3 Simple Ways to Rotate Images in Microsoft Word

Download Article
Adjust the images in your Microsoft Word document with this quick guide
Download Article

Do you need to rotate or flip an image in Microsoft Word? You can get your pictures to move by manually dragging the rotation handle, choosing from presets, or entering a specific degree. You can also use keyboard shortcuts. Here's how to rotate images in Microsoft Word on your Windows or Mac computer.

Quick Steps

  1. Click the image in your Word document.
  2. Click and hold the rotation handle (circular arrow).
  3. Drag in the direction you want to rotate.
  4. Release the mouse to save the position.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Rotating with the Mouse

Download Article
  1. Step 1 Open your document...
    Open your document in Microsoft Word. If you don't already have an image inserted, do so now.
  2. Step 2 Click the image.
    You'll see an outline appear around the edges of the image, with boxes on the corners and midpoints of the outline. You'll also see a circular arrow at the top of the image.[1]
    Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Click and hold the rotation handle.
    This is the circular arrow icon above or near the picture.
  4. Step 4 Drag in the direction you want to rotate.
    When you do this, the picture will rotate to follow your cursor.
    • If you want to rotate the picture by 15 degree increments, hold Shift while dragging.
    • To save the position, release the mouse button. Make sure to also save your document.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Rotating by Degrees

Download Article
  1. Step 1 Click the image.
    This will open the Picture Format tab at the top of the window.
  2. Step 2 Click Format.
    You can find this in the top-right corner of the toolbar.
  3. Step 3 Click the Rotate icon.
    This looks like a triangle with an arrow above it. You can find this in the Arrange section in Word for Windows. This section isn't labeled in Word for Mac, but you'll see it in the same place, on the right side of the menu close to the Selection Pane button.
    • A drop-down menu will open.
  4. Step 4 Rotate the image by preset angles.
    In the drop down menu, you'll see four different basic options: Rotate Right 90, Rotate Left 90, Flip Vertical, and Flip Horizontally. Click one to apply it to your image.
    • Flip Vertical will mirror the image along the X-axis.
    • Flip Horizontal will mirror the image along the Y-axis.
    • You can also use keyboard shortcuts (Windows only):
      • Click the photo to select it.
      • While holding ALT, press J, P, A, Y.
      • While holding ALT, press R (Rotate Right), L (Rotate Left), V (Flip Vertical), or H (Flip Horizontal).
  5. Step 5 Rotate the image by exact angles.
    From the same drop down menu, click More Rotation Options… and find the Rotate header.
    • Enter a degree for rotation or use the up/down arrows. Positive numbers will rotate the image to the right and negative numbers will rotate the image to the left.
    • Any degree greater than 360 degrees will be unnecessary since rotating the picture 360 degrees will only return the picture back to its original orientation.
    • Press OK when you're done to apply the rotation.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

3-D Rotation (Word 2007 & up)

Download Article
  1. Step 1 Right-click on the image and select "Format Picture".
    You will see a new panel open up either on the right side of the window or on the top of the window.
    • If you're using a Mac with no right mouse button, Ctrl-click the image instead.
  2. Step 2 Select "3-D Rotation".
    Depending on your version of Word, it will be in different place in the list.
    • For example, in the most recent version of Word for Mac (as of Feb. 2024), it's in the Effects tab that appears on the right side of the document window. This tab has an image of a pentagon. 3-D Rotation is near the bottom of the list of options.
  3. Step 3 Select a preset.
    Word includes quite a few different preset options for 3-D rotation. Scroll through the list by clicking on the icon next to "Presets."
  4. Step 4 Manually enter in the degrees.
    Either press the arrows or manually enter in the desired degree in the input fields next to X-Rotation, Y-Rotation, and Z-Rotation.
    • X-Rotation will rotate the image up and down, as if your were flipping an image away from you.
    • Y-Rotation will rotate the image side to side, as if you were turning an image over.
    • Z-Rotation will rotate the image clockwise, as if you were moving an image around on a table.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I rotate text in a Word document?
    SCTDerrick
    SCTDerrick
    Community Answer
    1. Open Microsoft Word. 2. Click the insert button. 3. Click text box. 4. Click simple text box. 5. Resize your text box if needed. 6. Type in your text. 7. Find the rotate icon. 8. Rotate your text. Note: If you want to get rid of the outline, then just click on the text box and find the format button. Then just go to shape outline and click the white box.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
     Thank you for your feedback.
     If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    How can I rotate all of the images at once in Microsoft Word?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Select all of your pictures, but make sure you set "layout option", not inline with text.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
     Thank you for your feedback.
     If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Video

Tips

  • The Rotate 180 degrees options are less-often used, but can be useful when trying to create a mirror-image.
    Thanks
  • Remember two sets of 90 degree rotations create 180 degrees, or a half-reversal from the original direction the image was headed in.
    Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Rotate Text in Microsoft Word2 Quick Ways to Rotate or Adjust Text in Microsoft Word
Insert Page Numbers in WordEasily Add Page Numbers to a Word Document on Any Platform
Insert a Check Box in WordHow to Add Check Boxes to Word: 10 Simple Steps
Repair a Word DocumentHow to Repair Corrupted Word Documents: Tips to Recover Text
Remove a Blank Page in Word
How to
Remove a Blank Page in Word
Create an Index in Word
How to
Create an Index in Word
Insert a Hyperlink in Microsoft Word3 Simple Ways to Insert a Hyperlink in Microsoft Word
Remove the 'Read Only' Status on MS Word Documents
How to
Remove the 'Read Only' Status on MS Word Documents
Add a Border to Word3 Easy Ways to Create Borders in Microsoft Word
Format a Word DocumentEasily Format Word Docs from Scratch or Using Templates
Remove a Header from the Second PageEasily Delete a Header from the Second Page in Word
Make a Booklet in Word6 Ways to Format and Print a Booklet in Word
Insert a File Into a Word Document
How to
Insert a File Into a Word Document
Check a Word Count in Microsoft Word
How to
Check a Word Count in Microsoft Word
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/rotate-or-flip-a-text-box-shape-wordart-or-picture-399e7a92-87e9-4d86-a03a-be120056fe3b#OfficeVersion=Windows_newer_versions

About This Article

CB
Co-authored by:
Christopher Batchelor
Tech Enthusiast
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly, and Christopher Batchelor, a trusted member of wikiHow's volunteer community. Christopher Batchelor is a wikiHow community member and technology enthusiast. He has experience using a range of different platforms and software, and likes to keep up with updates and new features. This article has been viewed 298,949 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 10
Updated: March 4, 2024
Views: 298,949
Categories: Microsoft Word
In other languages
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 298,949 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Jan 11, 2018

    "The instructions are clear. I just followed step by step. Great help."
More reader stories Hide reader stories
Share your story

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement