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The Picture in cell feature allows you to insert pictures into cells, as well as converting existing floating pictures that are over cells in to a cell.  

How to insert a picture in to a cell

There are several options to insert pictures in to a cell:

Note: For inserting pictures in cells, Excel supports the following picture file types: JPG/JPEG, PNG, BMP, ICO, WEBP, TIF/TIFF, GIF (not animated). 

Insert a Picture in a Cell from the ribbon

  1. On the Insert tab select Illustrations.

  2. Select Pictures, then Place in Cell.

  3. Select one of the following options from the Insert Picture From dropdown menu:

    • Select This Device for inserting a picture from your device.

    • Select Stock Images for inserting picture from stock images.

    • Select Online Pictures for inserting picture from the web.

  4. Select the picture and select Insert.

Inserting multiple pictures at once 

Once you select the source where your picture is being inserted from, then select multiple pictures, then select Insert

All selected images will be inserted within the workbook cells at once, starting from the active cell and down the column for as many cells as pictures selected. This will overwrite any values that are currently in those cells.

Paste a Picture in a Cell

If you have a picture copied in your clipboard, you can paste it as a picture in a cell. 

  1. Right-click in the cell.

  2. Under Paste Options, select Paste Picture in Cell.

Insert Picture in-cell in Excel screenshot two version two.jpg

Note: When there's a picture in the clipboard, the default Paste option or Ctrl+V shortcut will paste the picture over cells.

Switch from Picture over Cells to Picture in Cell

You can easily switch between the picture types and convert a picture that is floating over cells to a picture in a cell. 

When selecting a picture over cells and choosing Place in Cell, the picture will be put at the top corner cell where the picture over cell was floating. 

  1. Select a picture which is over floating over cells.

  2. In the Picture Format tab, select Place in Cell.

Insert Picture in-cell in Excel three version two.jpg

Place a Picture in a Cell through the right-click menu

  1. Select a picture and right-click to open the context menu.

  2. Select Place in Cell.

Switch from Picture in Cell to Picture over Cells

If you want to get back and have the picture floating over cells, switching is easy through the context menu. Right-click on the picture in the cell and choose Picture in Cell > Place over Cells.

Add Alt Text to the picture for Accessibility 

We recommend adding alt text to the picture. Alt text helps people with visual disabilities understand pictures and other graphical content. When someone using a screen reader comes across a picture in a document, they will hear the alt text describing the picture; without alt text, they will only know they've reached a picture without knowing what the picture shows.

Right-click on the picture in cell, choose View Alt Text and fill the alternate text in the side pane. 

For more information, see Everything you need to know to write effective alt text.

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