Formatting Issues

How to Add Multiple Images and a Table of Figures in Word

Emma Brown Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to organize multiple dated images within a legal document, keep them clear, link small images to larger versions, and include them in a table of figures.

How to Add Multiple Images and a Table of Figures in a Word Document

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a legal document that contains multiple visual exhibits and requires a structured index of those figures.
Observed behavior: The user wants to cleanly insert multiple images, reference them with captions, link thumbnails to full-size appendix copies, and generate an automated table of figures.

Before you start

Before inserting images into your document, edit or resize your image files using a dedicated image-editing application to ensure optimal clarity without unnecessarily inflating the document file size.

Solution 1Recommended

Add Captions and Create a Table of Figures

Use Word's built-in captioning tool to label each image, which allows you to automatically generate a Table of Figures at the beginning or end of your document.

Applying standardized captions to your images ensures that Word recognizes them as figures. Once all images are captioned, compiling them into a Table of Figures takes only a few clicks.

Insert and Caption the Image

Click where you want the image, go to the 'Insert' tab, and select 'Pictures'. Once inserted, right-click the image and choose 'Insert Caption'. Enter your descriptive text and click 'OK'.

Repeat for All Images

Continue adding images and applying captions to each one throughout your document.

Insert the Table of Figures

Place your cursor on the page where you want the table to appear. Go to the 'References' tab and click 'Insert Table of Figures'. Adjust the format settings if necessary, then click 'OK' to generate the list.

Add Captions and Create a Table of Figures

Update Table Automatically: If you add or remove images later, right-click the generated Table of Figures and select 'Update Field' to refresh the page numbers and captions.

Solution 2

Link Thumbnail Images to Full-Size Appendix Exhibits

To keep the main text clean while providing high-detail visuals, place small images in the body text and link them to full-sized copies in the appendix.

Efficient Document Formatting

Easily Organize Images and Tables of Figures in WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides intuitive tools to seamlessly insert multiple images, apply captions, and automatically generate a Table of Figures for professional and legal documents.

1. Insert Your Images: Open your document in WPS Writer, navigate to the 'Insert' tab, and click 'Picture' to add your images to the document.
2. Add Image Captions: Right-click the inserted image, select 'Insert Caption', choose your preferred label (e.g., Figure or Exhibit), and type your description.
3. Generate Table of Figures: Navigate to the 'References' tab and click 'Insert Table of Figures' to automatically compile all captioned images into a neat list.

Easily insert, resize, and manage high-quality document imagesOne-click automatic generation for Table of Figures and ContentsFully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx)Free, lightweight, and user-friendly interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I edit my images directly inside Word?

While Word provides basic cropping and resizing, it is not an image-editing application. It is strongly recommended to edit, crop, and resize image copies outside of Word before inserting them to prevent quality loss or excessive document file sizes.

Can I also create a Table of Authorities for my legal document?

Yes, alongside a Table of Figures, you can use the 'References' tab to mark citations and insert a Table of Authorities, which is particularly useful for legal briefs and memorandums.

Why isn't my Table of Figures updating when I add new image captions?

The Table of Figures does not update automatically in real time. Whenever you make changes, right-click anywhere on the table and select 'Update Field' to refresh the index with your latest additions.

Document & File Issues