To embed an existing file inside a desktop Word document, choose Insert > Object > Create from File and select the file. Leave Link to file unchecked for an embedded copy. The result is an object, often shown as an icon or preview; it does not insert all of the source document’s text as normal editable pages.
Embed an existing file
- Open the destination document and click where the object should appear.
- Choose Insert > Object, then Create from File.
- Choose Browse, select the file, and confirm its selection.
- Leave Link to file clear to embed a copy. Choose Display as icon if you prefer a clickable file icon to a preview of its first page.
- Choose OK, save the Word file, and test the object by opening it on the computer that will use it.
Embedded copy versus linked file
An embedded object becomes part of the destination Word file and is no longer connected to the original source file. Editing the original later does not automatically update the embedded copy. A linked object points to the source file and can reflect later changes, but the link can fail when that source is moved or unavailable. Embedding can increase the destination file’s size.
If you want the actual text on the page
Use Word’s Text from File command or copy and paste the source content instead of embedding an object. That makes the text part of the destination document and its page flow. Our insert-document guide covers that separate method.
Object support and the way embedded files open depend on the installed desktop apps and file type. Check the recipient’s environment before relying on an embedded object for essential content.
Sources: Microsoft Support: Embed or link to a file in Word; Microsoft Support: Insert an object in Word.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com