Grouping lets you move, resize, and format multiple shapes or images as a single unit

When you have several shapes, images, or text boxes in a Word document that you want to keep together and move as one, grouping combines them into a single object. Once grouped, you can drag the whole set across the page, resize them all at once, or explore formatting to all of them without affecting anything else in your document. This is useful when you're building a diagram, a logo, or any visual element made of separate pieces.

Grouping is different from selecting multiple objects at once. When you select multiple objects without grouping, they move together only while you're holding the mouse button down. Once you click elsewhere, they separate again. Grouping permanently links them until you ungroup them.

Key Takeaways

  • Select all the objects you want to group by clicking the first one, then holding Shift and clicking each additional object.
  • Right-click the selection and choose Group, or use the Drawing Tools Format tab and select Group from the Arrange section.
  • Grouped objects move, resize, and rotate together as a single unit, but you can still edit individual objects by double-clicking inside the group.
  • Ungroup objects at any time by selecting the group, right-clicking, and choosing Ungroup.

How to select multiple objects before grouping

Click on the first shape, image, or text box you want to include in the group. Then hold down the Shift key and click on each additional object. You'll see selection handles (small squares) appear around each object as you select it. All selected objects will have visible handles when you're ready to group.

If the objects are close together, you can also drag a selection box around all of them at once. Click and drag from a point above and to the left of your objects, then drag down and to the right until the box touches all the objects you want to include. Release the mouse button, and all objects within that box will be selected.

Grouping through the right-click menu

With your objects selected, right-click anywhere on one of the selected objects. A context menu will appear. Look for the Group option and click it. The objects are now grouped into a single unit. You can verify this by clicking anywhere on the group — all objects will show selection handles together.

This method works in all versions of Word and is often the fastest route if you're already working with your mouse. The right-click menu appears exactly where your cursor is, so you don't have to navigate to a toolbar.

Grouping through the Drawing Tools Format tab

If you have your objects selected and the Drawing Tools Format tab is not visible, click on one of your selected objects and it should appear in the ribbon at the top. Look for the Arrange section on this tab — it's usually on the right side. Click the Group button, which typically shows an icon of overlapping shapes.

A dropdown menu will appear with options including Group, Ungroup, and Regroup. Click Group to combine your selected objects. This method is useful if you prefer working with the ribbon interface or if the right-click menu doesn't appear for some reason.

What you can do with grouped objects

Once objects are grouped, you can move them all at once by clicking and dragging. You can resize the entire group by dragging the corner handles — all objects will scale proportionally. You can rotate the group by clicking it once more to reveal the rotation handle (a circular arrow), then dragging that handle to turn the whole group.

You can also explore formatting to the entire group at once. Right-click the group and choose options like Fill, Outline, or Shadow, and the formatting will explore to all objects in the group. This saves time when you want a consistent look across multiple shapes or images.

Editing individual objects within a group

If you need to change just one object inside a group, you don't have to ungroup everything. Double-click on the group to enter group-editing mode. The group border will change appearance, and you can now click on individual objects inside it to select and edit them. Change their color, size, or position without affecting the others.

When you're done editing individual objects, click outside the group to exit group-editing mode. The group will function as a single unit again. This approach is faster than ungrouping and regrouping if you only need to make a small change to one piece.

Ungrouping objects

To separate a grouped object back into individual pieces, click on the group to select it. Right-click and choose Ungroup, or use the Drawing Tools Format tab and select Ungroup from the Group dropdown. The objects will no longer be linked and can be moved and edited independently.

You can regroup the same objects later without selecting them again. If you ungroup and then when ready want to group them the same way, use the Regroup option from the Group dropdown menu. This restores the previous grouping without requiring you to select each object again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I group text boxes with shapes and images?

Yes. You can group any combination of shapes, images, text boxes, and other objects together. Select them all using Shift+click or by dragging a selection box around them, then group as usual. The grouping works the same way regardless of object type.

What if I can't find the Group option in the right-click menu?

Make sure you have at least two objects selected. If you have only one object selected, the Group option won't appear. Also check that the objects are not inside a text box or table — objects inside text boxes sometimes can't be grouped. Click outside any text areas and try selecting your objects again.

Does grouping affect the text inside text boxes?

No. Grouping only links the objects themselves, not their content. You can still edit the text inside a grouped text box by double-clicking the group to enter editing mode, then clicking the text box to edit its content. The text remains fully editable.

Can I group objects that are on different pages?

No. Objects must be visible on the same page to be selected and grouped together. If you need to link objects across pages, you'll need to keep them on the same page or use a different approach like anchoring or linking.

How do I move a grouped object to a different layer or send it behind text?

Select the group, then right-click and look for Wrap Text or Arrange options. You can also use the Drawing Tools Format tab and find the Arrange section, which contains options like Bring Forward, Send Backward, and Wrap Text. These let you control how the group sits relative to text and other objects.