What is Zalgo Text?

Zalgo text is a style of text that appears corrupted, glitchy, or distorted. It's created by stacking multiple Unicode combining characters (diacritical marks) above, below, and through regular letters. The result is text that looks like it's being consumed by chaos or invaded by some supernatural force.

Origin story: The name "Zalgo" comes from an internet meme about a malevolent entity that corrupts everything it touches. When applied to text, it creates that unsettling, "cursed" appearance that's become popular for horror themes, creepy usernames, and attention-grabbing social media posts.

What Can You Use This For?

Our Zalgo text generator transforms your normal text into corrupted-looking text that works across multiple platforms:

Social Media

Stand out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok with eye-catching corrupted text.

Chat & Discord

Create memorable usernames or spooky messages in Discord and messaging apps.

Gaming

Make unique character names or clan tags that stand out from the crowd.

Creative Projects

Add horror aesthetics to digital art, videos, or creative content.

Memes & Humor

Create the classic "he comes" Zalgo style for internet humor.

How Does It Work?

This generator uses Unicode combining characters - special marks designed to combine with letters. By adding multiple combining marks to each character, we create the stacked, overflowing effect. The text remains copy-pasteable because it's still valid Unicode, just with extra characters attached.

Your Privacy

100% Client-Side Processing: All text transformation happens entirely in your browser. Your text never leaves your device, nothing is saved or logged, and we don't track what you type.

No data sent to servers
No storage or logging
No tracking or monitoring

How to Use the Generator

Creating creepy Zalgo text takes just a few seconds. Follow these simple steps to transform your normal text into corrupted, glitchy text:

Enter Your Text

Type or paste your text in the input area on the left. You can enter anything from a single word to multiple paragraphs. As you type, the Zalgo version appears instantly in the output area.

Adjust the Intensity

Use the intensity slider to control how corrupted your text looks. You can drag the slider for fine control anywhere between 1 and 20, or click directly on the preset labels:

Mini - Subtle effect with just a few marks. Text remains readable.
Normal - Balanced corruption. Good for usernames and short text.
Max - Heavy distortion. The classic Zalgo look.
Insane - Extreme chaos. Text becomes almost unreadable.

Choose Positions

Control where the combining characters appear using the position toggles:

Above - Marks stack upward from the text
Middle - Marks overlay through the text
Below - Marks hang downward from the text

Enable all three for maximum chaos, or use just one for a more controlled effect. For example, "Above only" creates text that looks like it's reaching upward.

Copy Your Result

Click the Copy button to copy the Zalgo text to your clipboard. You can then paste it anywhere that supports Unicode text.

Pro Tips: Click Randomize to generate a different variation with the same settings. You can edit the output directly if you want to fine-tune specific parts. Lower intensity works better for usernames where readability matters. Some platforms may strip or limit combining characters, so test before committing.

Features

Real-Time Preview

See your Zalgo text transform as you type. No need to click a generate button - the output updates instantly as you enter text or adjust settings.

Instant transformation
Live editing
No delays or waiting

Adjustable Intensity

The 20-level intensity slider gives you precise control over the chaos. From barely-there marks at level 1 to extreme text destruction at level 20.

20 intensity levels
Quick-select presets
Fine-tuned control

Position Control

Three toggle switches let you choose where combining characters appear - above, middle, or below the text.

Above: Stack upward marks
Middle: Overlay characters
Below: Descending marks

Randomize Function

Each time you click Randomize, the generator selects different combining characters while keeping your intensity and position settings.

Multiple variations
Same settings preserved
Quick experimentation

Editable Output

Unlike many generators, our output area is fully editable. You can tweak the result, delete some characters, or add to it manually.

Direct editing
Manual adjustments
Complete control

Universal Compatibility

The generated Zalgo text uses standard Unicode combining characters, which means it works anywhere that supports Unicode.

Social media platforms
Messaging apps
Games and forums
Email and documents

No Installation Required: This tool runs entirely in your web browser. There's nothing to download or install, and it works on any device - desktop, tablet, or mobile. All processing happens locally, so it's fast and private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Zalgo text not showing correctly?

Some platforms limit or filter combining characters for readability or security reasons. Discord, for example, may reduce extreme Zalgo effects. If your text doesn't look right after pasting, try lowering the intensity or using fewer position toggles.

Is Zalgo text safe to use?

Yes, Zalgo text is completely safe. It's just regular Unicode characters combined in an unusual way. However, use it responsibly - excessive Zalgo text can be hard to read and may annoy other users on shared platforms.

Why is it called Zalgo?

The name comes from an internet meme and creepypasta character called Zalgo, depicted as a dark entity that corrupts and distorts everything around it. The meme originated in the mid-2000s and became associated with the corrupted text effect that resembles something "touched" by chaos.

Can I use this for usernames?

Yes, but with some caveats. Many games and platforms accept Unicode usernames, so Zalgo text will work. However, keep the intensity low (Mini or Normal) to ensure your name is still readable. Some services may reject names with too many combining characters.

Why does the output look different each time?

The generator randomly selects from a pool of combining characters each time it processes text. This means even with the same settings, you'll get slight variations. Click Randomize to intentionally generate new variations until you find one you like.

Does this work on mobile devices?

Yes, the generator works on any device with a modern web browser. The interface adapts to smaller screens, and you can copy the result to use in any mobile app that supports Unicode text.

How do I remove Zalgo from text?

To convert Zalgo text back to normal, you'll need a text cleaner that strips combining characters. Look for a "Unicode normalizer" or "text cleaner" tool. Our Text Cleaner tool can help with this.

Is there a character limit?

The generator itself has no character limit. However, keep in mind that Zalgo text multiplies the character count significantly (each letter gets many combining characters added). Very long Zalgo text may hit character limits when pasting into social media or forms.

Why does extreme Zalgo break my page layout?

At high intensity levels, combining characters can extend far above and below the text line, potentially overlapping with other elements on a page. This is normal behavior for extreme Zalgo - it's part of the chaotic aesthetic. Lower intensity levels are more predictable in layout.