Sometimes you may have an image containing text that you want to change, correct, or replace. It could be a screenshot, scanned document, form, poster, receipt, or any other picture with written information. When you insert such an image into Microsoft Word, you may notice that you cannot simply click on the words and edit them like normal Word text.
The reason is simple: the text is part of the image itself. However, there are easy ways to edit image text in Word depending on what you need to change. You can cover the old text with a shape and add new text, or use OCR to convert the text from the image into editable content.
In this guide, we will explain how to edit image text in Word step by step. You will learn simple methods for replacing text, extracting text from images, changing the font and color, and getting better results when working with pictures in Word.
Can You Directly Edit Text Inside an Image in Word?
Microsoft Word does not normally allow you to click and edit text that is already part of a picture. When you insert an image into Word, the words inside that image are treated as part of the picture rather than separate text.
For example, if you insert a screenshot containing a sentence, you can move or resize the entire image, but you cannot place your cursor directly inside the sentence and change individual words.
Why Can’t You Edit Image Text Directly?
The main reason is that an image is made up of pixels. Word sees the picture as one object, even if it contains clearly visible words. It does not automatically separate the letters from the background.
This is different from normal Word text. Text typed directly into a document can be selected, deleted, formatted, and changed because Word recognizes it as editable content.
What Can You Do Instead?
Although you cannot directly edit the original text inside most images, there are several ways to achieve a similar result. The easiest option is to cover the old text with a shape and then add your new text using a text box.
This method works particularly well when the image has a simple or plain background. You can match the shape’s color with the background and make the replacement text look similar to the original.
Use OCR to Make Image Text Editable
If the image contains a lot of text, manually covering and replacing every word can take a long time. In this situation, OCR can be more useful. How To Edit Image Text In Word
OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It can recognize words and characters in an image and convert them into normal text that you can edit.
Once the text has been converted, you can copy it into Word and make changes just like regular document text. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Which Method Should You Choose?
If you only need to change a few words, using a shape and text box in Word is usually simple and practical.
If you need to edit an entire paragraph, page, or scanned document, converting the image to editable text with OCR is generally more convenient. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Keep the Original Image
Before making any changes, it is a good idea to keep a copy of the original image. This gives you a backup if something goes wrong or if you later need to compare the edited version with the original.
By choosing the right method, you can effectively edit image text in Word even though the original text itself is not directly editable. How To Edit Image Text In Word
How to Edit Image Text in Word
If you only need to replace a small amount of text in an image, Microsoft Word provides a simple workaround. You can insert the picture into your document, cover the old text with a shape, and then place new text over that area.
This method does not actually change the original image. Instead, it creates the appearance that the text has been edited. It is useful for simple images with plain backgrounds. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Insert the Image Into Word
First, open your Word document and place the cursor where you want the image to appear.
Go to Insert > Pictures and choose the image from your computer. After inserting it, resize the picture if necessary.
For easier editing, you can also adjust the image’s Wrap Text setting. Options such as In Front of Text can make it easier to position other objects over the image. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Cover the Old Text
After inserting the image, go to Insert > Shapes and choose a rectangle or another suitable shape.
Draw the shape over the text you want to replace. Try to make the shape the same size as the area containing the original text. How To Edit Image Text In Word
If the image has a plain background, you can use the same or a similar color for the shape’s fill. This helps hide the old text. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Remove the Shape Outline
The outline around the shape may make the editing look obvious. To make the result cleaner, select the shape and choose Shape Format > Shape Outline > No Outline.
Now the shape should blend more naturally with the background. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Add a Text Box
Next, go to Insert > Text Box and place the text box over the covered area.
Type the new text that you want to appear in the image. You can move and resize the text box until it is positioned correctly.
Make the New Text Match
For a more natural result, try to make the replacement text look similar to the original. Adjust the font style, font size, color, alignment, and spacing. How To Edit Image Text In Word
If you are editing a screenshot or document with a simple design, matching these details can make the replacement difficult to notice.
Check the Final Result
After adding the new text, zoom in and check the edited area carefully. Make sure the old text is completely covered and that the new text is positioned correctly. How To Edit Image Text In Word
If necessary, adjust the shape or text box by moving it slightly until everything looks properly aligned.
Save the Edited Document
Once you are satisfied with the result, save your Word document. It is also a good idea to keep the original image separately so you can restore it later if needed. How To Edit Image Text In Word
This method is best when you only need to replace a few words. For documents containing a lot of image text, an OCR method can save more time.
