Text is embedded as an image or in a non-editable format. What to do: Use Optical Character Recognition software like Smallpdf PDF OCR to convert scanned images or non-editable text into selectable and editable text.

Text not showing after strikethrough:

• Issue: The strikethrough effect is not applied in the text. What to do: Make sure the text layer is showing correctly. Update your PDF viewer and try another one to see if the issue continues. Adjust the strikethrough settings, such as line thickness or color, if needed.

Annotation not saved:

• Issue: Changes aren’t saved due to improperly closed documents or software issues. What to do: Always save your document after making changes. If annotations are still not saved, try saving the document as a new file and check that your software supports saving annotations.

Misalignment of Strikethrough Line:

• Issue: The Strikethrough line isn’t aligned correctly with the text; there is a mismatch between the line and the characters. What to do: Manually adjust the line or use the text formatting tools in your PDF editor to fine-tune the alignment.

FAQs About Text Strikethrough

How do I remove strikethrough text in a PDF?

Use the same PDF editing tool you used to add it. If the document is not password-protected, you can either delete the strikethrough annotation or edit the text.

How do I print the PDF with the strikethrough text?

Make sure the annotations are visible by selecting "Document and Markups" in the print settings and confirming the strikethrough appears in the print preview before printing.

Are strikethrough annotations visible in all PDF viewers?

Yes, as long as the PDF is not flattened or converted into an image, strikethrough annotations are typically visible to most PDF viewers. However, some basic viewers may not support annotations.

Can I strikethrough PDF text without editing the original content?

Yes, you can use PDF annotation tools to make a strikethrough without changing the original content of the PDF. This is useful when reviewing documents or making temporary changes.