How to Move Images in Google Docs — Step-by-step Guide

How to Move Images in Google Docs

First, click the photo to select it. Then, drag the picture to the area you want it to be. If you want to fix the picture’s positioning, click on the image again and select from “In line,” “Wrap text,” “Break text,” “Behind text,” and “In front of text” options.

 

Moving Images in Google Docs — The How To’s

Moving images in Google Docs almost has similar dynamics when you move tables as well.

Yet, unlike moving tables in Google Docs, there’s a bit of a twist at the end part of the process to make the image work well with the text components.

So, here’s how you move images in Google Docs:

Step 1: First, import the image from your device to Google Docs by clicking the Insert button on the menu bar.

On the dropdown menu that appears, select the Image option, which will then open up another dropdown menu to its right.

Click the Upload from computer option to begin the importing process.

However, you can also directly insert an image from other sources like the web, Google Drive, Google Photos, through a website’s URL, or from the camera.

Step 2: After opening the photo, you’ll then see it on the document where you left the blinking cursor at.

By default, Google Docs places the pictures you add in line with the text. 

If, however, you don’t want to keep this kind of text wrapping on the image, head over to the next step.

Step 3: Select the photo by clicking on it once. You’ll then see blue squares surrounding the image.

These blue squares typically allow you to resize the photo much like how you resize text boxes in Canva.

But, what we’re after is the positioning options menu that appears at the bottom of the photo after clicking on it.

In the positioning menu, you’ll see five options: In line, Wrap text, Break text, Behind text, and In front of text.

If you want to place the image on a sentence line on the document, select the In line option.

If you want to be more flexible with the image placement, choose the Wrap text option instead. 

Aside from easier moving of the image, you can also adjust the margin size surrounding it.

Now, if you prefer to place the photo between text but not allow it to be moved to the left or right, choose the Break text option.

The last 2 options, Behind text and In front of text, allow you to place the photo behind the text for a background effect, or when you aim to achieve a watermark effect.

Since we want to have more flexibility with moving the photo across the document, your best option is selecting the Wrap text option.

Step 4: After selecting the Wrap text choice, click and drag the photo to its newest location. The text will then position itself around the photo.

And, with those four simple steps, you can move images in Google Docs without any hiccups.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Move Images in Google Docs

 

What positioning option should I select if I want to make the photo appear like a watermark on the document?

To achieve a watermark effect, select the In front of text positioning option. After you place the image in front of the text, click on it once and select the 3-dot icon on the menu. Choose the All image options button before adjusting the transparency slider under the Adjustments section.

 

Can you click and drag the image across the document without changing the text wrapping?

You can still move the photo across the Google Docs file without changing the default text wrapping. But you won’t be able to adjust the photo’s positioning as flexibly as compared to selecting the Wrap text option. 

 

What other editing options are available aside from moving images across a Google Docs file?

Aside from moving an image and adjusting its text wrapping, you can rotate and resize it as well. Just click and drag a corner box away or toward the photo to resize it. Click and drag the circle button found at its top to rotate the image.