How to Insert Images Inside Text in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

This tutorial shows how to insert images inside text in Microsoft Word. Word doesn’t provide a way to do this with regular text, so the process shown here is a workaround using Word’s built-in SmartArt tools.

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac (a.k.a., Word for Mac), Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013 (PC only).

How to Insert Images Inside Text

Place your cursor where you want to insert the text. (This can be an approximate placement; the precise placement can be adjusted later.)
Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.

Insert tab in Word 365 — Figure 1. Insert tab

Select the SmartArt button in the Illustrations group.

SmartArt button in Word 365 — Figure 2. SmartArt button

(PC Users) Select Basic Block List in the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box and then select the OK button.

Basic Block List in the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box in Word 365 — Figure 3. Basic Block List

4.a. (Mac Users) Select Lists from the drop-down menu and then select Basic Block List from the submenu.

Basic Block List in the SmartArt menu in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 4. Basic Block List in the SmartArt menu (Mac)

Select and delete all but one of the SmartArt text boxes.

Before and after deleting SmartArt text boxes in Word 365 — Figure 5. Before and after deleting SmartArt text boxes

Type your text into the placeholder and then select the text.

Selected text in SmartArt text box in Word 365 — Figure 6. Selected text in the SmartArt text box

Select the Home tab in the ribbon.

Home tab in Word 365 — Figure 7. Home tab

Select a new font and size in the Font group.

Font and Font Size menu in the Home tab in Word 365 — Figure 8. Font and Font Size menus

Select the Format tab in the ribbon. (This tab is only available when a SmartArt design is selected.)

Format tab in Word 365 — Figure 9. Format tab

Select Text Fill and then select Picture from the drop-down menu.

Picture option in the Text Fill menu in the Format tab in Word 365 — Figure 10. Picture option in the Text Fill menu

(PC only) Select the location of the image in the Insert Pictures dialog box: From a File, Stock Images, Online Pictures, or From Icons. (For this tutorial, we will choose Stock Images.)

Important Notes: The stock images and icons are only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. Mac users can select their image from the Finder window that will appear after selecting Picture.

Insert Pictures dialog box in Word 365 for PC — Figure 11. Insert Pictures dialog box (PC only)

Locate and select the image and then select the Insert button.

Stock Images dialog box in Word 365 for PC — Figure 12. Stock Images dialog box (PC only)

The image should appear inside the text.

(Optional) Select Text Outline and then select an outline color and weight from the drop-down menu.

Text Outline menu in the Format tab in Word 365 — Figure 13. Text Outline menu

(Optional) Select Text Effects and then add additional effects such as a shadow or glow.

Text Effects menu in the Format tab in Word 365 — Figure 14. Text Effects menu

Use the Size menus to reduce the size of the text box surrounding the text. (Don’t reduce the size too much or you will also reduce the font size.)

Size menus in the Format tab in Word 365 — Figure 15. Size menus

Select the top or bottom resizing handle on the SmartArt wrap and drag the wrap to reduce the size as much as possible without changing the size of the text.

SmartArt wrap resizing handles in Word 365 — Figure 16. SmartArt wrap resizing handles

Click inside the text to select the text box, select Shape Fill, and then select No Fill from the drop-down menu.

No Fill option in the Shape Fill menu in Word 365 — Figure 17. No Fill option in the Shape Fill menu

(Optional) Click outside the text box (but still within the SmartArt wrap), select the Wrap Text menu, and then select a position from the drop-down menu.

This position determines how your SmarArt text will be positioned with the surrounding text. The Tight option will work best for most users.