Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Inserting from the Clip Art Gallery Doesn't Work.

Inserting from the Clip Art Gallery Doesn't Work

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 20, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365

Have you ever tried to place clip art into your document from the Clip Art Gallery, only to have it not be visible? If you have this problem, try this solution:

Display the Word Options dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and choose Word Options. In Word 2010 and later versions, click the File tab of the ribbon and click Options.)
Click Advanced at the left side of the dialog box.
Scroll through the options until you can see the Show Document Content section. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Advanced options of the Excel Options dialog box.

Make sure the Show Picture Placeholders check box is cleared.
Make sure the Show Drawings and Text Boxes on Screen check box is selected.
Click on OK.

Now you should be able to place your clip art as desired. These settings are normally cleared and selected (respectively) by default, but another user might have changed them on your system.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8519) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Inserting from the Clip Art Gallery Doesn't Work.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Automatically Opening a Document at a Specific Zoom Setting

Do you prefer to have your documents open at a specific zoom magnification? You can get whatever magnification you desire ...

Discover More

Error Using ATAN2 Function in Macro

Excel allows you to use worksheet functions from within macros. This is helpful, especially when you are trying to ...

Discover More

Quickly Updating Values

You can easily adjust the values in a range of cells by a certain amount. The key is to modify how you use the pasting ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Changing Compression Print Resolution

The resolution at which Word compresses graphics in a document may be bothersome. If it is, your options are very ...

Discover More

Duplicating Drawing Objects

Need to duplicate a drawing object? It's easy to do if you use the same editing techniques you are already familiar with.

Discover More

Writing On Top of Locked Graphics

Getting graphics to appear right where you want them in relation to the text in your document can be a challenge. One ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 9 + 4?

2019-08-13 16:30:36

Sheri Sager

I have Word 2007, but just got a new computer and now my Insert Clip Art button doesn't go any where. I followed the directions above:
Office, Word Options, Advanced, show document content, picture placeholders NOT selected, Show drawings and text boxes on screen. clicked on OK. Nothing different. Still nothing comes up when I select Insert clip Art.

2018-04-27 14:40:31

Gabriel

For those who all updated your office software to 2013 or 2016 versions, you don't need a Clip Art Gallery. Office has built in way to download clipart online. For more info step by step guide here: https://wp.me/p7QQWB-2u8

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.