Excel 2010 cannot place a picture inside a cell as cell content; pictures float above the grid. You can still make a picture sit in a cell and move, resize, and sort with it by sizing it to the cell and setting its properties to Move and size with cells. Office 2010 reached end of support on October 13, 2020, so it no longer receives security updates. Newer Microsoft 365 versions add a true Place in Cell option and the IMAGE function.
Quick Answer
Insert the picture, resize it to fit inside the cell (hold Alt while dragging to snap to gridlines), then right-click it, choose Size and Properties (or Format Picture), and select Move and size with cells.
How to Insert a Picture in a Cell in Excel 2010
- Click the cell, then choose Insert, Picture and select the image.
- Resize the cell (row height and column width) to the size you want.
- Drag the picture into the cell and hold Alt while resizing it so its edges snap to the cell borders.
- Right-click the picture, choose Size and Properties, and open Properties.
- Select Move and size with cells and close the dialog. The picture now follows the cell when you sort, filter, or resize.
Picture Options by Version
| Version | In-cell option |
|---|---|
| Excel 2010 | Floating picture set to Move and size with cells |
| Excel 2013-2021 | Same method |
| Microsoft 365 | Place in Cell, or the IMAGE function |
| Comments | Pictures as comment backgrounds (older trick) |
Troubleshooting
- The picture does not move when sorting: check that it is fully inside one cell and set to Move and size with cells.
- Pictures print in the wrong place: set Print object in the same Properties tab and check Page Layout view.
- To highlight cells around pictures, see how to fill cell color in Excel.
- To keep images on their own sheet, read how to add a new worksheet in Excel.
Related: Embed a Word document in Excel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a formula reference a picture in Excel 2010?
No. Pictures are objects, not cell values, in Excel 2010.
Can I insert many pictures at once?
You can insert several and then arrange them, but each needs its own properties set.
Does Place in Cell work in Excel 2010?
No. It is only in recent Microsoft 365 versions.
Summary
- Insert the picture.
- Size the cell and picture to match.
- Set Move and size with cells.
- Upgrade for true in-cell pictures.
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.