Word for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac Word 2021 Word 2021 for Mac Word 2019 Word 2019 for Mac Word 2016 Word 2016 for Mac Word 2013 Word 2010 Word for Mac 2011 More…Less
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On the Design tab, select Watermark > Custom Watermark.
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Choose Picture Watermark and select a picture.
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Select or clear Washout.
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Select OK.
To put a watermark on only one page, create a custom watermark and save it to the gallery, remove the current watermark, then put it back on one page from the gallery.
Add or change a background image or watermark
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Go to Design or Layout, and select Watermark.
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Select Picture > Select Picture, browse through your image files, and choose the image that you want to use
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Select Insert.
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If you want the background image to show with full color intensity, clear the Washout check box.
Remove a background image or watermark
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Go to Design or Layout, and select Watermark.
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Choose No watermark.
Want more? See See all our content about watermarks.
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Step-by-step guide to inserting pictures in Word
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Whether you’re working on a hefty research project or a friendly holiday greeting card, adding images to your Word document can really add value to your project. Whether you want to insert a picture from your computer or find one online, it’s easy to add photos in Word. This wikiHow teaches you how to insert an image into a Microsoft Word document using Windows, a Mac, and the free web version of Word.
Things You Should Know
- Use the Insert tab on Windows, Mac, and the web app to add a picture.
- Select Pictures > This Device to use an image on your computer.
- Click the image to resize and reformat it.
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Click the place in your document where you want to insert the picture. Word’s insertion cursor, a vertical blinking bar, will appear at this point. When you insert the image, its bottom-left corner will be at this point.
- This method works for all modern versions of Word beginning with Word 2016. You can also use it as a guide for earlier versions of Windows, although there will be fewer tools and features.
- Changing the background is done through a different method, using the Design tab.
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Click the Insert tab. It’s near the top of Word between «Home» and «Draw» (or «Home» and «Design» in some versions).
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3
Click the Pictures tool. It’s in the «Illustrations» section of the toolbar running along the top of Word. Some location options will appear. If you’re using Word 2019 or later, a menu will expand. If you’re using Word 2016 or earlier, your file browser will appear.
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4
Select the type of image you want to insert. You can choose an image on your computer, a stock image from Microsoft, or an image from the internet.
- Word 2019 or later:
- Click This Device if the picture is on your computer.
- Click Stock Images to select a free stock image from Microsoft’s collection.
- Click Online Pictures to use Bing’s image search to find photos on the web.
- If the photo is on your OneDrive, select Online Pictures and click OneDrive at the bottom-left corner.
- Word 2016:
- If the picture is on your computer, simply navigate to it in the file browser.
- If you want to search for a photo online or insert one from Facebook, Flickr, or your OneDrive, close the file browser and click the Online Pictures icon next to the «Pictures» in the toolbar. You can then select an image from Bing image search, Flickr, or Facebook.
- If the picture is on your OneDrive, click Online Pictures instead of Pictures and click Browse next to «OneDrive.»
- Word 2019 or later:
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Select the image you want to insert. When you find the picture, click it once to select it.
- If you’re selecting from stock images or online images, you can click multiple pictures to add more than one.
- If you’re choosing files from your computer and want to add more than one picture, hold the Ctrl button down as you click each image.
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Click Insert. It’ll be near the bottom-right corner of the window no matter where you’ve selected your image(s). You’re done! Continue to the next steps for formatting information, or print the document when you’re ready.
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7
Resize the picture. If you want to change the picture’s size, click it once to select it, and then drag any of the corner circles in or out.[1]
- You can also specify the size if you want. Double-click the picture to open the Picture Format tab at the top, and then set your desired measurements next to «Height» and «Width.»
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Use the curved arrow at the top of the picture to rotate it. It’s above the dot at the top-center part of the picture. To rotate, place the mouse cursor over the curved arrow, and then click and drag the cursor left or right until you’re satisfied.
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Double-click the picture to access more editing tools. This opens the «Picture Format» (2019 and later) or «Format» (2016) tab at the top of Word. On this tab, you can:
- In the «Arrange» panel in the top-right area, click Wrap Text to choose how to situate the picture in blocks of text. You can also set alignment preferences here. Wrapping the text is a good way to get your document formatted exactly the way you want.
- To crop the picture, click the Crop tool in the «Size» panel at the top-right corner.
- The «Adjust» panel near the top-left corner has additional tools for background removal, color effects, and corrections.
- To add a border or effect around the picture, select one of the «Picture Styles» at the center of the Format bar, or choose any of the other options in the section to have more control over the style.
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1
Click the place in your document where you’d like to insert a picture. This places the cursor at that location.
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Click the Insert tab. It’s at the top of Word between the «Home» and «Design» or «Home» and «Draw» tabs.
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3
Click the Pictures icon. It’s on the toolbar that runs along the top of Word. Look for an icon of a green mountain with a yellow sun between «Tables» and «Shapes.»
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4
Click Photo Browser or Picture from File. If you want to browse images in your Mac’s Photos app, use Photo Browser. To select an image file using Finder, choose Picture from File.
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Insert the picture into the document. If you’re using the Photo Browser option, simply drag the photo into your document. If you’re using Picture from File, select the image and click Insert.
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Resize the picture. If you want to increase or reduce the picture’s size, click the image to select it, and then do one of the following:
- To maintain the picture’s proportions so it doesn’t stretch or warp, hold down the Shift key as you drag any of the sizing handles (the circles) inward or outward.[2]
- To keep the image’s center in place as you resize, hold down the Option key as you drag the handles.
- You can also specify a size. Double-click the Picture to open the Picture Format tab, then enter your desired measurements next to «Height» and «Width.»
- To maintain the picture’s proportions so it doesn’t stretch or warp, hold down the Shift key as you drag any of the sizing handles (the circles) inward or outward.[2]
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Drag the curved arrow at the top of the picture to rotate it. It’s above the dot at the top-center edge of the picture. Just place the mouse cursor over the curved arrow, and then click and drag it left or right until it’s correct.
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Double-click the picture to access more editing tools. This opens the «Picture Format» tab at the top of Word, which has a bunch of editing features, including the ability to remove the background and add styles.
- Click Corrections near the top-left corner to correct lighting and color problems.
- Click Artistic Effects to play around with filters, and Transparency to make the picture more see-through.
- To crop the picture, click the Crop tool next to the height and width controls.
- Click Wrap Text to choose how to situate the picture in blocks of text, and use Align and Position to ensure correct placement.
- Click Quick Styles to choose pre-styled borders, shadows, and other options.
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1
Click the place in your document where you’d like to insert a picture. This places the cursor at that location.
- If it’s your first time using Office Online on the web, go to https://www.office.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and select Word to get started.
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Click Insert. This opens the Insert tab.
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Click Pictures. This opens a drop down options menu.
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Select a picture type. There are four options to choose from:
- This Device — choose a picture on your computer
- OneDrive — choose an image from your OneDrive
- Stock Images — insert a stock image or sticker
- Bing Pictures — search Bing for an image
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Select an image. If you choose the This Device option, you’ll be prompted to select an image from your computer. Click it to select it.
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Click Open. This is in the bottom right corner of the image selection window. This will confirm your selected image and insert it into the document.
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Resize the picture. If you want to change the picture’s size, click it once to select it, and then drag any of the corner circles in or out.
- You can also specify the size if you want. Double-click the picture to open the Picture tab at the top, and then set your desired measurements next to «Height» and «Width.»
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8
Use the curved arrow at the top of the picture to rotate it. It’s above the dot at the top-center part of the picture. To rotate, place the mouse cursor over the curved arrow, and then click and drag the cursor left or right until you’re satisfied.
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9
Double-click the picture to access more editing tools. This opens the «Picture» tab at the top of the Word web app. On this tab, you can:
- In the «Arrange» panel in the top-right area, click Wrap Text to choose how to situate the picture in blocks of text. You can also set alignment preferences here.
- To crop the picture, click the Crop tool in the «Image Size» panel at the top-right corner.
- To add a border or effect around the picture, select one of the «Picture Styles» at the center of the bar, or choose any of the other options in the section to have more control over the style.
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Add New Question
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Question
How do I take screenshots?
On a Mac, shift command 3 to screenshot the whole screen. If you want to take a screenshot of a certain area on the screen, press shift command 4. On a Windows PC, press control and print screen at the same time, then you can paste the image into Paint or Microsoft Word.
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Question
When I insert several photos on an age in a Word document, the photos often won’t stay in place. How do I stop the photos from bumping each other around?
