Arranging pictures in word

You can have Word align objects—such as pictures, shapes, SmartArt, and charts—in relation to the edges of the page, the margins, or other objects.

Align a picture, shape, text box, SmartArt graphic, or WordArt

1. Select the objects to align.

   To select multiple objects, select the first object, and then press and hold CTRL while you select the other objects.

2. Do one of the following:

   • To align a picture, select Picture Format or Picture Tools > Format.

   • To align a shape, text box, or WordArt, select Shape Format or Drawing Tools > Format.

3. In the Arrange group, select Align.

   

4. Choose of the following:

   Important: If Align options are unavailable, you may only have a single item selected.

   • 
     Align Left
         To align the edges of the objects to the left.

   • 
     Align Center
         To align the objects vertically through their centers.

   • 
     Align Right
         To align the edges of the objects to the right.

   • 
     Align Top
         To align the top edges of the objects.

   • 
     Align Middle
         To align the objects horizontally through their middles.

   • 
     Align Bottom
         To align the bottom edges of the objects.

     Notes: 

     • When you align objects relative to each other by their edges, one of the objects remains stationary.

     • Align Middle aligns objects horizontally through the middles of the objects and Align Center aligns objects vertically through the centers of the objects. When you align objects relative to each other by their middles or centers, the objects are aligned along a horizontal or vertical line that represents the average of their original positions. No object necessarily remains stationary, and all of the objects might move.

     • Depending on the alignment option, objects might cover another object. If this happens, undo the alignment and move the objects to new positions before aligning again.

Arrange objects equal distances from each other

1. Select at least three objects to arrange. To select multiple objects, select the first object, and then press and hold CTRL while you select the other objects.

   To select objects that are hidden, stacked, or behind text, go to Home > Find and Select > Select Objects, and then draw a box over the objects.

2. Do one of the following:

   • To arrange pictures equally, select Picture Format or Picture Tools > Format.

   • To arrange a group with shapes, text boxes, or WordArt equally, select Shape Format or Drawing Tools > Format.

3. In the Arrange group, select Align.

   

4. Choose one of the following:

   • Distribute Horizontally To center the objects horizontally.

   • Distribute Vertically To center the objects vertically.

Word can align objects to the left, center, right, top, middle, and bottom. You select whether you want those positions to be relative to the page, the margins, or other objects.

Note: If text wrapping for an object is set to In Line with Text, Word can only align it in relation to the page or the margins. To change it, Control + Click the object, point to Wrap Text, and then pick something other than In Line with Text. To learn more about text wrapping, see Control text wrapping around objects.

Tip: If you have several objects to position on a page, you might want to use a grid to help you. 

Align an object with other objects, the margins, or the page

1. Hold down Shift and use the mouse or touchpad to select the objects that you want to align.

2. Select Shape Format or Picture Format.

   

3. Select Align. If you don’t see Align on the Shape Format tab, select Arrange, and then choose Align.

4. Choose one of the following:

   • Align to Page

   • Align to Margin

   • Align Selected Objects

5. To choose whether the selected objects are aligned to the margins, the page, or relative to each other, select Align, and choose one of the following:

   • Align to Page

   • Align to Margin

   • Align Selected Objects

6. Select Align again, and then choose the type of alignment from one of the three categories: Horizontal, Vertical, or Distribute.

   

Tip: After you have objects aligned as you want, you can move them while preserving their relative positions by defining them as a group. For help with using groups, see Group or ungroup shapes, pictures, or other objects.

You can align objects in relation to an anchor, such as the margin, page, and paragraph. You can also enter a precise numeric position for the object in relation to the anchor.

Align an object with other objects, the margins, or the page

1. Select the object.

2. Select Format or Format Picture.

3. To choose whether the selected objects are aligned to the margins, the page, or relative to each other, select Align, and then select one of the following options:

   • Align to Page

   • Align to Margin

   • Align Selected Objects

4. Select Align again, and then choose the type of alignment that you want.

Align an object in relation to text

1. Select the object to select it.

2. Select Format or Format Picture.

3. Under Arrange, select Wrap Text, and then choose a style other than In Line with Text (for example, Tight  ).

   

4. In the document, drag the object where you want it.

5. To fine-tune the picture’s position, under Arrange, select Position, and then choose More Layout Options.

6. On the Position tab, select the options that you want for your horizontal and vertical anchors.

   Note: To make sure that the selected object moves up or down with the paragraph that it’s anchored to, select Move object with text.

