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How to get images to stay in a fixed positiion when using Word365

DP 65 Reputation points
2025-12-12T12:57:12.8833333+00:00

I'm accustomed to using Publisher for documents with multiple images but this is being withdrawn. I've tried Word with text wrapping tight, fixed positioning, locked anchor and absolute positioning but still the images jump about, especially when several images are close together on a page. Often one will jumped to the same position on the next page. Before I decide I'm wasting money with 365, is there any way of getting images fixed on a page in a way that I can look to vreate layouts by dragging or repositioning for best effect?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 275.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-13T02:06:20.18+00:00

    The only way to get images to stay put is to insert them In Line with Text. You can place images side by side if you use a borderless table, but if you want anything more complicated than that, you will have to follow the suggestions Stefan and John have offered.

    Note that, depending on the version of Publisher you are using, you may be able to continue doing so. I'm using Publisher 2003 (and also have 2010 installed) and assume they will continue to function.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. John Korchok 225.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-12T16:32:53.0233333+00:00

    Stefan is correct. To get pictures to stay on a particular page, you need to use a desktop publishing program like Adobe InDesign. Or you can do a search on InDesign alternatives to see programs with similar capabilities that don't come with InDesign's cost.

    In word processors, images are always anchored to text and move with that text.

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  1. Stefan Blom 326.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-12T13:08:21.27+00:00

    Word is less flexible with positioning images and other objects in a fixed location, as you have noticed. In Word, you can position objects relative to the page boundaries which means that they won't move on the page. However, in a Word document, you can't control on which page an object resides. The object will move to another page if the anchor paragraph moves (as a result of doc editing).

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  1. DP 65 Reputation points
    2025-12-13T11:23:35.7866667+00:00

    Thank you all. You have confirmed my findings. Such a pity Microsoft is withdrawing another useful piece of software and recommending an alternative that doesn't really work. Off to decide whether I need to invest in a paid version or can get away with a free one.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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