How-to
How to insert a picture in a Word document and keep it in place
The short answer
Put the cursor where the picture should go, open the Insert tab, choose Picture and pick the file. Drag a corner to resize it, and set text wrapping so it stays beside the text it belongs to. Keep pictures inside the margins and compress large photos before inserting them.
A picture should make a document clearer. Too often it does the opposite: it jumps to the next page, covers the text, or doubles the file size. Here is how to put one in and have it behave.
Insert a picture
- Click in the paragraph where the picture should appear.
- Open the Insert tab and choose Picture.
- Pick the image from your device. PNG and JPG both work.
- The picture appears at the cursor. Drag a corner handle to resize it and keep the shape.
In Wrdio, drop a .docx onto the home page and press Edit, and the same tools are on the Insert tab. You can also paste a copied picture straight into the page.
Stop it jumping around
Pictures can behave in two ways. An in-line picture sits in the line of text like a big letter. It moves exactly with the words, which makes it the steadiest option. A floating picture sits on the page and text flows around it. It looks nicer in brochures, and it moves in ways that surprise you.
- For reports, letters and forms, use in-line.
- For a picture beside text, use a wrapping option such as square or tight.
- If a floating picture moves, anchor it to the paragraph it belongs with.
Make it look tidy
- Stay inside the margins. A picture wider than the text area gets cut off in print and PDF.
- Align it. Centre a full-width picture, or align it with the left edge of the text.
- Add a caption. A short line under the picture helps readers and screen readers.
- Add alt text. A short description helps people who use screen readers, and it takes ten seconds.
Keep the file size sensible
A phone photo can be five megabytes or more. Ten of them and your document will not go through email. Reduce the picture before you insert it: most photo apps have a resize or export-smaller option. A width of about 1600 pixels is plenty for a page. See how to reduce a DOCX file size for more.
What if the picture will not show?
- Check the image is PNG or JPG. Unusual formats may not insert.
- Make sure the picture is not larger than the page.
- Save a copy and open it again. If it shows, the first view was a display glitch.
Need a signature picture? See how to sign a Word document.
Questions people ask
How do I insert a picture into a Word document?
Click where it should go, open the Insert tab, choose Picture and pick the image. You can then resize it and set text wrapping.
Why does my picture keep moving?
It is probably set to wrap with the text or anchored to a paragraph that moves. Choose an in-line setting for stability, or anchor it to the right paragraph.
Why is my document so large after adding photos?
Phone photos are several megabytes each. Shrink them before inserting, or use a smaller export size.
Can I add a picture on my phone?
Yes. In Wrdio on a phone, use the Insert tab and pick a photo from your files.