Hold down Shift and use the mouse or touchpad to select the objects that you want to align. Select Shape Format or Picture Format. Select Align. If you don’t see Align on the Shape Format tab, select Arrange, and then choose Align.

How do I arrange multiple pictures in Word?

To move several pictures as one, group them. Hold down the Ctrl key and select each picture. Right-click the multiple-picture selection, choose Group from the contextual submenu and then choose Group again.

How do I arrange pictures freely in Word?

Double-click the picture to add it to your Word document. Back on Word’s editing screen, right-click the image that you just added and select Wrap Text > In Front of Text from the menu. Your picture is now freely movable. Drag and drop it anywhere you want in your document.

Why can’t I select multiple pictures in Word?

By default, Word inserts pictures In Line with Text in the document.Therefore, Word will not allow selecting multiple pictures in your document when they are In Line with Text. Therefore, you must change the layout of the pictures to With Text Wrapping. This will allow you to select multiple pictures at the same time.

Where is layout options in Word?

The layout options and compatibility options in Word 2007 and later versions are found near the bottom of the Word Options dialog box > Advanced category. This illustration shows the options found in Word 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word for Microsoft 365.

Why wont word let me wrap a picture?

In the list to the left, select Layout. Click on the Advanced button. Make sure the Position tab at the top is selected. Place a checkmark in “Wrap text within text boxes for overlay objects.”

How do I make a picture 4 by 6 in Word?

Click the picture you want to resize. Go to the Picture Format tab, and then click “Position” > “More Layout Options.” Click the “Size” tab, and then in the “Scale” section, make sure the “Lock Aspect Ratio” checkbox is clear. Now enter percentages for Height and Width.

How do I put multiple pictures on one page in Word?

Click once on the first image, press and hold down the “Ctrl” key and then click once on each other image. When they’re all selected, click the “Insert” button and the to-be-merged pictures open together on the page, but not yet merged.

How do you put a picture in the corner of a Word document?

To move an image a small amount to align it with another element in the document, select the image. Then, press and hold the Ctrl key while you press one of the arrow keys to move the picture in the direction you want it to go.

How do you select multiple pictures in Word on a Mac?

Selecting Multiple Objects
Click the first object you want to select, hold down the “Command” key and select each additional object. If you want to select all available objects in your current Word document, press “Command-A.” You can also select all objects using the Edit menu.

Why can’t I Group A picture and a shape in Word?

Group shapes, pictures, or other objects
Press and hold CTRL while you click the shapes, pictures, or other objects to group. You will need to select more than one shape, picture or object in order to enable the Group button. Tip: For help selecting a shape or picture, see Select a shape or other object.

How do you select multiple pictures in Word 2007?

Hold down the “Ctrl” key and click each picture to select it. Click the “Format” tab beneath Drawing Tools and then click the “Group” button. Word displays a menu containing other buttons. Click the menu’s “Group” button to group your pictures.

How do I get text to wrap around a picture?

To wrap text around an image:

1. Select the image you want to wrap text around. The Format tab will appear on the right side of the Ribbon.
2. On the Format tab, click the Wrap Text command in the Arrange group. Then select the desired text wrapping option.
3. The text will wrap around the image.

How do I format a picture in Word for Mac?

Work

1. Introduction.
2. 1To modify an image in your document, click the image in your document to select it.
3. 2Click and drag any of the handles to stretch or shrink your image.
4. 3With the image you want to modify still selected, choose Format→Picture.
5. 4Select your image and click the screen you want from the list on the left.

What is the size of 4R photo?

Standard (R), Square (S) and A4 Photo Print Sizes

Photo size	Inches	Mm
4R	4 x 6	102 x 152
5R	5 x 7	127 x 178
6S	6 x 6	152 x 152
6R	6 x 8	152 x 203

Why are pictures so annoying in Word?

Why Is Word So Bad with Images? If you ask Microsoft, they’ll say it’s because people don’t understand how Word works with images. And that is the problem, but it’s Microsoft’s own fault. The tools for moving images are unintuitive and hard to find, so folks typically never get past their first disastrous fumblings.

More than ever, pictures are critical to the effectiveness of your communication materials. With the image formatting and layout tools in Microsoft Word, it’s possible to add and manipulate pictures in your document—even if you’re a beginner.

Starting with a Microsoft Word template makes it even easier. With a well-designed Word template, the positioning and formatting of pictures have already been done for you. All you’ve got to do is to drag your pictures into the image placeholders. 

