How to Insert Images into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

This tutorial shows how to insert images into shapes in Microsoft Word. For example, you may want to crop any image into a circle, triangle, or star.

First, we are going to look at two different ways to insert the image into the shape. Then, we are going to look at how to modify the image’s size and position within the shape.

Table of Contents:

How to Insert an Image into a Shape
How to Modify an Image’s Size and Position within a Shape

Watch all the steps shown here in real time!

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The figures 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 2016, and Word 2013. However, the older versions of the software offer fewer image options than those shown here.

How to Insert an Image into a Shape

Here are two methods to insert an image into a shape. The first method starts by inserting the shape. The second method starts by inserting the image.

Method One: Starting with a Shape

Select the Insert tab.

Insert tab in Word 365 — Figure 1. Insert tab

Select Shapes in the Illustrations group.

Shapes button in the Insert tab in Word 365 — Figure 2. Shapes button

Select a shape from the drop-down menu.

Shapes menu in Word 365 — Figure 3. Shapes menu

Your cursor will become a pointer with two crossed lines. Click and hold the pointer as you drag the shape onto the page.

Shape with pointer enlarged to show detail in Word 365 — Figure 4. Shape with pointer (enlarged to show detail)

Use the resizing handles to adjust the size as necessary.

Shape with resizing handles in Word 365 — Figure 5. Shape with resizing handles

Select the Shape Fill menu arrow in the Shape Format tab. (The Shape Format tab only appears when a shape is selected.)

Shape Fill menu arrow in the Insert tab in Word 365 — Figure 6. Shape Fill menu arrow

Select Picture from the drop-down menu.

Picture option in the Shape Fill menu in Word 365 — Figure 7. Picture option

(PC Users) Select the image’s location in the Insert Picture dialog box: From a File, Stock Images, Online Pictures, or From Icons. (Only Microsoft 365 subscribers will have all these options.)

Insert Pictures dialog box in Word 365 — Figure 8. Insert Pictures dialog box

Mac users will locate and select their image in the Finder window, instead.

For this tutorial, we will insert a stock image.

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

Stock Images dialog box in Word 365 — Figure 10. Stock Images dialog box and Insert button

The image should now appear in the shape.

Image inside shape in Word 365 — Figure 11. Image in shape

For more information about working with shapes, please see “How to Insert and Modify Shapes in Microsoft Word.”

Method Two: Starting with an Image

Select the Insert tab (see figure 1).
Select Picture in the Illustrations group.

Picture button in Word 365 — Figure 12. Picture button

Select the image location from the drop-down menu: This Device, Stock Images, or Online Pictures. (Only Microsoft 365 subscribers will have all these options.)

Insert Picture menu in Word 365 — Figure 13. Insert Picture menu

Once again, we will insert a stock image.

Locate and select the image, and then select the Insert button (see figure 10).
Use the resizing handles to adjust the size as necessary (see figure 5)
Select the Crop menu arrow in the Size group in the Picture Format tab. (The Picture Format tab only appears when an image is selected.)

Crop menu arrow in Word 365 — Figure 14. Crop menu arrow

Select Crop to Shape from the drop-down menu.

Crop to Shape option in Word 365 — Figure 15. Crop to Shape option

Select a shape from the submenu.

Crop to Shape menu in Word 365 — Figure 16. Crop to Shape menu

The image will appear in the shape.

Image cropped to sun shape in Word 365 — Figure 17. Image cropped to sun shape

For more information about working with images, please see “How to Insert and Modify Images in Microsoft Word.”

How to Modify an Image’s Size and Position within a Shape

Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the shape with the image, and then select Format Picture or Format Shape from the shortcut menu.

Format Picture option in the picture shortcut menu in Word 365 — Figure 17. Format Picture option

Select the Picture button in the Format Picture or Format Shape pane.

Picture button in the Format Picture pane in Word 365 — Figure 18. Picture button

Select the Crop menu arrow.

Crop menu arrow in the Format Picture pane in Word 365 — Figure 19. Crop menu arrow

Use the Picture Position Width, Height, Offset X (horizonal position), and Offset Y (vertical position) menus to adjust the image in the shape as necessary.