The basic way to move an image
To move an image in Microsoft Word, click on it once to select it, then drag it to where you want it. The image will have small squares around its edges when selected — those are the handles. Click anywhere inside the image itself (not on a handle) and hold down your mouse button while you drag the image to its new position. Release the mouse button when the image is where you want it.
This works the same way in Word on Windows and Word on Mac. The image stays attached to the document, so if you add or delete text above it, the image moves with the surrounding content unless you have changed how it is anchored.
Key Takeaways
- Click the image once to select it, then drag it to move it — the selection handles (small squares) show when it is selected.
- If the image will not move or moves in unexpected ways, check the text wrapping setting, which controls whether text flows around the image or the image floats freely.
- Use arrow keys on your keyboard for precise small movements when dragging with the mouse is too rough.
- Right-click the image and choose "Wrap Text" to change how the image relates to the text around it, which affects how it can be positioned.
Why an image might not move the way you expect
If you click and drag an image but it does not move, or it snaps back to where it was, the text wrapping setting is usually the reason. Text wrapping controls whether the image is locked in line with text (like a character in a sentence) or whether it floats on top of the page independently.
When an image is set to "In Line with Text" wrapping, it behaves like a large letter — it stays in the exact spot in the text where you inserted it, and you cannot drag it freely around the page. To move it, you have to cut it and paste it in a different location in the text, or change the wrapping setting first.
Changing text wrapping to move images freely
Right-click on the image and look for a "Wrap Text" option (in Word on Windows) or "Arrange" (in Word on Mac). Click it to see the wrapping choices. Select "Square" or "Tight" if you want the image to float freely on the page so you can drag it anywhere. These settings let text wrap around the image, and the image itself is no longer tied to a specific spot in the text.
Once you change the wrapping, the image will have a small anchor symbol next to it in the document. You can now click and drag it anywhere on the page. If you want the image to stay in one place and not move when you edit text, right-click it again, go to "Wrap Text," and choose "Fix Position on Page."
Using arrow keys for precise movement
If dragging the image with your mouse feels imprecise or jumpy, use the arrow keys instead. Click the image once to select it, then press the arrow keys on your keyboard (up, down, left, right) to move it one small step at a time. Each press moves the image a small distance in that direction.
This method is slower than dragging but gives you much finer control, especially when you need the image in an exact spot. Hold down the Ctrl key (or Command on Mac) while pressing the arrow keys to move the image in even smaller increments.
Aligning images to text or the page
Word has built-in alignment tools that snap images to specific positions. Right-click the image and look for "Align" or "Position" options. You can align the image to the left, center, or right side of the page, or align it relative to the text around it. This is faster than dragging if you want the image in a standard position.
You can also use the "Position" option to set exact measurements — for example, 1 inch from the left edge and 2 inches from the top. This is useful when you need the image in the same spot every time you open the document, or when you are working with a template.
Keeping images in place while editing
If you move an image and then add or delete text, the image might shift position. To prevent this, right-click the image, go to "Wrap Text," and choose "Fix Position on Page." This anchors the image to the page itself rather than to the text, so editing text around it will not move the image.
Be aware that "Fix Position on Page" can cause text to flow under the image in ways you did not intend. If that happens, switch back to "Square" or "Tight" wrapping and position the image again, or add extra line breaks in the text to control where it flows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my image move when I type above it?
The image is set to wrap "In Line with Text," which ties it to a specific location in your text. When you add text before it, the image moves down. Right-click the image, choose "Wrap Text," and select "Square" or "Tight" to float it independently of the text.
Can I move an image in Word on my phone or tablet?
Yes, but the process is slightly different. Tap the image to select it, then use your finger to drag it to the new position. On some mobile versions of Word, you may need to tap and hold before dragging. The text wrapping options are usually in a menu accessed by tapping the image and looking for layout or arrangement settings.
How do I move an image back to where it started?
Use Ctrl+Z (or Command+Z on Mac) to undo the last action. You can press it multiple times to step back through your recent changes. If you have already saved the document, undo will not work — you will have to move the image manually again.
What if the image is inside a table or text box?
Images inside tables or text boxes move the same way — click and drag — but they stay within the boundaries of the table or box. If you need to move the image outside the table, cut it first, click outside the table, and paste it there.