Moving picture boxes in word

Position images, text boxes, shapes on the page

Word attaches the figure to the paragraph at the current cursor position when you insert a figure. However, you can move the visual object independently of the text and place it anywhere on the page.

To change the position, on the Picture Format (Graphics Format, Shape Format) tab, in the Arrange group, click the Position button:

• In Line with Text places an object in the paragraph on the same line as the surrounding text
• Position in Top Left with Square Text Wrapping places a figure in the upper left corner of the document page
• Position in Top Center with Square Text Wrapping
• Position in Top Right with Square Text Wrapping
• Position in Middle Left with Square Text Wrapping
• Position in Middle Center with Square Text Wrapping places a picture in the center of the document page
• Position in Middle Right with Square Text Wrapping
• Position in Bottom Left with Square Text Wrapping
• Position in Bottom Center with Square Text Wrapping
• Position in Bottom Right with Square Text Wrapping places a picture in the lower right corner of the document page

Using these options, position the object in a specific location relative to the page margins.

Use the anchor

When changing the text wrapping style from the In Line with Text to another one, Word adds an anchor to the object. In other words, all floating figures are anchored. Select the picture to see its anchor indicated by a small anchor icon (see how to display non-printing characters in a Word document).

Attention! The anchor and the figure are always on the same page but not in the same place on the page.

By default, the anchor is positioned at the beginning of the nearest paragraph above the upper-left corner of the figure. When you move the object across the page, the anchor moves, using the same logic to place the anchor.

Also, you can select the anchor and drag it to a new location on the page.

Change the layout

To choose additional options for positioning an object, choose More Layout Options… from the dropdown list:

In the Layout dialog box, on the Position tab:

Note: The available positions vary based on the selected text-wrapping option.

• In the Horizontal section, specify that a figure is positioned horizontally:
  • Alignment places the object to the Left, Center, or Right relative to:
    • Margin
    • Page
    • Column
    • Character
    • Left Margin
    • Right Margin
    • Inside Margin
    • Outside Margin

    For example:

    • Alignment to the Left relative to Margin:

      
    • Alignment to the Left relative to Page:

      

  • Book layout defines where the figure appears on odd (large left margin) or even (large right margin) pages. You can position figures relative to the Inside or Outside of the Margin or Page.

    This option is useful if you use the Mirrored margins.

    For example, Book layout Inside of Margin:

    The odd page	The even page

  • Absolute position specifies the exact distance to the right of:
    • Margin
    • Page
    • Column
    • Character
    • Left Margin
    • Right Margin
    • Inside Margin
    • Outside Margin

    Measurements can be positive or negative. The figure will remain in the same position regardless of formatting changes.

    For example:

    • The Absolute position of -5 inches to the right of Right Margin:

      

    • The Absolute position of 4 inches to the right of Page:

      

  • Relative position specifies a percentage of the distance relative to:
    • Margin
    • Page
    • Left Margin
    • Right Margin
    • Inside Margin
    • Outside Margin

    For example, Relative position of 20% relative to Margin:

    

    Note: 8.5 inches page with 1-inch margins in each side = 6.5 inches * 20% = 1.3 inch

• In the Vertical section, specify that an object is positioned vertically:
  • Alignment allows to set the object to the Top, Centered, Bottom, Inside, or Outside relative to:
    • Margin
    • Line
    • Top Margin
    • Bottom Margin
    • Inside Margin
    • Outside Margin

    For example, Alignment to the Top relative to Margin:

    

  • Absolute position specifies the exact distance to the right of:
    • Margin
    • Page
    • Paragraph
    • Line
    • Top Margin
    • Bottom Margin
    • Inside Margin
    • Outside Margin

    Measurements can be positive or negative. The figure will remain in the same position regardless of formatting changes.

    For example:

    • The Absolute position of 3 inches to the right of Line:

      

    • The Absolute position of -7 inches to the right of Bottom Margin:

      

  • Relative position specifies a percentage of the distance relative to:
    • Margin
    • Page
    • Top Margin
    • Bottom Margin
    • Inside Margin
    • Outside Margin

    For example, Relative position of 25% relative to Page:

    

    Note: 11 inches page * 25% = 2.75 inches

Note: It is impossible to fix a figure on the page.

• In the Options section:
  • Move object with text moves the figure along with the text in which it is located.

    If this option is selected, the picture moves with a paragraph (anchored to a paragraph). When you delete or add any context before that paragraph, the figure will move with it.

    If the Move object with text option is deselected, the picture is anchored to the page location. After deleting or adding context before the anchor, except when the paragraph moves to the next page — the figure moves and keeps its position relative to the page.

    Note: This option works only for floating figures (see Text Wrapping for more details).

    For example:

    • Before moving:

      

    • After moving with the selected Move object with text check box:

      

    • After moving with the deselected Move object with text check box:

      

    When you select this option, the horizontal and vertical alignment will change to Absolute positions relative to the margin (horizontal) and paragraph (vertical).
  • Lock anchor keeps the anchor at the same place (at the paragraph) when the figure is removed. Word changes the anchor symbol to the locked anchor .

