How to insert an image in a text file or document

Updated: 11/30/2020 by Computer Hope

A plain text file, such as a file with a .txt extension, can only have plain, unformatted text and no images inserted into it. If you are working with a plain text file, it needs to be converted into a file format that supports RTF (rich text format).

To convert the file to RTF, you can save the file as a different file format, such as .RTF or .DOC for users using Microsoft Word or WordPad. Once the file is converted, you can follow the steps below for inserting an image into the text file.

• Insert an image in Microsoft Word.
• Insert an image in WordPad.
• Insert an image in Google Docs.
• Insert an image into OpenOffice Writer.
• Insert an image into a text file.
• Other programs.

Insert an image in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word users can copy an image from any other program and paste that image into the document at the location you want it to appear.

You can also insert a picture from within Microsoft Word by following the steps below for your version of Microsoft Word.

Word 2007 and later

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. In Microsoft Word, click the Insert tab.
3. Click the Picture or Clip Art option.

To place an image into your document stored on your computer, click the Picture option, and browse to the location of your image. If you don't have a picture in mind and want to see some of the included clip art that comes with Microsoft Word, click the Clip Art option.

After inserting the image, if you want to change the size of the image, do the following.

1. Click the image to select it.
2. Place the mouse cursor at one of the corners of the image, so that the mouse cursor changes to a diagonal arrow. The diagonal arrow cursor will be pointing to the top-left and bottom-right.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button, then drag left or right to change the size of the image.

Word 2003 and earlier

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. In Microsoft Word, click Insert.
3. Click Picture.
4. Click either Clip Art or From File.

To place an image into your document stored on your computer, choose From File, and browse to the location of your image. If you do not have a picture in mind and want to see some of the included clip art that came with Microsoft Word, select Clip Art.

After inserting the image, if you want to change the size of the image, do the following.

1. Click the image to select it.
2. Place the mouse cursor at one of the corners of the image, so that the mouse cursor changes to a diagonal arrow. The diagonal arrow cursor will be pointing to the top-left and bottom-right.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button, then drag left or right to change the size of the image.

Insert an image in WordPad

WordPad users can copy an image from any other program and paste that image into the document at the location you want it to appear.

You can also insert a picture from within WordPad by following the steps below.

1. Open WordPad.
2. In WordPad, on the Home tab, click the Picture option.
3. Select the image file you want to insert from your computer and click Open.

Insert an image in Google Docs

1. Open Google Docs.
2. Click Insert.
3. Click Image.
4. Drag the image that you want to use or click the button to choose the image to upload.

Insert an image into OpenOffice Writer

1. Open OpenOffice Writer.
2. Click Insert.
3. Click Picture.
4. Click From File, and browse to the location of the picture or image you want to use.
5. Click OK to insert the image.

Insert an image into a text file

Plain text files cannot have other files like a picture inserted into them. Open the file in a rich text editor or word processor and then choose the Save As option to save the text file as a file type that supports inserting an image. For example, you could save the file as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf instead of .txt.

• What can and cannot be done in a text file?

Other programs

Today, most programs support the ability of copying and pasting the image into the file. If your program is not listed above, try copying the image and pasting it into your document.

• How to copy text and images from a web page.