Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Word for Mac Showing INCLUDEPICTURE Instead of Images

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where pasted images in Word for Mac display as an 'INCLUDEPICTURE' field code rather than the actual image.

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Pasting copied images into a Word document.
Observed behavior: Instead of displaying the pasted image, Word shows the INCLUDEPICTURE text field code. Reinstalling the application does not resolve the problem.

Before you start

Ensure your document is in Print Layout view, as some field codes or placeholders may behave differently in Draft or Web Layout views.

Solution 1Recommended

Toggle the Field Codes to Reveal the Image

Manually switch the view from the INCLUDEPICTURE field code back to the actual pasted image.

Microsoft Word uses field codes to manage dynamic data like linked images. Occasionally, Word may accidentally display the underlying code rather than the visual element itself.

Locate the Field Code

Find the text that says 'INCLUDEPICTURE' within your Word document where your image should be.

Open Context Menu

Right-click directly on the INCLUDEPICTURE field code.

Toggle Field Codes

Select 'Toggle Field Codes' from the drop-down menu. The image should now render normally.

Keyboard Shortcut: You can also highlight the field and press Shift + F9 on your Mac keyboard to toggle the field code quickly.

Solution 2

Change Word's Field-Code Display Settings

Adjust Word Preferences to prevent field codes from displaying by default across all documents.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word show INCLUDEPICTURE instead of my image?

Word uses field codes to manage dynamic or linked elements. If the setting 'Show field codes instead of their values' is enabled, or if a shortcut was accidentally triggered, Word will display the underlying text code (INCLUDEPICTURE) rather than the image itself.

What is the keyboard shortcut to toggle field codes in Word for Mac?

You can toggle field codes for the entire document in Word for Mac by pressing Option + F9. To toggle a specific selected field code, press Shift + F9.

Will reinstalling Word fix the INCLUDEPICTURE issue?

Usually, reinstalling Word does not resolve this issue because preference settings (like showing field codes) are preserved on your Mac. You must manually uncheck the setting in Word Preferences.

How do I ensure images paste correctly in the future?

Make sure 'Field codes instead of their values' is turned off in Word Preferences > View. Additionally, consider using 'Edit' > 'Paste Special' > 'Picture' when copying images from web browsers or other apps that might format them as links.

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