How glitch text works
Glitch text is not a font. Unicode has “combining” characters — marks such as accents, tildes and strokes that attach to the letter before them. Normally a letter carries one, as in é. Stack a dozen random ones above, through and below each letter and the text appears to smear, drip and break out of its line: that is Zalgo text. Because the result is ordinary Unicode, you can copy it into bios, usernames, captions, chats and game names that accept Unicode.
Styles
| Style | What it does |
|---|---|
| Glitch | A light scatter of marks mostly through the letters — a digital, broken-screen look that stays readable. |
| Cursed | Marks above and below each letter at medium intensity for eerie “cursed text”. |
| Corrupted | Heavier stacks in all three directions, like a corrupted file. |
| Full Zalgo | Maximum chaos: up to 20 marks per letter that spill over neighbouring lines. |
| Strikethrough overlay | The classic corrupted look: three overlay strokes (U+0334, U+0335, U+0337) after every character, identical every time. |
| Remove Zalgo | Strips the combining marks again and gives back the plain text (accented letters are kept). |
After picking a style you can drag the Intensity slider and choose where marks go. Press Regenerate for a new random variation.
Where it works (and where it doesn’t)
Discord, TikTok, Twitter/X, Instagram, Reddit and most messaging apps display glitch text. Some platforms limit how many combining marks a character may carry or strip them from usernames, and screen readers read the marks aloud or skip the word, so keep important information in plain text. Heavy Zalgo can also overlap the lines above and below it — lower the intensity if it covers other content.
Common questions
How do I make glitch text?
Type your text and the glitched version appears instantly. Pick a style such as Glitch, Cursed or Corrupted, adjust the intensity, then press Copy output and paste it anywhere that accepts Unicode.
What is Zalgo text?
Zalgo text is text with many Unicode combining marks stacked on each letter, so it looks like it is melting or breaking out of the line. It is named after an internet horror meme.
What is the difference between cursed and corrupted text?
Both use combining marks. Cursed text puts a moderate number above and below each letter; corrupted text stacks more of them in every direction, and the Strikethrough overlay style adds the same three strokes through every character.
Can I turn Zalgo text back to normal?
Yes. Choose Remove Zalgo and paste the glitched text. The combining marks are stripped, leaving the original letters.
Why does glitch text look different on some apps?
Apps render stacked combining marks differently, and some cap or remove them. Lower the intensity or use the Glitch style if a platform clips the effect.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The glitch text is generated in your browser.