Even if you’re using a template for Word, it’s good to know how to format pictures so you can make your document look exactly the way you want it to.

In this article, you’re going to see, step-by-step, how to work with pictures in Microsoft Word.

(Note: The screenshots below show Microsoft Word for Mac. The screens and steps may be slightly different if you’re using a different version of Word.)

How to Insert a Picture in Word

To add a picture to a Word document, click Insert > Pictures. From here, you’ve got three options:

1. Photo Browser

If you choose this option, you’ll be able to select an image from the existing photo sets on your computer. On a Mac, that includes photos in iPhoto and Photo Booth. When you find the picture you want to use, click on it, then drag it into the document.

2. Picture From File

This option lets you insert an image from another location on your computer. Find the image file, select it, then click Insert.

3. Online Pictures

Insert pictures in Word from the web by selecting Online Pictures…. This opens a Bing image search right inside your document. Type a keyword or phrase in the search bar.

By default, the Creative Commons only filter is checked. Keep this selected to make sure you don’t violate any copyright laws. Click on the filter icon to filter the image results by other parameters. 

Select an image by clicking on it, then click Insert. You can select several images before clicking the Insert button. 

Microsoft Word automatically includes the image attribution and license details as a caption.

Note: While you can import many image formats into Word, the ones that work best are JPG and PNG.

How to Format Pictures in Word

After importing pictures into Word, you can apply different formatting settings to each Microsoft Word picture and control its appearance. Below are some of the most basic image formatting you can apply in Word:

1. Resize an Image

Resize a picture in two ways:

Resizing Method 1

Click on the picture. Press and hold the Shift key, then click and drag one of the sizing handles either towards or away from the center. 

Holding the Shift key ensures that the proportion of the picture is retained. Otherwise, it would become distorted and your entire document will look amateurish. 

Resizing Method 2

This method allows you to resize the picture to a specific length or width. Click on the picture, then click on the Picture Format tab. Type the length or width you wish the image to have.

By default, the original proportion of the image is retained even when you change either the length or width of the image. Keep this checked to avoid distorting the image.

2. Rotate or Flip Images

To rotate an image, do so either manually or by a specific amount.

Manual Image Rotation

To rotate an image manually, click on the image to select it. Click on the rotation handle and drag it in the direction you want. 

Flip or Rotate an Image By a Specific Amount

Rotate a picture by a specific amount. Click on the picture, then go to Picture Format > Rotate. From here, you’ve got the option to:

• Rotate Right 90°
• Rotate Left 90°
• Flip Vertical
• Flip Horizontal
• Select More Rotation Options

To rotate a picture to an exact angle, choose Select More Rotation Options.

Type in the amount you wish to rotate the object, then click OK.

How to Crop Photos in Word

If you’re wondering how to crop a picture in Microsoft Word, it’s not difficult. Follow the steps below to not only crop an image, but also to dress it up by cropping it to a shape or adding decorative borders:

1. Basic Image Cropping

To crop a picture, select the picture, then go to Picture Format > Crop > Crop. 

Black cropping handles appear on the sides of the picture. From here:

• Crop one side. Drag one side handle inward.
• Crop two adjacent sides at the same time. Drag one corner inward.

Click outside the image to apply the crop.

2. Crop Image to a Shape

To crop the picture to a specific shape, select the picture. Go to Picture Format > Crop > Crop to Shape. Select a shape from the selection that appears.

Click away from the picture to apply the new shape.

3. Frames and Borders

Borders are an easy way to dress up a picture in Microsoft Word. To add a border, select the picture, go to Picture Format. Click on the Picture Border button on the ribbon to reveal the border options.

From here, choose the color, weight, and dash style you wish to use for the border. 

To add a frame, click on the picture, then go to Picture Format. Click on the Picture Quick Styles button on the ribbon. Select the border you want to use.

How to Use Image Editing Tools

There are many Word image editing tools. Learn how to format pictures in Word by removing the background or adjusting the brightness. Here’s how:

1. Remove Background

Microsoft Word allows you to remove the background from your pictures. This feature works best if the color of the background is distinct from the colors on the main subject of the picture.

To remove the background, select the image. Go to Picture Format > Remove Background.

Use the tools provided to select which parts of the image you wish to keep and which parts you want to remove.

The parts that’ll be removed are colored pink.

When you’re happy with the selection, click Keep Changes.

2. Sharpness and Brightness Corrections 

Improve the sharpness and brightness of your pictures in Microsoft Word. To adjust these, select the picture. Go to Picture Format > Corrections. Select the sharpness and brightness/contrast settings you wish to use.

To more finely control these settings, go to Picture Format > Corrections > Picture Corrections Options. The Format Picture sidebar appears. It allows you to provide specific settings for sharpness, brightness, and contrast.

3. Picture Color

Microsoft Word also allows you to control the color saturation and tone of your picture. And you can recolor the entire picture for special effects. Select the picture, go to Picture Format > Color. Select any of the options that appear.

From here choose:

• More Variations. Recolors the image with a different color from the options provided.
• Set Transparent Color. Makes certain colors transparent so that the color of the background shows through.
• Picture Color Options. Opens the Format Picture sidebar, where you can fine-tune the settings for color saturation, tone, and recolor.

How to Use Layout Options 

Microsoft Word’s layout options for images lets you control how photos are displayed alongside text.

By default, a picture is set to be «In line with text.» This means the picture is treated as an object that moves with the text. This means whatever formatting is applied to the text applies to the picture as well, which may not be how you want it to appear. When a picture is in line with text, you won’t be able to drag and drop it to a different part of the document.

To set up a picture’s layout options, select the image, then go to Picture Format > Position. Select one of the pre-configured layout options to position your picture on the page.

Gain more control by going to Picture Format > Wrap Text.

Select one of the text wrapping options:

• Square — wraps text around the picture in a square shape

• Tight — wraps text following the shape of the picture

• Through — shows text through all the “open” parts of the picture (may only be visible with certain picture shapes)

• Top and Bottom — wraps text only above and below the picture

These text wrapping options allow you to overlay pictures in Word or merge them together into a collage-type layout.

You’ve got other options:

• Behind text. Overlays the text in front of the picture
• In Front of Text. Places text behind the picture, covering it
• Edit Wrap Boundary. Lets you fine-tune how text wraps around the picture, which is especially useful if it’s irregularly shaped
• Move with text. Keeps the picture anchored to the text
• Fix position on page. Keeps the picture on the same position relative to the page, even if the text moves
• More Layout Options …. Gives you precise control over the picture layout

How to Move Pictures in Word and Arrange them on the Page

You may be wondering how to move a picture in Microsoft Word. The easiest way to move a picture is by clicking and dragging it. If this doesn’t work, the picture is probably set to be inline with text. Follow the instructions above to select a different text wrapping option.

To move multiple images, hold the shift key down as you click on each picture. Then, drag and drop them into place.

You can also move images using precise measurements. Select the image, go to Picture Format > Position > More Layout Options …. Specify the horizontal and vertical position of the picture relative to an element of the page.

Get Creative With Pictures in Word

Use the skills you learned above to add pictures in your Word documents and display them exactly the way you envision. As you’ve seen, it’s easy to control the appearance and placement of images on the page. By following the steps above, you can produce professional-looking documents all by yourself. However, we’ve only scratched the surface of the many ways you can work with pictures in Word!

Of course, if you prefer to have these design choices made for you, you’ve got the option to start with a Microsoft Word template. If you make a lot of Word documents, then you’ll like the cost-effectiveness of Envato Elements. You get unlimited downloads of templates as well as fonts, stock photos, and more for one low subscription price. On the other hand, GraphicRiver may be a better option if you only need the one-off template.

This gives you the ultimate convenience because professionally-designed Word templates have image placeholders. All you’ve got to do is to drag and drop your own pictures into the placeholders. The picture formatting steps in this article will help you fine-tune the image settings as you wish.

Now you, too, can get more creative—and effective—with pictures in Microsoft Word. But first, get your head start by downloading your favorite MS Word Template from Envato Elements or GraphicRiver.

• Software

If I understood the question correctly, then perhaps we may be looking for a solution for sequencing the Images correctly while inserting them into Microsoft Word from a Folder with named image files.

I have found a Solution, which I wish to share here with the help of an Example.

Folder containing named images sorted by name in ascending order to be imported in Microsoft Word

Let us say we have four images named Image 1, Image 2, Image 3 and Image 4 in our folder which are sorted by default in ascending order of their names.

Now, to import all these images sequentially in Microsoft Word in the order of their name, then you should click the file named Image 1 and then have to select all these images by using Ctrl + a.

After this you can do Ctrl + c in the folder and then open up the New Document in Microsoft Word, then do Ctrl + v.