How to Insert an Image Into Word
Before you can edit or replace text in an image, you first need to add the picture to your Word document. The process is simple and works with common image formats such as JPG and PNG. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Open Your Word Document
Start Microsoft Word and open the document where you want to work. You can open an existing document or create a new blank document. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Place your cursor in the area where you want the image to appear.
Insert the Picture
Go to the Insert tab at the top of Word and select Pictures. Choose the location where your image is saved, such as your computer or device.
Select the image and click Insert. Word will place the picture into your document.
Resize the Image
If the image is too large or too small, click on it and drag one of the corner handles to resize it.
Try to use the corner handles rather than the side handles. This helps maintain the original proportions of the image and prevents it from looking stretched. How To Edit Image Text In Word
Change the Image Position
You may also need to move the image to make room for your replacement text.
Click the image and open the Layout Options button. You can choose a suitable Wrap Text option, such as In Front of Text, when you need more control over the image’s position.
Keep the Image at a Suitable Size
Avoid making the image extremely large or small while editing. A suitable size makes it easier to position shapes and text boxes accurately. How To Edit Image Text In Word
If you need to work on small text, you can zoom in on the Word document instead of enlarging the image unnecessarily.
Prepare the Image for Text Editing
Once the picture is inserted and positioned correctly, you can move on to the next step: covering the original text and adding your replacement text.
Remember that inserting the image does not make the text inside it editable. You will need to use a text box, shape, or OCR method to work with the text. How To Edit Image Text In Word
How to Cover Old Text in an Image
If you want to replace only a few words in an image, covering the original text is one of the easiest methods in Microsoft Word. You can place a shape over the unwanted text and then add your new text on top.
Select a Shape
After inserting your image, go to the Insert tab and select Shapes. Choose a simple rectangle or another shape that fits the area you want to cover.
Click and drag the shape over the original text. Make sure the old words are completely covered.
You can resize the shape by dragging its edges or corners. Zooming in on the document can make it easier to position the shape accurately.
You may also like it:
Easy Friendship Drawings In Pencil – A Complete Guide – Aarya Editz
Simple Geometric Wall Paint Ideas – A Unique Guide – Aarya Editz
Best Boy Photo Editor For Men: A Unique Guide – Aarya Editz
Match the Background Color
To make the covered area look natural, try to match the shape’s fill color with the background behind the original text.
Select the shape and open the Shape Format options. Choose Shape Fill and select a color that is similar to the image background.
If the background is plain white, for example, a white fill may work well. More complicated backgrounds can be harder to match perfectly.
Remove the Shape Outline
A visible border around the shape can make it obvious that another object has been placed over the image. How To Edit Image Text In Word
To remove it, select the shape and go to Shape Format > Shape Outline > No Outline.
This gives the shape a cleaner appearance and helps it blend into the surrounding area.
Make Sure the Old Text Is Fully Covered
Look carefully around the edges of the shape. If even part of the original text is visible, increase the size of the shape slightly. How To Edit Image Text In Word
However, avoid making the shape unnecessarily large because it could cover other important parts of the image.
Add Your New Text
Once the old text is hidden, you can add a Text Box over the shape. Type your replacement text and adjust its position, font, size, and color.
This creates the appearance that the original image text has been changed. How To Edit Image Text In Word
When Does This Method Work Best?
The shape method works best when the text is placed on a simple, solid-colored background. If the text is over a photograph, pattern, or detailed design, matching the background may be difficult.
For complicated images or large amounts of text, using OCR or a dedicated image-editing tool may provide better results.
Can I directly edit text inside an image in Word?
No, text that is part of a JPG, PNG, or other image is not normally editable like regular Word text. You can cover the old text with a shape and add new text, or use OCR to convert the image text into editable text.
How do I edit image text in Word?
Insert the image into Word, cover the existing text with a suitable shape, and then add a text box containing your replacement text. You can adjust the font, size, color, and position to match the original.
How can I replace text in a picture without editing the original image?
You can place a shape over the text you want to replace and add a text box on top. This changes how the picture looks in your Word document without changing the original image file.
Conclusion
Learning how to edit image text in Word can be useful when you need to replace a few words in a screenshot, scanned document, form, poster, or other picture. Although Word does not normally let you edit text directly inside an image, there are simple ways to achieve the result you want.
For small changes, you can cover the original text with a shape and place a text box over it with your new words. By matching the background, font, color, and size, you can make the replacement look clean and natural.
If you need to edit a large amount of text, OCR is a better option because it can convert text from an image into editable content. Choose the method that best suits your image and the amount of text you need to change, and always keep a copy of the original image before making edits.
