How to use it
- Type or paste a short message, such as an error line or a file name.
- The tool starts with Above and Through on and Below off. That keeps the baseline flat, like a screen glitch.
- Set Intensity. Around 25 to 35 looks like a flaky display, and 70 and up looks like a destroyed file.
- Press Shuffle until the damage lands where you want it.
- Press Copy text and paste it into your post, meme or message.
A damaged file, written in plain text
Corrupted text is a look more than a style. You see it in error messages, memes about broken downloads and posts that pretend the page failed to load. This page produces it with marks above the letters and short strokes through them, and nothing below. That keeps the baseline flat, so the line looks like a screen that is flickering rather than text that is melting.
The sample, "File corrupted", has 14 characters. At the default setting it comes out at 67 characters, 53 of them combining marks. Over its 13 letters that is about 4 marks each, which is enough to look broken and not enough to hide the words.
How the look is made
A combining mark is a Unicode character that attaches to the letter before it. This tool uses two groups. The "above" group has 51 marks, such as small letters, hooks and bars that float over the letter. The "through" group has 5 marks that are drawn across the letter: tildes, short and long strokes and slashes. Together they give the look of strike-through plus static. Both groups are valid Unicode, so the result pastes as text and never becomes an image.
At intensity 35, each letter gets 1 to 5 marks above and at most 1 through the middle. Here is the sample line across the slider, with Above and Through on and Below off:
| Intensity | Result length | Marks added | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 33 characters | 19 | A faint flicker |
| 25 | 57 characters | 43 | Flaky display |
| 35 (this page) | 67 characters | 53 | Damaged, readable |
| 50 | 94 characters | 80 | Heavy interference |
| 70 | 123 characters | 109 | Mostly destroyed |
| 100 | 163 characters | 150 | Illegible |
A good rule: the lower the intensity, the more believable the "error" is. Real corruption leaves most of a file intact. A line that is 100 percent damage looks like an effect, not a failure.
Lines that sell the joke
The text does half the work and the marks do the rest. These short lines suit the look:
- "File corrupted"
- "Signal lost"
- "Save data not found"
- "Error 404: you"
Style one line only. Leave the rest of the post in plain text so readers understand the joke, and so the post still makes sense if the marks do not render.
Where it is used
Memes and reaction posts
Corrupted text fits captions about things going wrong: a deleted save, a crashed game, a bad connection. Put the styled line on its own, then follow it with normal text.
Game and server flavor
Alternate reality games and horror servers use damaged text for messages from a broken system. One styled line per clue is enough. More than that and players cannot tell which line matters.
Names and bios
A damaged name is easy to spot in a list. Each mark counts as a character in most name fields, though. A seven letter name at 35 comes to about 30 characters, so check the counter before you paste.
Corrupted, glitch, weird and cursed
These pages use the same marks with different settings:
- Weird text stays low and uses all three directions, so it stays readable.
- Corrupted text keeps the baseline clean and strikes through the letters.
- Scary text pushes the same two directions higher.
- Cursed text adds the bottom as well and goes to heavy.
The glitch text generator lets you move between all of them with presets and shows five styles at once.
Limits
- Search does not see through it. A search for "corrupted" will not match letters with marks on them. Keep a plain word nearby if people need to find the post.
- Fonts differ. The same text can look neat on one device and messy on another.
- Apps may trim it. Some apps limit marks. If your result looks cleaner after pasting, that is likely the reason.
- Not everyone reads it the same way. Readers with assistive tools may get a different experience from other readers, so keep anything important in plain text.
To get the plain letters back, paste the text into the Zalgo text remover.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Combining character
- Wikipedia: Zalgo text
- Unicode Standard Annex #15: Unicode Normalization Forms
Checked October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is corrupted text?
Corrupted text is normal text with Unicode combining marks stacked on and through the letters, so it looks like a damaged file or a broken display. It is plain text, not an image, so you can copy and paste it.
Is corrupted text actually corrupted?
No. Nothing is broken. The effect is made on purpose from valid Unicode characters, and any app that supports combining marks shows it the same way. You can turn it back into clean text at any time.
How do I make text look like a glitch error?
Use a short line such as "File corrupted", keep Intensity around 35 and leave Below off. The strokes through the letters make it look struck out, and the marks above add the flicker.
How is this different from the glitch text generator?
The glitch text generator gives you every style and slider. This page is a preset for one look: marks above and through only, at a medium level, with a sample line that fits the broken-file theme.
Why is the result longer than what I typed?
Each mark is a separate character. At the default 35, the 14-character sample turns into 67, with 53 of them marks. Check the counter before pasting into a field with a length limit.
Will it work in a game name or a social bio?
Many places accept it, but filters and length limits differ and can change. Test a short word first. If it is refused, lower the intensity or untick Through.
How do I clean it up?
Paste it into the Zalgo text remover. It strips the marks and gives the plain letters back.