Multiple page view in Microsoft Word showing four pages with four images on each, reversed in sequence by default while importing them

After doing the pasting in the Microsoft Word, you will notice that the Images are arranged in the reverse sequence starting from Image 4 to Image 1.

To get the required ascending sequence from Image 1 to Image 4 in the Microsoft Word pages, you need to first clear the existing Microsoft Word document from imported images or open a New Document to avoid clearing.

Reversing the Sorting order of images in the folder with the help of Right click on mouse in the free area of the folder, then choosing Descending Sort order

Now, go back to the folder and reverse the sorting order to Descending using the Right click on the Mouse in the free area of the Folder and choosing the Descending Sort in the options of pop-up menu.

Clicking on the first image in the folder which we need to appear on the last page of Microsoft Word Document

After reversing the sorting order to descending, click on the first image Image 4 of the folder which we wish to appear on the last page of our Microsoft Word document.

Achieving the desired ascending order of images on Microsoft Word document by the names of files after following copying and pasting

Then you should do the select all with Ctrl + a and then do the usual copy & pasting of Images from folder to Microsoft Word document.

This way, we will be able to achieve the desired ascending order of the images by their names when they are imported in the Microsoft Word.

In my previous blog we went over the basics of applying image Styles to your photos. I showed you how to add different effects to your images, such as a drop shadow, glow, reflection, and more. In this blog we will cover the Arrange section of the Picture Format tool bar.

We will cover the following:

• Position
• Wrap Text – See Blog: How Do I Add and Format Text Around an Image
• Bring Forward & Send Backward
• Selection Pane
• Align
• Group
• Rotate

Position

The Position menu allows you to choose where the selected object will appear on the page. Text will automatically wrap around the image so that it’s still easy to read.

You can also use the More Layout Options to place your image in an exact location using measurements.

Bring Forward or Send Backward

When you have two images and you want one on top of the other, you will select either Bring Forward or Send Backward to position those images how you see fit.

Note: Right-click on the image to bring up the shortcut menu to perform the same functions.

Selection Pane

The Selection Pane allows you to see all your objects on the page. This will make it easier to select objects (even text boxes), change their order, or change their visibility. Click the eye icon to reveal or hide the image.

Align

The Align feature allows you to change the placement of your selected image or object on the page. Use this to align images or objects to the margin, center, top, middle, or the edge of the page. You can also align them relative to one another.

Click View Gridlines to better align your images. The gridlines make it easier for you to align images with other objects/images or locations on the page.

Click on the Grid Settings to manually set the position of your images or objects on the page.

Group

Group multiple objects together by selecting one object, then holding down the Shift key on the keyboard to select the next item, then click Group in the menu ribbon. This feature allows you to Group items together to move and format as one single object.

You can then select the single object and resize or reposition the image.

To Ungroup the object, click on the grouped object, then go to the ribbon menu (or right click) and click Ungroup to break the connection to move them individually.

Note: You must have an image, text box or object selected to perform the function, otherwise the feature will be greyed out. You can also group multiple text boxes and images together.

Rotate

Easily rotate or flip an image on the screen. Select from: Rotate Right 90°, Rotate Left 90°, Flip Vertical, Flip Horizontal, and or edit rotation in the More Rotation Options.

That concludes the Arrange section of the Picture Format tool bar in Microsoft Word. In our next blog we will cover the different cropping options you can do with your images. For more tips and tricks for Microsoft Office 365 visit and subscribe to our blog.

Asked by: Mrs. Leanne Hyatt

Score: 4.9/5
(37 votes)

The Group button is unavailable

Only one shape or picture is selected. Make sure you have multiple shapes or pictures selected. If your selection includes a table, worksheet, or GIF image, the Group button will not be available.

How do I group pictures together in Word?

Group shapes, pictures, or objects

How do I arrange pictures freely in Word?

Double-click the picture to add it to your Word document. Back on Word’s editing screen, right-click the image that you just added and select Wrap Text > In Front of Text from the menu. Your picture is now freely movable. Drag and drop it anywhere you want in your document.

How do you arrange pictures in Word?

Hold down Shift and use the mouse or touchpad to select the objects that you want to align. Select Shape Format or Picture Format. Select Align. If you don’t see Align on the Shape Format tab, select Arrange, and then choose Align.

Why can’t I move pictures in Word?

You must set the layout to something other than ‘in-line‘ before you can drag it around. You can only move them around if their layout property is set to something other than in-line, otherwise you can cut and paste to a new position, just like a font character.

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