Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Moving Images Behind Text.

Moving Images Behind Text

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 8, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Word allows you to place all sorts of graphic images in your documents. Many times you may want to place the images behind the text. Exactly how you do this depends on the type of images with which you are working. If you are working win an image you created by using the Drawing toolbar, you can follow these steps:

Select the image.
Choose the Order option from the Draw menu on the Drawing toolbar. Word displays a submenu.
Choose Send Behind Text from the submenu. The image should move behind the text.

If you are using any other kind of image, perhaps one you have inserted from a graphics file, then the process is different:

Select the image. The Picture toolbar should appear. (If the toolbar doesn't appear, select Toolbars from the View menu and choose the Picture toolbar.)
Click on the Text Wrapping tool on the toolbar. Word displays a list of wrapping methods you can choose.
Choose the None option.

It is possible at this point that your text may now be visible over the top of your image. If it is not, follow the same steps you used for the images created with the Drawing toolbar.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (698) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Moving Images Behind Text.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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Comments

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What is 2 + 2?

2017-12-27 04:31:10

Suraj

Picture behind the text is very quickly when I read your site information. Thank you

2016-09-10 13:35:31

Gary Stanullwich

Would this work for labels as well ?

Thanks,
Gary Stanullwich

2016-09-09 08:02:31

alex

The latest MSWord is really terrible. I use a tight word wrap and then edit the wrap points. Even though there is an option to "Send to back: Send behind text", the image always sits on top of the text. How do I fix this?

2016-08-23 10:44:37

Anthony

Thanks!

2016-08-18 15:42:48

Maria Casas

Ali Alnaqeeb, thanks so much!! Yours worked for me!

2016-07-20 05:09:21

Samuell Creed

This was very useful for me

Thankyouvery much

2016-02-26 23:03:30

Lib

Ali Alnaqeeb, thank you so much for the answer I was searching for ! Your advice worked perfectly!

2015-10-09 12:09:29

LaTonya R

If you are using Word 2007. In order to move the object you have to go to the right where is says Find, Replace and Select. Click on select, then click select object and move your object where ever you would like. You have to click it back off or on to use text again or to move object again. I hope this helps someone. It took me a long time to figure out.

2015-07-22 07:58:18

Ali Alnaqeeb

I came here to find out how to "catch" an image after you assigned it's Wrap Text as Behinde Text, but I wasn't lucky enough to find the answer. I was trying on word while I'm searching the net and finally I Fugger out the answer by my self, and here its in Word 2010:
1) Go to the tab of Page Layout
2) Click on "Selection Pane" on the top right of the screen
3) A list of the pictures will show up
4) You can click on the desired picture and then do what ever you want, re-size it, move it or delete it.
Best Regards,

2015-05-06 05:40:13

yani

I want to knopw how to put an picture ontop of another picture please

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