Office for Mac Issues

How to Resize Multiple Pictures at Once in Microsoft Word for Mac

Guest Writer Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to select and resize several images at the same time in Word for Mac, particularly when dealing with images placed inside table cells.

How to Resize Multiple Pictures at Once in Microsoft Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Adjusting document layout by resizing multiple inserted images simultaneously to save time and ensure consistent sizing.
Observed behavior: Floating pictures can be multi-selected and resized together, but inline pictures (like those typically placed in table cells) restrict multi-selection and must be resized individually.

Before you start

Before attempting to resize multiple pictures, check your current image wrapping style by clicking on a picture and viewing the Picture Format tab. Understanding whether your images are set to 'Inline with Text' or a floating layout is essential for determining if they can be selected together.

Solution 1Recommended

Resize Floating Pictures Together

If your images are set to a floating wrap style (such as 'Square' or 'In Front of Text'), you can select them simultaneously to adjust their sizes at once.

In Microsoft Word, objects that float above or behind the text layer can be grouped or multi-selected. This is the only scenario where native multi-image resizing is supported in a single action.

Change image wrapping style

Click on an image, navigate to the 'Picture Format' tab on the ribbon, click 'Wrap Text', and choose a floating option like 'Square' or 'Tight'. Repeat this step for the other images you wish to resize.

Select multiple pictures

Hold down the 'Shift' or 'Command' key on your Mac keyboard and click each floating picture you want to select.

Resize the selected images

Click and drag one of the corner sizing handles of any selected image. All selected images will resize proportionally at the same time.

Exact Dimensions: Instead of dragging the sizing handles, you can also use the 'Size' group under the Picture Format tab to enter exact height and width measurements for all selected floating images at once.

Solution 2

Handling Inline Pictures and Table Alignment

Pictures set to 'Inline with Text', including most pictures placed inside table cells, cannot be multi-selected and must be resized individually.

Efficient Document Editing

Resize Multiple Pictures Easily in WPS Writer

WPS Office provides a highly compatible and user-friendly word processor where managing document layouts and resizing multiple floating pictures is fast and intuitive. It's a free, lightweight alternative that fully supports Microsoft Word formats.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open your .docx file containing the pictures you need to resize.
2. Set images to a floating wrap style: Click an image, select the 'Wrap Text' icon from the quick floating toolbar, and choose 'Square' or 'In Front of Text'.
3. Select multiple images: Hold the Shift or Command key on your keyboard and click on the floating images you wish to resize together.
4. Drag to resize proportionally: Drag the corner sizing handle to scale all selected images simultaneously, or enter specific dimensions in the Picture Tools tab.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Intuitive picture formatting tools for quick image resizing and alignment.Advanced layout options for handling images seamlessly inside and outside of tables.Free, lightweight software that runs smoothly on both Mac and Windows devices.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I select multiple pictures in my Word document?

You cannot multi-select pictures if their text wrapping is set to 'Inline with Text'. You must change their wrapping style to a floating option (like 'Square' or 'Behind Text') via the Picture Format tab to select and resize them together.

Can I resize multiple pictures inside a Word table at once?

Generally, no. Pictures inside table cells are usually formatted as 'Inline with Text' to fit the structural constraints of the cell. You will need to resize them individually. Changing them to floating images allows multi-selection, but removes them from the rigid flow of the table layout.

Is there a shortcut to make all inline pictures the exact same size?

While there isn't a single button to resize all inline images simultaneously, you can speed up the process using a shortcut. Select the first image, set its exact height and width in the Picture Format tab, then select the next image and press 'F4' (or Command+Y on Mac) to repeat the last resizing action.

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