If you are looking for ways on how to move a picture in Word, this guide will add a great deal of help.
When working with a Word document, pictures you insert can float in front or behind the text, mix or move with the text, or even be stuck in one place and can’t be dragged with the mouse. This is because of Word’s default wrapping option.
There are tools in Word that can help you move a picture to integrate well with your document. Below is a quick solution:
To move a picture in Word, right-click the picture and place your mouse pointer on Wrap Text from the shortcut menu. Another menu appears with a list of layout options, Select either Top and Bottom or In Front of Text. Now, using your mouse, drag and move the picture to the desired location.
See screenshot:
With the In Front of Text option, the picture can be placed on top of the text. Use the Top and Bottom option if you don’t want the picture covering your text.
For more layout options that will help you move pictures freely in Word, keep reading.
Text Wrapping: More options to make pictures movable in Word.
If your picture is not behaving the way you need it to, it only means the picture is using the wrong wrapping option. So, to make a picture act or move according to your mouse drag, all you need to do is setup the right layout option and you’ll be able to drag and move it anywhere in your Word document.
Without further ado, below are the various layout options that can make it possible to be able to move pictures in Word. I’ll also include options that makes your pictures static or fixed.
In Front of Text: Move picture over other content.
When a picture is wrapped with this layout option, it can be dragged anywhere in the document. With this option, the picture can be placed on top of text or other content making it (the text) invisible. Use this option if you want to move the picture freely to anywhere in your document, or if you deliberately need to cover or veil some content in your document.
Below are the steps to set this option:
- Click to select the picture (you might need to click twice)
- At the top right side of the picture, the Layout Options icon will appear.
- Click on it to display some of the Layout Options.
- From the Layout Options shortcut menu, place your mouse over each of the Text Wrapping options. As you hover over the Text Wrapping options, a tooltip will appear with the name of the layout option.
- Click on the In front of Text option.
- Alternatively, right-click on the picture and go to Wrap Text > In Front of Text.
When you select this option for the picture, the text in the document may fall under the picture. Leave some space where you want to move the picture to, then drag and move the picture to the desired location.
Top and Bottom: Move picture freely between the line of text
With this option, the text flows above and below, but not beside the picture. Use this option if you want to move the picture anywhere in the document but don’t want it to cover other content (like text).
To apply the Top and Bottom layout option to your picture, obey the following instructions below:
- Click to select the picture (you might need to click twice)
- At the top right side of the picture, the Layout Options icon will appear.
- Click on this icon to display some of the Layout Options.
- From the Layout Options shortcut menu, place your mouse over each of the Text Wrapping options. As you hover over the Text Wrapping options, a tooltip will appear with the name of the layout option.
- Choose the Top and Bottom option.
See screenshot:
- Alternatively, right-click on the picture and click on Wrap Text > Top and Bottom.
- As soon as you hit on the Top and Boom layout option, you can drag to move the picture to anywhere in your document. As you move the picture, the text too will move below and above it to provide space for it.
Basically, the two layout options discussed above are the ideal ways you can make a picture Movable in Word.
If you want to learn more about the other layout options and more advanced settings, please read on.
Square: Text wraps around the picture as it moves
The Square layout option creates a container in the text where the picture is. Thus, text wraps around the graphic, leaving some space between the text and the picture. With this layout option, the picture can be dragged anywhere in the document. Use this option if you don’t have space to spare like in newsletters and flyers.
To apply the Square layout option to a picture, kindly obey the following instructions:
- Right-click on the picture
- A shortcut menu appears. Click on Wrap Text.
- Another shortcut menu appears with the layout options, click on the Square option.
The is how you may apply the Square layout option to a picture in Word. This option can also allow you to move the picture anywhere in your Word document by dragging.
Behind Text: Moves picture behind the text
The Behind Text layout option allows you the option to use a picture as a background of the text since the text flows on top of the picture. The picture can be dragged anywhere in the document with this setting too.
To apply the Behind Text layout option to a picture, follow the steps below:
- Right-click on the picture
- A shortcut menu appears. Click on Wrap Text.
- Another shortcut menu appears with the layout options, click on the Behind Text option.
See screenshot:
With this option, the picture will be placed behind the text in the Word document, even when you move it around.
In effect, the above layout or wrapping options can help you move pictures freely in Word.