How to Insert Pictures in PowerPoint 365 (from a Drive, Stock Images or Online Pictures)

Insert One or Multiple Pictures in PowerPoint 365 (New Ways)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated February 20, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® 365 (Windows)

If you are a PowerPoint 365 (Microsoft 365) subscriber, you should now have options to insert stock images, online pictures and pictures from a device in the Insert Pictures drop-down menu. Microsoft is rolling out its stock images to users over time so keep running your updates if stock images are not yet available. You must be connected to the internet to access stock images or online pictures.

Many PowerPoint users will insert a picture in a blank area on a slide. However, you can select a placeholder in Normal View (click its edge) and then insert a picture. Pictures can be inserted in Normal View or Slide Master View.

Recommended article: How to Compress Images in PowerPoint to Reduce File Size (10 Ways)

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Inserting a picture on a slide from a computer or shared drive

To insert a picture on a slide from a computer or shared drive on a PowerPoint slide:

1. In Normal View, display the slide where you want to insert the picture. You can use a Title Only layout, Title and Content layout, Title with Picture layout, Blank layout or another layout.
2. If you want to insert a picture into a placeholder, click its edge.
3. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
4. Select Pictures in the Images group. A drop-down menu appears.
5. Select This Device. A dialog box appears.
6. Navigate to the location of the picture and double-click it or click the picture and click Insert. The picture will be copied onto the slide.

If you want to insert multiple pictures, Ctrl + click each picture and then click Insert.

The Insert Picture drop-down menu appears as follows:

Inserting a stock image on a slide

To insert a stock image (from the Microsoft library) on a PowerPoint slide:

1. In Normal View, display the slide where you want to insert the stock image. You can use a Title Only layout, Title and Content layout, Title with Picture layout, Blank layout or another layout.
2. If you want to insert a picture into a placeholder, click its edge.
3. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
4. Select Pictures in the Images group. A drop-down menu appears.
5. Select Stock Images. A dialog box appears. The Images tab should be selected.
6. If necessary, click in the Search box, enter a search term and press Enter.
7. Click the image or images you want to use.
8. Click Insert.

If you want to insert other types of images, click the categories at the top of the Stock Images dialog box (these include cutout people, icons and stickers).

Microsoft stock images may only be used in Microsoft applications.

Below is the Stock Image dialog box:

Inserting a picture from the web (online pictures) on a slide

To insert a picture from the web on a PowerPoint slide:

1. In Normal View, display the slide where you want to insert the online picture. You can use a Title Only layout, Title and Content layout, Title with Picture layout, Blank layout or another layout.
2. If you want to insert a picture into a placeholder, click its edge.
3. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
4. Select Pictures in the Images group. A drop-down menu appears.
5. Select Online Pictures. A dialog box appears.
6. If necessary, click in the Search box, enter a search term and press Enter.
7. Click the image or images you want to use.
8. Click Insert.

Online Pictures uses Bing as its search engine.

Below is the Online Pictures dialog box:

Image features and privacy settings

If a message appears that the service required to use this feature is turned off, you may need to change your privacy settings:

1. Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
2. Click Account.
3. Select Account Privacy.
4. Click Manage Settings.
5. If necessary, log in to your account.
6. Select Enable optional connected experiences.
7. Click OK.
8. Restart PowerPoint.

You can really improve your PowerPoint presentations if you can use high-quality images and both stock images and online pictures offer huge libraries of high-resolution pictures.

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