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How do I select all pictures at once in Word?

Published in Word Picture Selection 4 mins read

The most efficient way to select all pictures at once in Word is by utilizing the Selection Pane, which allows you to view and select all objects within your document.

Here's a comprehensive guide on how to select pictures in Word:

How to Select All Pictures Using the Selection Pane (Recommended)

The Selection Pane provides a list of all objects in your document, including pictures, shapes, text boxes, and more, making it easy to select multiple or all items of a specific type.

  1. Open the Selection Pane:

    • Navigate to the Home tab in the Word ribbon.
    • In the Editing group, click on Select.
    • From the dropdown menu, choose Selection Pane....
    • Alternatively, if you have a picture selected, the Picture Format (or Shape Format) tab will appear. On that tab, in the Arrange group, click Selection Pane.
  2. Select All Pictures:

    • Once the Selection Pane appears on the right side of your Word window, you will see a list of all objects in your document (e.g., "Picture 1," "Picture 2," "Rectangle 1," etc.).
    • To select all pictures, hold down the Ctrl key and click on each picture listed in the Selection Pane.
    • Pro Tip: If you have many pictures, click the first picture in the list, then hold down the Shift key and click the last picture in the list. This will select all pictures (and other objects) between those two points. You can then deselect any non-picture objects by holding Ctrl and clicking them in the pane.
  3. Manage Selected Pictures:

    • Once selected, you can move, resize, format, or group all the selected pictures simultaneously.
    • The Selection Pane also allows you to hide or show individual objects using the eye icon next to each item, which can be useful for managing complex layouts.

Other Methods for Selecting Pictures

While the Selection Pane is ideal for "all pictures," here are other useful methods for selecting one or multiple pictures:

1. Manually Selecting Multiple Specific Pictures

If you only need to select a few specific pictures, or not all of them, you can do so manually:

  • Select the first picture by clicking on it.
  • Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
  • Click on each additional picture you wish to select. Each click will add or remove that picture from your selection while you hold Ctrl.
  • Once all desired pictures are selected, you can release the Ctrl key and perform your desired action.

2. Using "Select All" (Ctrl + A)

This method selects all content in your document, including text, pictures, shapes, and other objects.

  • Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard.
  • Consideration: This method is effective if your document contains only pictures or if you genuinely want to select everything. If you have a mix of text and pictures, this will select the text as well, which might not be your desired outcome if you only want to work with images.

Summary of Picture Selection Methods

Method Description Best Use Case
Selection Pane Lists all objects; allows precise selection of multiple or all pictures. Selecting all pictures or specific groups of objects.
Ctrl + Click (Manual) Hold Ctrl and click individual pictures to add/remove from selection. Selecting a few specific, non-contiguous pictures.
Ctrl + A (Select All) Selects all content (text, pictures, objects) in the entire document. Document contains only pictures, or you need to select everything.

Practical Tips for Working with Pictures in Word

  • Text Wrapping: Sometimes, pictures are difficult to select because of their text wrapping settings. If a picture is "In Line with Text," it behaves like a character. For easier selection and manipulation, change its wrapping style (e.g., "Square," "Tight," "Behind Text," or "In Front of Text") by right-clicking the picture and choosing Wrap Text.
  • Grouping Objects: After selecting multiple pictures, you can group them together. This turns them into a single object, making it easier to move and resize them as one unit. To group, right-click on any selected picture, go to Group, and then click Group.
  • Zoom Level: Adjusting the zoom level of your document (View tab > Zoom) can help you see all pictures on a page for easier selection.