    The anchor symbol will remain to the left of the start of the anchored paragraph, regardless of the picture position.

    For example:

    • Before moving:

      

    • After moving with the selected Lock anchor check box:

      

    Note: An example is shown with hidden Headers and Footers.

    However, if you select and drag a paragraph to another page, the picture shifts to another page.

  • Allow overlap allows to layer figures on top of each other.

    For example:

    

    To easily work with such figures, open the Selection pane. To change which figure in front or behind another one, use the Bring Forward or Send Backward buttons in the Arrange group on the Picture Format (Graphics Format, Shape Format) tab:

    

  • Layout in table cell is the option from the older versions of Word and older file formats.

    For example, in a *.doc file, you can’t put an image whose text wrapping style is set to Square inside a table cell unless the Layout in table cell option is selected:

    

To align a figure on the page simpler, see snap an object to the Grid or a Shape.

Main features of the anchor

• The anchor is related to the paragraph, not words, characters, or other objects.
• When you select the text where the figure is anchored, the figure also is highlighted.
• If you move or delete the text where the figure is anchored, the figure will also be moved or deleted.
• If the paragraph with the anchor is pushed to the next page, the anchored figure also jumps to the next page, even if the figure is located above the anchor.

Delete an anchor

The anchor cannot be deleted. An anchor is a feature of the floating figure.

If the anchor is visible, the figure is selected, and pressing the Delete key will delete the figure and anchor.

Select the figure and change the text wrapping style to the In Line with Text to remove the anchor. The figure will cease floating, and Word will stop showing its anchor when you select this figure.

Move a picture, shape, text box, or WordArt

1. Click the border of the WordArt, text box, or shape that you want to move. To move multiple text boxes or shapes, press and hold Ctrl while you click the borders.
2. When the cursor changes to the four headed arrow, drag it to the new location.

How do I move a text box in Word using the keyboard?

To move in small increments, press and hold Ctrl while pressing an arrow key. And to move the object horizontally or vertically only, press and hold Shift while you drag it. Depending on how far you’re moving the WordArt, shape, or text box, it might be easier to cut and paste it.

How do you adjust text boxes in Word?

Adjust the text box margins

1. Click the outer edge of the text box to select it.
2. On the Shape Format tab, click Format Pane.
3. Click the Shape Options tab if it isn’t already selected.
4. Click the text box icon. , and then click Text Box.
5. You can adjust the left, right, top, and bottom margins.

Why can’t I move textbox in Word?

If the text box is In Line With Text, it’s constrained by the margins. With any other text wrapping, you should be able to drag it anywhere. But it may be that all you need to do is change the internal margin of the text box: Right-click on the edge of the text box and choose Format Shape…

How do you move objects freely in Word?

First, confirm that the object is not set to In Line with Text: With the object selected click the Arrange button on the Shape Format contextual tab. From the Wrap Text choices select the method you prefer. You then should be able to freely drag the object to any location.

How do I resize a text box?

To change the size of an existing text box, follow these steps:

1. Click once on the information within the text box.
2. Use the mouse to point to one of the handles.
3. Drag the handle to resize the text box.
4. Release the mouse button when the text box is the size you want.

How do I stretch a text box in Word?

Stretch Text Horizontally

1. Highlight the text you want to stretch.
2. Select the “Home” tab, then click the small arrow in the Font section to open the Font dialog box.
3. Select the “Advanced” tab.
4. Increase the percentage value in the “Scale” field.
5. Highlight the text you want to stretch.

How do I fix the size of a text box in Word?

Follow these general steps.

1. Place the text box in your document.
2. Adjust the width of your text box to reflect what you need.
3. Right-click the text box and choose Format Text Box from the resulting Context menu.
4. Make sure the Text Box tab is displayed.
5. Make sure the Resize AutoShape to Fit Text check box is selected.

How do I move a text box anywhere in Word?

To move a text box:

1. Click the text box you want to move.
2. Hover the mouse over one of the edges of the text box. The mouse will change into a cross with arrows.
3. Click and drag the text box to the desired location.

How do I move a text box outside the margin?

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

1. Click the Insert menu and Click Text Box in the Text group.
2. Use the mouse to drag and drop a text box of the approximate size in the margin.
3. Enter the text “Use Quick Styles.”
4. On the Contextual Format ribbon, choose Middle from the Align Text dropdown in the Text group.

How do I move a text box horizontally in Word?

Enter the text in the shape or text box or table cell, and then select the text. Ctrl+Click the selected text, and then select Format Shape. On the Text Box tab in the dialog box, choose a direction from the Text Direction box.

Why can’t I move images 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.

How do I move objects in small increments in Word for Mac?

