Word gives you several ways to rotate a picture: drag it freely to any angle, turn it 90 degrees with one click, flip it like a mirror, or type an exact angle. This guide covers each method, plus how to rotate a picture that won’t turn, flip text, and rotate a whole page instead.
Quick Answer
Click the picture and drag the circular arrow handle above it to rotate freely (hold Shift to snap in 15° steps). For exact turns, go to Picture Format > Rotate and choose Rotate Right 90°, Rotate Left 90°, Flip Vertical, or Flip Horizontal.
Method 1: Drag the Rotation Handle
- Click the picture to select it.
- Point to the circular arrow at the top of the picture.
- Drag left or right to rotate. Hold Shift while dragging to rotate in 15-degree steps.
Method 2: Rotate or Flip 90°
- Select the picture.
- Go to the Picture Format tab (called Format under Picture Tools in older versions).
- In the Arrange group, click Rotate (the icon with a triangle and arrow).
- Choose Rotate Right 90°, Rotate Left 90°, Flip Vertical (upside down), or Flip Horizontal (mirror image).
Keyboard: with the picture selected, Alt + Right arrow and Alt + Left arrow rotate it in 15° steps in many versions.
Method 3: Enter an Exact Angle
- Select the picture and click Rotate > More Rotation Options (or right-click > Size and Position).
- On the Size tab, type a value in Rotation, such as 45° or -10°.
- Click OK.
To undo all rotation, set Rotation back to 0°, or click Reset Picture in the Adjust group (which also removes other edits).
Picture Won’t Rotate?
- Change the text wrapping: click Wrap Text and choose Square or In Front of Text. Some older documents and compatibility mode restrict rotation for inline pictures.
- Compatibility mode: if the title bar says Compatibility Mode, go to File > Info > Convert to unlock newer features.
- Picture inside a table or text box: rotate the text box, or move the picture out first.
- Document is protected: check Review > Restrict Editing.
Related: Rotate Text or a Page
- Rotate text: put the text in a text box (Insert > Text Box) and rotate the box with its handle, or use Shape Format > Text Direction for vertical text.
- Rotate a page: select the content, go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins, choose Landscape, and set Apply to to Selected text to make just that page landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I mirror a picture in Word?
Select it and choose Picture Format > Rotate > Flip Horizontal.
Does rotating reduce picture quality?
No. Word stores the original and just displays it at an angle.
Can I rotate pictures in Word for the web or on Mac?
Yes. The rotation handle works in both, and Mac has the same Picture Format > Rotate menu. Word for the web has fewer options.
Summary
- Drag the rotation handle (Shift for 15° steps).
- Use Picture Format > Rotate for 90° turns and flips.
- Type an exact angle in More Rotation Options.
- Change text wrapping if the picture won’t rotate.
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.