A picture that refuses to move in Word is almost always stuck because of its text wrapping setting. Change that first, then use Word's positioning tools to drag, center, align, or lock the image exactly where it belongs.
Make the image movable first
Use this when the picture is stuck in the text instead of dragging freely.
- 1.Select the picture in your Word document.
- 2.Select the Layout Options icon next to the picture.
- 3.Choose a wrapping style other than In Line with Text, such as Square, Tight, Top and Bottom, Behind Text, or In Front of Text.
- 4.Drag the picture to the spot you want on the page.
- 5.Select Move with text when the picture should travel with nearby text, or select Fix position on page when it should stay in place while text changes.
Drag a picture with control
Select the picture once so Word shows its border and layout controls. Open Picture Format or Format, then open Wrap Text. Choose a wrapping option other than In Line with Text.
Drag the picture around the page until it sits where you want it. Select the picture border and wait for the four-headed arrow cursor. Hold Shift while dragging to keep the move horizontal or vertical.
Select the picture, hold Ctrl, and press an arrow key for a small nudge. Tip: use floating wrapping for free placement and In Line with Text when the picture should stay inside the text flow.
Use Position for quick placement
The Position menu is the fastest way to place a picture in a common page location without manual dragging. Select the picture, open Picture Format or Format, choose Position, then pick a preset under Format with Text Wrapping.
Top Left is one preset, and the same menu includes other choices for placing the image relative to text. Word applies wrapping as part of that positioning workflow, which makes it work for pictures that are no longer set to In Line with Text.
For exact placement, select the picture, choose the Layout Options icon, select See more, then use the Position tab. You can also use Picture Format or Shape Format, then Arrange, Position, and More Layout Options.
Center an image on the page
This fixes pictures that sit close to the center but do not line up with the page.
Select the picture, then go to Picture Format or Format. Open Wrap Text and choose Square. Open Position and choose More Layout Options.
On the Position tab, choose Alignment, then change the alignment field to Centered. Next to relative to, choose Page. Select OK.
Stop a picture from jumping around
The most common cause is that the picture is set to move with text, so edits above or around it change its location.
Select the picture and open the Layout Options icon. Choose In Front of Text under With Text Wrapping, then select Fix position on page to keep it in place while nearby text changes.
You can also open Picture Format or Format, choose Wrap Text, then select Fix Position on Page. Use Picture Format or Format, then Wrap Text, then In Line with Text when the picture should move with a paragraph instead.
Line up several pictures neatly
Word can align pictures to each other, the page, or the margins. Select one picture, or hold Ctrl while selecting multiple pictures, then go to Picture Format or Picture Tools, choose Align, and pick Align Left, Align Center, Align Right, Align Top, Align Middle, or Align Bottom.
To choose the reference point, open Shape Format or Picture Format, select Align, then choose Align to Page, Align to Margin, or Align Selected Objects. Select Align again and choose the horizontal, vertical, or distribute option you need.
For even spacing, select at least three objects while holding Ctrl, open Picture Format or Picture Tools, choose Align, then select Distribute Horizontally or Distribute Vertically.
If this method fails, change each picture from In Line with Text to another Wrap Text option first, then try Align again.
Move overlapping or hidden pictures
Open Home, choose Select, then open Selection Pane. Select the picture in the Selection Pane, then move it with Layout Options, drag it, use Position, or nudge it with the keyboard.
Select a picture and open the Layout Options icon. Select See more, then open the Position tab. Turn on Allow overlap. Repeat Allow overlap for each picture that should sit over another one.
Tip: use the Selection Pane when a picture is behind another object and the page view is hard to click.
Keep future pictures easier to move
This fixes the repeat problem where every new picture lands inline and has to be changed manually. In Word for Windows:
Open File, then select Options. Choose Advanced and go to Cut, copy, and paste. Change Insert/paste pictures as to the wrapping style you want. Select OK.
In Word for Mac, open the Word menu, select Preferences, choose Edit under Authoring and Proofing Tools, then set Insert/paste pictures as to the wrapping style you want.
Word for the web has no equivalent default setting, so set the wrapping on each picture as you go, or select Open in Word and change the default in the desktop app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I drag my picture freely in Word?
The picture is set to In Line with Text. Select the picture, open Layout Options or Wrap Text, and choose Square, Tight, Behind Text, or In Front of Text.
How do I move a picture to another paragraph in Word?
Cut the picture with Ctrl+X, place the cursor where it should go, and press Ctrl+V. You can also right-click the picture and choose Cut first.
Can I move pictures in Word for the web?
Yes, when the picture was inserted in Word for the web. If a picture was inserted in desktop Word and uses text wrapping or fixed positioning, select Open in Word, make the layout change in the desktop app, press Ctrl+S, then reopen it in Word for the web.
How do I move several pictures together in Word?
Set each object's Wrap Text option to something other than In Line with Text, hold Ctrl while selecting the pictures, then use Group > Group from the right-click menu or the Picture Format or Shape Format tab.