Document Editing Problems

How to Create an Interactive Image Deck in Microsoft Word

Bushra Parveen Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to create an interactive slideshow or image gallery with manual left and right navigation arrows directly inside a Microsoft Word document.

How to Create an Interactive Image Deck in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Designing a document that requires displaying multiple images cleanly without cluttering the page.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word lacks a built-in image gallery or interactive slideshow feature that allows readers to manually browse through images.

Before you start

Gather all the images you intend to use in a single folder, and ensure they are appropriately sized and compressed before embedding them into your document to avoid excessive file sizes.

Solution 1Recommended

Embed a PowerPoint Presentation

The most reliable workaround for adding a manual slideshow to a Word document is embedding a PowerPoint presentation file.

By using Object Linking and Embedding (OLE), you can place an entire presentation inside your document. When a reader double-clicks the embedded object, they can click through the slides using their keyboard or mouse.

Create the Image Deck

Open Microsoft PowerPoint, insert your images onto individual slides to create a gallery, and save the presentation file.

Insert Object in Word

Open your Microsoft Word document. Navigate to the 'Insert' tab, look for the 'Text' group on the right side of the ribbon, and click on 'Object'.

Embed the File

In the Object dialog box, select the 'Create from File' tab. Click 'Browse' to locate and select the PowerPoint file you just saved, then click 'OK' to embed it into the document.

Interactive Navigation: Readers can double-click the embedded presentation thumbnail in the Word document to view the images and manually click left or right to navigate.

Solution 2

Insert an Animated GIF

If you do not strictly require manual navigation controls, an animated GIF can automatically cycle through multiple images in a single frame.

Solution 3

Link to an External HTML Image Gallery

For documents intended for digital distribution, hyperlinking to a web-based gallery offers a much smoother reading experience.

All-in-One Office Suite

Seamlessly Embed Image Decks with WPS Office

WPS Office simplifies the process of combining different document types. Thanks to its all-in-one tabbed interface, you can effortlessly create a slideshow in WPS Presentation and embed it straight into your WPS Writer document without opening multiple programs.

1. Create a Presentation: Open WPS Office, create a new Presentation, insert your images onto separate slides, and save the file.
2. Switch to WPS Writer: Without leaving the application, switch to your document in the WPS Writer tab.
3. Embed the Object: Go to the 'Insert' tab, click on 'Object', choose 'Create from file', and select your saved presentation to embed the interactive deck.

All-in-one suite to easily toggle between Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheet tabsFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsFree, lightweight, and user-friendly interface for seamless document creation

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add left and right navigation arrows to images natively in Word?

No. Microsoft Word is a text-focused processor and lacks a built-in gallery widget or interactive slideshow feature that supports manual arrow navigation.

Why doesn't my animated GIF pause when inserted into a document?

Animated GIFs are designed to loop continuously. They function purely as image files rather than interactive media, meaning they cannot be paused or navigated manually within a Word document.

Will embedded PowerPoint slides remain interactive if I save the Word document as a PDF?

Generally, no. When you save a Word document containing an OLE object (like a PowerPoint file) as a standard PDF, the interactive element is flattened into a static image. You would need to use interactive PDF editing software to build a functioning gallery in the final PDF file.

Document & File Issues