To move an object up, down, or sideways in small increments, click the object, hold down OPTION, and then press an arrow key.

How do I remove a text box but keep the text in Word?

Follow these steps:

1. In your document, press Ctrl+A.
2. Press Ctrl+C.
3. Open a new, blank document.
4. Make sure the Home tab of the ribbon is displayed.
5. Click the down-arrow under the Paste tool (at the left side of the ribbon) and choose Paste Special.
6. In the list of formats, choose Unformatted Text.
7. Click on OK.

Can I stretch text in Word?

Stretch or scale the text horizontally
On the Home tab, click the Font Dialog Box Launcher, and then click the Advanced tab. Note: If you’re using Word 2007 the tab is called Character Spacing. In the Scale box, enter the percentage that you want. Percentages above 100 percent stretch the text.

How do I fit text to page width in Word?

To fit the columns to the text (or page margins if cells are empty), click [AutoFit] > select “AutoFit Contents.” To fit the table to the text, click [AutoFit] > select “AutoFit Window.” To keep Word from automatically adjusting your column size, click [AutoFit] > select “Fixed Column Width.”

How do I make my font taller?

Changing the Height of a Font

1. Select the text you want to affect.
2. Enlarge the font size to 15 points. (12 times 1.25 is 15.)
3. Display the Advanced tab of the Font dialog box.
4. Using the Scale control, specify a scaling of 80%.

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!

Asked by: Chyna Smitham

Score: 4.8/5
(17 votes)

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 move an object freely in Word?

First, confirm that the object is not set to In Line with Text: With the object selected click the Arrange button on the Shape Format contextual tab. From the Wrap Text choices select the method you prefer. You then should be able to freely drag the object to any location.

How do you move a picture in Word that is locked?

How Do I Lock a Photo in a Word Document So It Doesn’t Move?

How do I resize and move a picture in Word?

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.

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.

37 related questions found

Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Pictures Move on their Own.

Have you ever placed pictures in your document, expecting them to stay in a set location, and then you find that they moved around? This is not uncommon in Word, and typically can be traced to a misunderstanding about how Word handles pictures.

When you place a picture in a Word document, you can place it either inline or floating. The default placement method depends on the version of Word you are using. Inline pictures are great, and will stay exactly where you put them, because they are treated like any other character in a paragraph.

Inline pictures are wonderful for some purposes, particularly for larger pictures. Inline pictures, since they are treated just like text, follow the alignment of the paragraph in which they are placed. Thus, if you center the paragraph and the picture is the only thing in the paragraph, then the picture is centered. Likewise, you can left- or right-align the picture by simply using the paragraph alignment tools on the Formatting toolbar. The drawback to inline pictures, of course, is that text doesn’t wrap around them, and therefore you may not get the exact layout you want.

Floating pictures are a different story. Floating pictures can do just that—float. Also, the picture can be formatted so that text floats around the picture. To control the floating behavior of the pictures, Word provides an anchor that indicates a point in the document with which the picture is associated. You can see these anchors by choosing Tools | Options | View and making sure the Object Anchors check box is selected. When you subsequently click on a floating picture, you will see an actual anchor character at the point in your document where the selected picture is anchored.

To modify how the picture’s anchor behaves, you simply need to right-click on the picture and choose Format Picture from the Context menu. Word displays the Format Picture dialog box. Click the Advanced button on the Layout tab. (See Figure 1.) The resulting dialog box has a tab labeled Picture Position where you can specify the placement of the floating picture. (In other words, you can specify how the anchor should behave.)

Figure 1. The Picture Position tab of the Advanced Layout dialog box.

There are two important check boxes on the Picture Position tab; both are at the bottom of the dialog box. The Move Object with Text check box controls whether the object moves as the text to which it is anchored moves. Thus, if a picture is anchored to a paragraph and you insert text before the paragraph, the picture is moved down as the paragraph—and its associated anchor—moves down the page. If the check box is cleared, then the anchor moves, but the picture stays put where you placed it. This check box is selected, by default, so pictures normally move with their underlying text. If you don’t want them to move, clear this check box.

The other important check box is Lock Anchor. This check box controls whether the anchor can move or not. Normally, if you click on a picture and drag it to a new location, the anchor for that picture is changed to the paragraph nearest the new location for the picture. If you lock the anchor, the anchor stays put, even though you moved the picture.

Many picture positioning problems can be solved by understanding the controls on the Picture Position tab. You should play with them to find out which combination of settings is best for your use of pictures.

That being said, some people find that they can get better control of where pictures are placed simply by placing the pictures inside other objects. For instance, you may want to create a single-celled table and place your picture in the table cell. Likewise, you may want to create a text box and place the picture in the text box. Either approach is appropriate if you are more comfortable working with tables and text boxes than you are in working directly with pictures. In addition, using pictures in this way gives you other options that you would normally have. For instance, you can apply borders to the table cell or to the text box, thereby creating a border around your picture.

Author Bio

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen…