Chart & Visualization Issues

How to Display a Photo by Clicking a Cell in Excel

Steve K Oct 7, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user wants to set up a specific cell in an Excel worksheet so that clicking it displays or navigates to a photo located on another worksheet within the same workbook.

How to Display a Photo by Clicking a Cell in Excel

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating an interactive spreadsheet where clicking a cell dynamically shows an image or quickly navigates to an image stored elsewhere for easy reference.
Observed behavior: Clicking the designated cell navigates directly to the sheet containing the embedded image, or a formula dynamically loads the picture inside the cell.

Before you start

Verify whether your images are already embedded in another worksheet or hosted online via a URL, as this will determine if you need to use a hyperlink or the IMAGE function.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Hyperlink to Navigate to the Image Sheet

The simplest and most reliable way to view a photo stored on another worksheet is by creating a hyperlink that jumps directly to the cell behind the image.

This method works in all versions of Excel and doesn't require any complex formulas or coding. It essentially links your text to the specific location of the image in the workbook.

Locate the target image

Go to the worksheet where your photo is stored and take note of the cell reference located directly behind or next to the image (for example, Sheet2!C4).

Initiate the hyperlink

Return to your main worksheet, right-click the cell you want to use as a trigger, and select 'Link' or 'Hyperlink' from the context menu.

Configure the link destination

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, select 'Place in This Document' on the left panel.

Enter the cell reference

Type the exact cell reference you noted earlier and select the correct sheet name from the list. Click 'OK' to finalize. Clicking this cell will now instantly jump to the photo.

Use a Hyperlink to Navigate to the Image Sheet

Pro Tip: To easily return to your main sheet, create a 'Back' hyperlink near the image pointing back to your original cell.

Solution 2

Use the IMAGE Function for URL-Based Photos

If you are using a newer version of Excel and your images are hosted online, you can use the IMAGE function to display the picture directly inside the cell without navigating to a different sheet.

Solution 3

Display an Image in a Cell Comment (Hover Effect)

Instead of clicking, you can format a cell comment to display a photo when you hover your mouse over the cell, keeping your spreadsheet clean.

Advanced Spreadsheet Tools

Easily Link and Display Images in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office offers robust and intuitive tools for inserting, linking, and managing images across worksheets. You can easily set up hyperlinks, utilize built-in lookup functions, or format notes to display photos interactively without the need for complex scripts.

1. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file where your image and data are located.
2. Insert a Hyperlink: Right-click the cell you want to make clickable and choose 'Hyperlink' from the menu.
3. Select the destination: Click on 'Place in this document', choose the worksheet containing your image, and type in the specific cell reference next to the picture.
4. Apply and test: Click 'OK'. You can now click the highlighted text to instantly navigate to the photo.

Seamlessly insert and manage high-quality embedded images in spreadsheets.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls) and hyperlinks.Easily create cross-sheet navigation to jump between datasets and visuals.Lightweight software with an intuitive, familiar interface for quick learning.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my IMAGE function returning a #VALUE! error?

The #VALUE! error generally happens if the image URL is invalid, does not point to a supported image format (like .jpg or .png), or if the website requires a login to access the image. Ensure you are using a direct, public image link.

Will my image hyperlink break if I add new rows or columns?

Yes, standard cell references (e.g., Sheet2!C4) in hyperlinks will not update automatically if the image shifts due to new rows. To prevent this, define a 'Named Range' for the cell behind the image, and link the hyperlink to that Named Range instead.

Can I dynamically change the image displayed based on a dropdown list?

Yes. You can achieve dynamic image lookups by combining Data Validation (to create a dropdown list), the INDEX and MATCH functions, and Excel's 'Linked Picture' tool. This allows a specific image to load dynamically directly over a cell when a value is selected.

Is it possible to use a VBA macro to make the image appear exactly over the clicked cell?

Yes. Advanced users can write a VBA script using the Worksheet_SelectionChange event. This macro can trigger a specific image to become visible or change its Top and Left position to align exactly with the ActiveCell when it is clicked.

Excel & Data Problems