You can’t delete an anchor in Word on its own, because it shows which paragraph a picture, shape, or text box is attached to. You have two options. To hide anchors, go to File > Options > Display, uncheck Object anchors, and turn off Show/Hide ¶ on the Home tab. To get rid of the anchor completely, select the object, click Layout Options, and choose In Line with Text. The object then behaves like a character in your text, and the anchor disappears.
Below you’ll learn what anchors do, how to move or lock them, and how to fix objects that jump around when you edit.
What is the anchor in Word?
When a picture or shape uses text wrapping (like Square, Tight, or In Front of Text), Word attaches it to a nearby paragraph. The small anchor icon in the margin marks that paragraph. If you move or delete the paragraph, the object moves or gets deleted with it. Anchors never print.
How to hide anchors
- Click File > Options.
- Click Display.
- Under Always show these formatting marks on the screen, uncheck Object anchors.
- Click OK.
- If anchors still appear, click Show/Hide ¶ on the Home tab (or press Ctrl + Shift + 8) to turn off formatting marks.
An anchor still appears when you select an object. That’s normal and helps you see where it’s attached.
How to remove the anchor completely
- Click the picture, shape, or text box.
- Click the Layout Options icon that appears beside it, or go to Picture Format > Wrap Text.
- Choose In Line with Text.
The anchor disappears because the object is now part of the line of text. You can center it with Ctrl + E. Text boxes and some shapes can’t be placed in line. For those, hide the anchor instead.
How to move an anchor
Drag the anchor icon to a different paragraph. The object stays where it is, but it now moves with the new paragraph. This is useful when a picture keeps jumping to the wrong page.
How to lock an anchor
- Select the object and click Layout Options > See more (or Wrap Text > More Layout Options).
- On the Position tab, check Lock anchor.
- Choose Fix position on page if you want the object to stay put even when text moves, or Move object with text to keep it with its paragraph.
- Click OK.
A small padlock appears on the anchor when it’s locked.
Troubleshooting
- A picture disappeared after I deleted some text: You deleted its anchor paragraph. Press Ctrl + Z to undo.
- Objects keep jumping to another page: Lock the anchor and choose Fix position on page, or change the wrapping to In Line with Text.
- Can’t find the object an anchor belongs to: Open Home > Select > Selection Pane to see every object on the page.
Frequently asked questions
Do anchors show when I print?
No. Anchors are only visible on screen.
Why can’t I drag the anchor?
It may be locked. Uncheck Lock anchor in the layout settings.
Can I remove anchors on a Mac?
Yes. Go to Word > Preferences (or Settings) > View and uncheck Object anchors, or set the object to In Line with Text.
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.