To crop a picture into a circle in Word, select the picture, open the Picture Format tab, click the arrow under Crop, and choose Aspect Ratio > 1:1 to make it square. Then click the Crop arrow again, choose Crop to Shape, and click the Oval. Because the picture is square, you get a perfect circle. Click anywhere outside the picture to finish.
These steps work in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, 2019, and 2016. Below you’ll learn how to reposition the photo inside the circle, add a border, and use a circle shape as a picture frame instead.
How to crop a picture into a circle
- Insert your picture with Insert > Pictures, then click it to select it.
- Open the Picture Format tab (called Format under Picture Tools in older versions).
- Click the arrow under Crop and choose Aspect Ratio > 1:1. Drag the picture to choose what stays in the square, then click outside it.
- Select the picture again, click the arrow under Crop, and choose Crop to Shape.
- Click the Oval under Basic Shapes.
How to adjust the photo inside the circle
- Select the circle and click Crop (the top part of the button).
- Drag the photo to move it inside the circle, or drag a corner of the photo to zoom in or out.
- Click outside the picture or click Crop again to finish.
Use Crop > Fill to fill the circle completely, or Fit to show the whole photo.
How to add a border
With the picture selected, click Picture Border on the Picture Format tab and choose a color, Weight, and Dashes. Use Picture Effects for a shadow or soft edges.
Alternative: Put a picture inside a circle shape
- Click Insert > Shapes > Oval.
- Hold Shift and drag to draw a perfect circle.
- With the circle selected, go to Shape Format > Shape Fill > Picture, and choose your image.
- If the picture looks stretched, right-click the shape, choose Format Shape, and adjust the picture offsets, or use Crop > Fill.
This method is handy when you want several circles the same size, like team photos in a newsletter.
Position the circle with text
By default, Word places pictures in line with text. To move the circle freely, click the Layout Options icon next to it and choose Square or Tight. To center it, choose Picture Format > Align > Align Center.
Troubleshooting
- It’s an oval, not a circle: Set Aspect Ratio to 1:1 first, or make the height and width equal in the Size group.
- Crop is grayed out: You’ve selected a shape, icon, or chart. Crop works on pictures only.
- Picture looks blurry: Word may be compressing images. Go to File > Options > Advanced and check Do not compress images in file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I crop a picture into a circle in Word for Mac?
Yes. The steps are the same on the Picture Format tab.
Is the cropped part deleted?
No, it’s hidden. Use Compress Pictures with Delete cropped areas of pictures checked to remove it permanently.
How do I do this in PowerPoint?
The steps are almost identical. See how to crop a picture into a circle in PowerPoint.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.