You can right-click the image, hold the cursor over the «Wrap Text» menu option, and select an option from the list that is NOT «In Line with Text» (usually selected by default), such as «Tight» or «Behind/In Front of Text.» Then you should be able to move the image freely around the page.
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Question
How do I format images in a Word document?
Try double-tapping the photo. A photo format menu should come up on the right side.
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Video
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Adding photos to your Word document increases its size.
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Other photo modification features available in newer versions of Microsoft Word include the ability to add borders, cutout styles, shadows, beveled edges, glows, and drop shadows.
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When you crop a picture, the actual cropped part of the picture is hidden, not removed; unless you check the «Delete Cropped Areas of Pictures» box in the «Compression Settings» dialog box. Any compressed pictures with their cropped areas deleted cannot be restored to their original appearance.
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About This Article
Article SummaryX
1. Click the place you want to insert the image.
2. Click the Insert tab.
3. Click Pictures.
4. Choose a location.
5. Select the image and click Insert.
6. Double-click the picture to open editing and format tools.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 650,203 times.
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This tutorial shows how to insert images in Microsoft Word. We will also look at how to resize images, align images with the text, and add a border.
Quick Links:
- How to Insert an Image
- How to Resize an Image
- How to Align an Image with the Text
- How to Add a Border to an Image
Do you want to insert shapes instead of images? Please see “How to Insert and Modify Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac).”
This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
Watch more than 200 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.
The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013. However, the stock image options will be limited in those older versions of the software.
- Place your cursor where you want to insert the image. (This is an approximate placement. You can change the alignment with the text after inserting the images, as shown in the section below.)
- Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.
- Select the Pictures button in the Illustrations group.
- Select the location of the image from the Insert Picture From menu:
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- This Device lets you choose an image stored on your computer or network server.
- Stock Images lets you choose stock images, icons, cutout people, stickers, and illustrations. The full stock image library is only available to users signed into Word for Microsoft 365.
- Online Pictures lets you search for images through Bing, Microsoft’s search engine. This option also provides a link to OneDrive.
For this tutorial, we will insert an image stored on the device.
- (For “This Device” option only) Locate the image in the Insert Picture dialog box.
- Select the Insert button.
Your image should now appear in your Word document.
How to Resize an Image in Microsoft Word
- Select the image. A border with resizing handles will appear when the image is selected.
- Select one of the resizing handles and then drag the image to a new size.
Pro Tip: Choose a corner handle to maintain the image’s current shape.
Optional Steps: How to Rotate an Image in Microsoft Word
- Select the image.
- Select the rotation handle at the top of the border.
- Rotate the image to the left or right.
How to Align an Image with the Text in Microsoft Word
- Select the image.
- Select the Layout Options button.
- Select an option from the layout menu:
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- In Line with Text
- Square
- Tight
- Through
- Top and Bottom
- Behind Text
- In Front of Text
The visual effectiveness of each option will depend on the size of your image and the density of your text. So, you may need to experiment with several options to find the one most suited to your content.
Pro Tip: If you select an option other than In Line with Text, you can select and “grab” the image, and then move it almost anywhere in the document.
How to Add a Border to an Image in Microsoft Word
- Select the image.
- Select the Picture Format tab in the ribbon. (This tab only appears when an image is selected.)
From here, you can add a built-in border or edge effect or manually create a border.
How to Add a Built-In Border or Edge Effect to an Image
- Select the bottom menu arrow in the Picture Styles group.
- Select a frame or other edge effect from the Picture Styles menu.
Your new border or edge effect should appear immediately.
How to Add a Manual Border to an Image
- Select Picture Border in the Picture Styles group.
- Select a color from the drop-down menu.
- Reselect Picture Border, select Weight, and then choose a line thickness.
- Reselect Picture Border, select Dashes, and then choose a line style.
Your new manual border should appear immediately.
Documents with a lot of images can negatively affect Word’s performance. If you notice Word reacting slowing, please see “How to Make Microsoft Word Faster by Hiding Images.”
Related Resources
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How to Insert Figure Captions and Table Titles in Microsoft Word
How to Change the Style of Table Titles and Figure Captions in Microsoft Word
How to Update Table and Figure Numbers in Microsoft Word
How to Save Tables and Figures as Images in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)
Updated February 20, 2023
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.
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