Create creepy glitch text with combining marks
This Zalgo text generator turns ordinary text into the glitchy, dripping “Zalgo” style by stacking Unicode combining marks above, through and below each character. Separate sliders control how many marks go in each direction, presets jump from a gentle shimmer to full chaos, and a cleaner strips the marks off any Zalgo text you paste back in.
People use Zalgo text for Halloween posts, horror-game and creepypasta titles, glitch-art graphics, meme captions and playful usernames. Designers use it to mock up “corrupted” screens in games and videos. Because the result is still real text, it pastes into most apps and keeps working after you copy it.
All of it happens in your browser — the text never leaves your device.
How to use the Zalgo Text Generator
- Type or paste your text into Your text.
- Pick a preset — Mild, Spooky, Chaos or Maximum — or set the Above, Through and Below sliders yourself.
- Choose where to apply it: every character, letters only, every other character, the first letter of each word, or only the characters you list.
- Change the Pattern number or press the shuffle button for a different random pattern; untick Vary for an even, regular look.
- Press Copy Zalgo text. If the app you paste into cuts it short, read the length warning and lower the sliders.
Zalgo Text Generator features
Three directions
Marks above (accents, hooks), through (strokes and tildes overlaid on the letter) and below (dots, rings and tails), each with its own slider.
Per-character control
Corrupt everything, just letters, every other character, the first letter of each word, or only characters you choose such as the vowels.
Repeatable patterns
A numbered seed means the same settings always give the same result, so you can recreate a title exactly.
Length warning
Shows the real character count — each mark counts — and warns when it passes common limits such as 280 characters on X.
Zalgo cleaner
Paste any Zalgo or heavily accented text and remove every combining mark in one click.
How Zalgo text works
Unicode has hundreds of combining characters — marks such as the acute accent or the cedilla that are designed to sit on the character before them. Normally a letter carries one or two. Zalgo text piles many on each letter, and because fonts draw each mark above or below the previous one, the stack grows up and down into the lines around it.
This generator uses marks from the Combining Diacritical Marks block (U+0300–U+036F), split into those that render above, overlaid and below. The text underneath is unchanged, which is why the cleaner can restore it perfectly.
| Preset | Above | Through | Below |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Spooky | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Chaos | 12 | 3 | 12 |
| Maximum | 20 | 6 | 20 |
Where Zalgo text works — and where it does not
- Most social apps, chat apps and document editors display it, but some trim long names or strip combining marks.
- Every mark counts toward character limits, so a short phrase can become several hundred characters.
- Screen readers may announce the marks or skip the text, and search will not find it — avoid it for names people need to look up.
- For other styles try the Leetspeak Converter, the Fancy Text Generator or Upside Down Text.
Zalgo Text Generator FAQ
What is Zalgo text?
Text covered in stacked Unicode combining marks so it looks glitched or “corrupted”. The name comes from an internet horror meme from around 2009.
How do I make Zalgo text?
Type your text into the Zalgo text generator, pick a preset or adjust the sliders, and press Copy. Paste it wherever you like.
How do I remove Zalgo text?
Paste it into the box and press “Clean pasted Zalgo text”. All combining marks are removed and the original letters remain.
Why does my Zalgo text get cut off?
Each mark is a separate character, so the text may exceed the app’s character limit. Lower the sliders or shorten the text.
Is Zalgo text harmful?
No, it is ordinary Unicode. Very heavy Zalgo can overlap nearby lines and slow down some old devices, so use the lighter presets in long posts.
Can I make only part of my text glitchy?
Yes. Choose “Only characters I list” and type the letters to corrupt — for example just the vowels — or use “First letter of each word” for a subtler effect on titles.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The text is generated in your browser.