Grouping lets you move or resize two or more Word objects together. It works with compatible shapes, pictures, and text boxes in desktop Word. The most common reason Group is unavailable is that one of the pictures is still set to In Line with Text.
Group objects in Word for Windows
- For each picture you want to include, select it and choose a Wrap Text option other than In Line with Text, such as Square. Check the layout after changing the wrap setting.
- Hold Ctrl and select at least two objects. If an object is hard to click, use Home > Select > Selection Pane.
- Choose Picture Format or Shape Format > Group > Group. The command may sit under Arrange.
- Select the group to move or resize it. Check where it sits relative to surrounding text.
Microsoft’s grouping instructions explain the wrap requirement and selection steps.
Group with a right-click
After selecting the objects, you can skip the ribbon. Right-click one of the selected objects and choose Group > Group. To split them apart later, right-click the group and choose Group > Ungroup.
Group text with a picture
Ordinary paragraph text can’t be grouped with an object. To keep a label or caption with a picture, put the words in a text box with Insert > Text Box, set the picture’s wrapping as described above, and then group the text box and the picture together.
Group objects in Word for Mac
Set each object’s wrapping to something other than In Line with Text, hold Command while selecting the objects, then choose Shape Format or Picture Format > Group > Group. Open Arrange if Group is not visible. Microsoft documents the Mac steps in the same grouping guide.
If Group is gray or missing
- Confirm that at least two objects—not ordinary document text—are selected.
- Check every selected object’s Wrap Text setting. A picture inserted in line with text must be made floating first.
- Use the Selection Pane to select overlapping or hard-to-click objects. Microsoft’s object-selection guide shows that route.
- Try desktop Word if the web or mobile version lacks the required object controls.
For help creating one of the objects before grouping, see our text box guide.
Edit or ungroup later
To change one object, select the group and then the item inside it. You do not always need to ungroup. To separate everything, select the group and choose Group > Ungroup. Grouping does not combine the objects into one image file, so keep the Word document if you expect to edit them later.
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