Document Editing Problems

How to Move a Picture in Microsoft Publisher After Changing Its Shape

Maira Mehtab Oct 12, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user is unable to select or move a picture in Microsoft Publisher after modifying it into a skewed or custom shape.

How to Move a Picture in Microsoft Publisher After Changing Its Shape

Product: Microsoft Publisher 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a document layout with custom-shaped images.
Observed behavior: The modified image becomes difficult or impossible to select and move around the page.

Before you start

Ensure you have the latest version of Microsoft Publisher 365 installed, as older versions may experience rendering bugs with custom shapes.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Text Wrapping Settings

Change the picture's text wrapping to 'In Line with Text' to restore its selectability and mobility.

When an image is shaped into a custom or skewed format, its bounding box can sometimes conflict with the page layout. Resetting the text wrapping clears these selection issues.

Open Format Picture

Right-click the problematic picture and select 'Format Picture' from the context menu.

Access Size & Properties

In the right-hand 'Size & Properties' pane, locate and expand the 'Text Wrapping' section.

Change Wrapping Style

Select the 'In Line with Text' option.

Move the Picture

Close the pane, then click on the picture again to select and drag it to your desired location.

Move Successful: Once the wrapping style is updated, the image bounding box resets, allowing standard drag-and-drop movement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does changing a picture's shape freeze it in Publisher?

When an image is heavily skewed or changed to a custom shape, its bounding box can sometimes conflict with complex text wrapping formats, making the selection area unclickable.

Can I move the picture freely without snapping to text?

Yes, by changing the text wrapping to 'Square' or 'Tight' instead of 'In Line with Text', though 'In Line' is the best temporary setting for resetting the bounding box if the image gets stuck.

What should I do if the 'Format Picture' menu doesn't appear?

If you cannot right-click the image to access 'Format Picture', try selecting the image by dragging a large selection box around it with your mouse, then use the 'Picture Format' tab on the top ribbon.

Document & File Issues