How to Remove the Anchor in Word (Hide, Remove or Lock It)

The anchor symbol in Word shows which paragraph a picture, shape or text box is attached to. You can’t delete the anchor on its own, but you can hide it: go to File > Options > Display, untick Object anchors, and turn off Show/Hide ¶ on the Home tab. To get rid of it for good, change the picture’s wrapping to In Line with Text. In-line pictures behave like a text character and have no anchor.

Applies to: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows and Mac. The anchor symbol never prints. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.

Why the anchor appears

When a picture uses any text wrapping other than In Line with Text, such as Square, Tight or In Front of Text, Word attaches it to a paragraph. The anchor marks that paragraph. If you move or delete the paragraph, the picture moves or is deleted with it.

Method 1: Hide the anchor

1. On the Home tab, check that Show/Hide ¶ is off. You can press Ctrl+Shift+8 to toggle it. While it’s on, Word shows every formatting mark, anchors included.
2. Go to File > Options > Display.
3. Under Always show these formatting marks on the screen, untick Object anchors.
4. Select OK.

On a Mac, go to Word > Preferences (or Settings) > View and untick Object anchors.

The anchor stays attached; it’s just hidden. The picture behaves exactly as before.

Method 2: Remove the anchor by making the picture in line

1. Click the picture.
2. Select the Layout Options button next to it, or go to Picture Format > Wrap Text.
3. Choose In Line with Text.

The picture now sits in the line of text like a large letter, and the anchor disappears. The downside is that you can’t drag it freely or wrap text around it. If you need free placement, see how to place a picture anywhere in Word and use Method 1 instead.

Method 3: Move the anchor to another paragraph

If a picture jumps around when you edit text, its anchor is probably on the wrong paragraph.

1. Turn on Show/Hide ¶ and click the picture so the anchor appears.
2. Drag the anchor icon to the start of the paragraph you want the picture tied to.

Dragging the anchor doesn’t move the picture on the page; it only changes which paragraph it belongs to.

Method 4: Lock the anchor and stop the picture moving

1. Click the picture and select Layout Options > See more.
2. On the Position tab, untick Move object with text if you want the picture to stay at the same spot on the page.
3. Tick Lock anchor so the anchor stays on its current paragraph even when you drag the picture.
4. Select OK.

A small padlock appears next to the anchor when it’s locked. Tables have a similar handle; see how to move tables in Word.

Troubleshooting

The anchor still shows after unticking Object anchors

Show/Hide ¶ is on. Turn it off on the Home tab, or untick Show all formatting marks in the same Display options.

Deleting text also deleted my picture

The picture was anchored to the paragraph you deleted. Press Ctrl+Z, move the anchor to a paragraph you’re keeping (Method 3), then delete the text.

I can’t drag the anchor

Lock anchor is ticked. Untick it in Layout Options > See more > Position.

The anchor is in a header

The picture is anchored in the header or footer, which is common with logos and watermarks. Double-click the header to select and change it.

Frequently asked questions

Does the anchor print?

No. Anchors, like other formatting marks, only appear on screen. They don’t print or show in a PDF.

Can I delete just the anchor and keep the picture?

No. The anchor is part of how Word positions a floating picture. Hide it or switch the picture to In Line with Text.

Why do I see the anchor on only one picture?

Word shows the anchor for the picture you’ve selected. Other floating pictures have anchors too; they appear when you select them or turn on Show/Hide ¶.

How do I center a picture without an anchor?

Set it to In Line with Text, then center the paragraph with Ctrl+E. To center it vertically too, see how to put text in the middle of a page in Word.