The fastest way to group images in Canva

To group two images together in Canva, select both images at the same time, then click the group button that appears in the toolbar. Once grouped, the images move and resize as a single unit — useful when you want to keep two photos at the same distance from each other or scale them together without accidentally shifting one out of place.

Grouping is different from straightforward placing images near each other. When images are grouped, Canva treats them as one object. If you move the group, both images move together. If you resize the group, both images scale proportionally. Without grouping, you have to adjust each image separately, which makes it straightforward to accidentally nudge one out of alignment.

Key Takeaways

  • Select both images by clicking the first, then holding Shift and clicking the second image.
  • Click the group icon in the toolbar (it looks like overlapping squares) to lock the images together.
  • Grouped images move and resize as one unit, so you can reposition them without losing alignment.
  • You can ungroup images at any time by selecting the group and clicking the ungroup button.
  • Grouping works with any two objects in Canva — images, text, shapes — not just photos.

Selecting both images at once

Click on the first image to select it. You will see a blue border around it with resize handles at the corners and edges. This means the image is selected and ready to work with.

Now hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on the second image. Both images should now have blue borders around them. If you click without holding Shift, you will deselect the first image and select only the second one, so the Shift key is the critical step.

If you have more than two images and want to select all of them at once, keep holding Shift and click each additional image. The same principle applies — Shift keeps the previous selections active while you add new ones.

Finding and clicking the group button

With both images selected, look at the toolbar at the top of the canvas. On the right side of the toolbar, you will see several icons. The group button looks like two or three overlapping squares or rectangles. Hover your mouse over it if you are not sure — Canva will show a tooltip that says "Group".

Click that button once. The blue selection border will now surround both images together as a single unit, and you will see the group icon appear in the toolbar. The images are now grouped.

What you can do with grouped images

Once grouped, you can move both images together by clicking anywhere on either image and dragging. Both will move as one block, maintaining their exact distance from each other. This is the main reason to group — it prevents one image from drifting out of alignment while you reposition.

You can also resize the group by dragging any of the corner handles. Both images will scale proportionally, so if you make the group larger, both images grow at the same rate. If you rotate the group by clicking and dragging the circular rotation handle, both images rotate together around the same center point.

You can change the opacity (transparency) of the entire group at once using the opacity slider in the toolbar, or add effects like shadows or borders that explore to the whole group. These changes save time when you want the same effect on both images.

Ungrouping images when you need to edit them separately

If you later need to move or resize just one of the images, you have to ungroup them first. Click on the grouped images to select them, then look for the ungroup button in the toolbar — it is usually right next to the group button and looks similar but slightly different.

Click the ungroup button and the images will separate. Now you can select and edit each one independently. You can always group them again later by selecting both and clicking group.

Common reasons grouping saves time

Grouping is especially useful when you are building a layout with a specific design in mind. For example, if you have two photos side by side that represent a before-and-after, grouping them lets you move the pair around the canvas without worrying that one will slip out of place. If you decide the pair needs to be smaller or larger, you resize once instead of twice.

Grouping also helps when you are working with images that have the same styling. If you want both images to have the same border, shadow, or transparency, grouping them and explore the effect to the group is faster than explore it to each image separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I group more than two images at once?

Yes. Select all the images you want to group by clicking the first one, then holding Shift and clicking each additional image. Once all are selected, click the group button. You can group as many objects as you need.

What happens to the images if I delete a grouped image?

If you delete one image from a group, the remaining image stays grouped but is now a group of one. You can ungroup it if you want, or leave it as is — it will not cause any problems.

Can I group an image with text or shapes?

Yes. Grouping works with any objects in Canva — images, text boxes, shapes, icons. Select them all together and click group. This is useful when you want a photo and a caption to move together, or a photo with a decorative shape.

Does grouping change the image quality or file size?

No. Grouping is purely organizational — it does not compress, alter, or affect the images themselves. It only tells Canva to treat them as one unit for moving and resizing.

Can I group images that are on different layers?

Canva does not use traditional layers the way some design programs do. You can group any visible objects on your canvas regardless of their stacking order, and grouping will not change how they overlap.