Remove Prefix from Text Lines

Precision removal of text, patterns, or characters from the start of every line.

Configuration

Input Text
0 / 0 Modified

What is the Prefix Remover?

The Remove Prefix from Text Lines tool is a powerful utility designed to strip unwanted text, symbols, or patterns from the very beginning of every line in your list. Whether it's cleaning up email forwards, removing markdown, or deleting line numbers, this tool automates the cleanup process.

Common Use Cases

Email Cleanup

Instantly remove quote marks like > from forwarded emails or reply chains. Clean up entire conversation threads to recover the original readable text in seconds.

Document Formatting

Strip unwanted bullet points (, -), automatic numbering (1., 2.), or checkbox symbols to convert formatted lists back into plain, usable text paragraphs.

Code & Development

Mass remove single-line comments (//, #), indentation, or debug prefixes from code snippets. Perfect for cleaning up copied code or refactoring legacy files.

Log & Data Analysis

Remove timestamps, severity tags (e.g., [INFO], [ERROR]), or IP addresses from the start of log lines to focus purely on the message content.

See it in action

Before
> Hello World > This is a quote > End of message
After (Removed "> ")
Hello World This is a quote End of message

Professional Features

Precise Text Removal

Target exact strings to remove. Only lines starting with your text will be modified.

Regex Support

Advanced users can use Regular Expressions to match complex patterns like timestamps or log levels.

Count Removal

Don't know the text? Simply choose to delete the first N characters from every line.

Smart Trimming

Automatically trim leading whitespace after removal to ensure your lines start clean.

File Upload

Directly process text files without copy-pasting. Supports large logs and data dumps.

Private & Secure

0% Server usage. The tool runs entirely in your browser memory for maximum data privacy.

How to use this tool

1

Input Content

Paste your text list or upload a file to begin.

2

Choose Mode

Select "Specific Text", "Regex Pattern", or "N Characters".

3

Set Target

Enter the text, pattern, or number of characters to remove.

4

Copy Result

Copy the clean text to clipboard or download as a new file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the first 5 characters from every line?
Select the **N Characters** mode and enter "5" in the input field. The tool will instantly delete the first 5 characters from each line.
Can I use Regular Expressions (Regex)?
Yes! Switch to **Regex Pattern** mode. For example, use `^\d+\.` to remove numbering like "1. ", "2. " from the start of your list.
What happens if a line does not have the prefix?
If you check **Only if Present**, lines without the matching prefix will be left untouched. Otherwise, the tool will strictly remove based on your settings.
Can I remove text from a file?
Yes, simply click **Upload** to load a `.txt`, `.csv`, `.md`, or `.json` file. The tool will process the file content instantly.
Does this remove empty lines?
This tool focuses on removing prefixes. If removing a prefix results in an empty line, that line remains blank. Use our "Remove Empty Lines" tool for that specific task.
How do I remove email quote symbols (>)?
In "Specific Text" mode, enter `> ` (greater-than sign plus a space). The tool will strip this standard email quote marker from every line.
Is there a limit on file size?
The tool runs in your browser and can handle very large text files (1MB+) with thousands of lines without lag.
Is my data secure?
Completely. Your file and text data are processed entirely on your device using JavaScript. Nothing is ever sent to our servers.
Can I undo the changes?
Since this is a web tool, there is no "Undo" button, but you can simply click **Clear** and paste your original text again to restart.
Is this tool free?
Yes, FreeTools Pro provides this utility 100% free forever, with no ads or signup required.