You want to place a picture behind your text in Word to create a watermark, a background image, or a decorative layout. By default, Word inserts images as inline objects that sit on the same line as text, which makes them impossible to position freely. This article explains how to change the text wrapping setting to Behind Text, which lets you move the image anywhere and have text flow over it.
Key Takeaways: Inserting a Picture Behind Text in Word
- Right-click the picture > Wrap Text > Behind Text: Changes the image layer so text appears on top of it.
- Layout Options icon next to the selected image: A quick button to toggle wrapping styles including Behind Text.
- Picture Format > Wrap Text > Behind Text: The ribbon method for changing text wrapping on a selected picture.
Understanding Text Wrapping and Image Layers in Word
Every image in Word has a text wrapping setting that controls how text flows around or over it. The default setting is In Line with Text, which treats the picture like a giant character — it sits on the text line and shifts the surrounding text. To place a picture behind text, you must change the wrapping to Behind Text. This setting moves the image to a lower layer, allowing text to appear on top of it. No special prerequisites exist beyond having Word installed. You can use any image format that Word supports, such as PNG, JPG, or GIF.
Three Methods to Set a Picture Behind Text
Each method achieves the same result. Choose the one that fits your workflow.
Method 1: Using the Right-Click Context Menu
- Insert the picture
Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. Click Pictures and choose This Device. Select your image file and click Insert. The picture appears in your document with the default In Line with Text wrapping. - Right-click the picture
Right-click the inserted image. A context menu appears. - Select Wrap Text
Hover over Wrap Text in the context menu. A submenu opens. - Choose Behind Text
Click Behind Text from the submenu. The image moves behind the text layer. You can now drag the picture to any position on the page without affecting the text flow.
Method 2: Using the Layout Options Button
- Select the picture
Click the picture to select it. A Layout Options icon appears near the top-right corner of the image. The icon looks like a square with lines around it. - Click the Layout Options icon
Click the icon. A panel of text wrapping options opens. - Select Behind Text
Click the Behind Text option in the panel. The image moves behind the text layer. Close the panel by clicking anywhere outside it.
Method 3: Using the Ribbon
- Select the picture
Click the picture to select it. The Picture Format tab appears on the ribbon. - Open the Wrap Text menu
On the Picture Format tab, locate the Arrange group. Click the Wrap Text button. A drop-down menu appears. - Choose Behind Text
Click Behind Text from the drop-down menu. The image moves behind the text layer.
Common Mistakes and Limitations When Using Behind Text
The picture disappears or is hidden behind the text
When you set a picture to Behind Text, the text covers it entirely if the text has a solid background color or if the image is small. To make the picture visible, resize it or adjust the text fill. Select the text, go to the Home tab, and click the Font Color drop-down arrow. Choose No Fill if a fill color is applied. Alternatively, increase the picture size by dragging a corner handle outward.
The picture moves when I edit text above it
By default, pictures set to Behind Text are anchored to a paragraph. If you add or remove text above that paragraph, the image moves with the anchor. To lock the picture in place, select the image, right-click, and choose More Layout Options. In the Layout dialog, go to the Position tab and check Lock anchor. Then check Move object with text to keep the image at a fixed page position.
The picture appears in front of text on some pages but behind on others
This happens when the image spans multiple pages or is anchored to a paragraph that breaks across pages. To fix this, open the Layout dialog for the image, go to the Position tab, and set the vertical alignment to Absolute position relative to Page. Set the horizontal alignment to Absolute position relative to Page as well. This fixes the image to a specific spot on the page regardless of text flow.
Behind Text vs In Front of Text: Behavior Differences
| Item | Behind Text | In Front of Text |
|---|---|---|
| Layer position | Below the text layer | Above the text layer |
| Text visibility | Text is fully readable over the image | Image can obscure text beneath it |
| Use case | Watermarks, backgrounds, subtle logos | Annotations, callouts, floating graphics |
| Image selection | Click the image border to select it | Click anywhere on the image to select it |
| Print behavior | Image prints behind text as shown on screen | Image prints on top of text as shown on screen |
Setting a picture behind text is a quick way to add visual depth to your Word documents. After you apply the Behind Text wrapping, try adjusting the image transparency using the Picture Format tab and the Transparency tool. This gives the image a faded look that works well as a background. For a more permanent watermark, use the Watermark feature on the Design tab instead of inserting a picture manually.