Rotate or flip a text box shape wordart or picture

You can change the position of a text box (and the text within it), shape, WordArt, or a picture by rotating or flipping it. 

If you're working in email, see Rotate a picture in Outlook.

Windows newer versionsOffice 2010macOSWeb

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Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.

Rotate to any angle

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Click the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.

   

   • To constrain the rotation to 15-degree increments, press and hold Shift while you drag the rotation handle.

   • When you rotate multiple shapes, they do not rotate as a group, but instead each shape rotates around its own center.

Rotate to an exact angle by degrees

1. Click the object you want to rotate.

2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then click More Rotation Options.

   

3. In the pane or dialog box that opens, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object in the Rotation box. You can also use the arrows to rotate the object exactly where you want.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, or WordArt. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

Rotate 90 degrees

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then:

   • To rotate the object 90 degrees to the right, click Rotate Right 90°.

   • To rotate the object 90 degrees to the left, click Rotate Left 90°.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, WordArt or picture. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

Flip an object

You can create the effect of a mirror image or flip an object upside-down (invert it) by using the Flip tools.

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then:

   • To turn an object upside-down, click Flip Vertical.

   • To create a mirror image of the object, click Flip Horizontal.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, WordArt or picture. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

Reverse text in a flipped object

Tip: If you simply want to create a mirror image of text in a document, see Reverse text or create a mirror image.

When you rotate an object, any text within the object will rotate with it. However, text within a flipped object is not automatically flipped with the rotation tool. To reverse text along with the object that contains it, you can do the following in Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

1. Select and then right-click the object you want to reverse, and then click Format Shape.

2. In the Format Shape pane, under Shape Options, click Effects.

   

3. Under 3-D Rotation, in one of the Rotation boxes (X, Y, or Z, depending on how you want to rotate your text), enter 180.

   

   Notes: 

   • Changing the rotation may affect the fill color of your object. You can adjust your fill color in the Format Shape pane on the Fill & Line tab.

   • When you click in the object to edit the text, it will revert back to its original appearance temporarily while you edit it. The reversed appearance will be reapplied when you are done editing text and you click outside of the object.

Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.

Rotate to any angle

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Click the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.

   

   Note: To constrain the rotation to 15-degree increments, press and hold Shift while you drag the rotation handle.

Rotate to an exact angle by degrees

1. Click the object you want to rotate.

2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then click More Rotation Options.

   

   If you don't see the Picture Tools, Drawing Tools, or Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a picture. You may have to double-click the picture in order to open the Format tab.

3. In the pane or dialog box that opens, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object in the Rotation box. You can also use the arrows to rotate the object exactly where you want.

Flip an object

You can create the effect of a mirror image or flip an object upside-down (invert it) by using the Flip tools.

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Under Drawing Tools (or Picture Tools if you're rotating a picture), on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then do one of the following:

   • To turn an object upside-down, click Flip Vertical.

   • To create a mirror image of the object, click Flip Horizontal.

If you don't see the Drawing Tools or Picture Tools Format tabs, make sure that you've selected a text box, shape, WordArt or picture. You may have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.

Reverse text in a flipped object

Tip: If you simply want to create a mirror image of text in a document, see Reverse text or create a mirror image.

When you rotate an object, any text within the object will rotate with it. However, text within a flipped object is not automatically flipped with the rotation tool. To reverse text along with the object that contains it, you can do the following in Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

1. Select and then right-click the object you want to reverse, and then click Format Shape.

2. In the Format Shape dialog box, click 3-D Rotation on the left.

   

3. In one of the Rotation boxes (X, Y, or Z, depending on how you want to rotate your text), enter 180.

   Notes: 

   • Changing the rotation may affect the fill color of your object. You can adjust your fill color in the Format Shape dialog box on the Fill tab.

   • When you click in the object to edit the text, it will revert back to its original appearance temporarily while you edit it. The reversed appearance will be reapplied when you click outside of the object.

Rotate to any angle

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Click the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.

   

   • To constrain the rotation to 15-degree angles, press and hold Shift while you drag the rotation handle.

   • When you rotate multiple shapes, they do not rotate as a group, but instead each shape rotates around its own center.

   • Alternatively you can select the object, hold down Option and press the left or right arrow keys to rotate.

Rotate to an exact angle by degrees

1. Click the object you want to rotate.

2. On the Shape Format tab or Picture Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate.

   

   • If you don't see the Shape Format or Picture Format tabs, make sure that you selected a text box, shape, WordArt, or picture.

   • The Rotate button could be hidden if your screen size is reduced. If you don't see the Rotate button, click Arrange to see hidden buttons in the Arrange group.

     

3. Click More Rotation Options.

   

4. In the dialog box or pane that opens, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object in the Rotation box. You can also use the arrows to rotate the object exactly where you want.

Rotate 90 degrees

1. Click the object you want to rotate.

2. On the Shape Format tab or Picture Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate.

   

   • If you don't see the Shape Format or Picture Format tabs, make sure that you selected a text box, shape, WordArt, or picture.

   • The Rotate button could be hidden if your screen size is reduced. If you don't see the Rotate button, click Arrange to see hidden buttons in the Arrange group.

     

3. To rotate the object 90 degrees to the right, click Rotate Right 90°, or to rotate the object 90 degrees to the left, click Rotate Left 90°.

   

Flip an object

You can create the effect of a mirror image or flip an object upside-down (invert it) by using the Flip tools.

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. On the Shape Format tab or Picture Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate.

   

   • If you don't see the Shape Format or Picture Format tabs, make sure that you selected a text box, shape, WordArt, or picture.

   • The Rotate button could be hidden if your screen size is reduced. If you don't see the Rotate button, click Arrange to see hidden buttons in the Arrange group.

     

3. Do one of the following:

   • To turn an object upside-down, click Flip Vertical.

   • To create a mirror image of the object, click Flip Horizontal.

     

Move an object

1. Click the object that you want to move.

2. Drag the object to where you want it.

   • To move multiple objects, hold down Shift as you select the objects.

   • To move an object up or down, or sideways in small increments, click the object, hold down Command, and then press an arrow key. Note that in Word you can only use this to move up or down.

   • To constrain an object so that it moves only horizontally or vertically, hold down Shift as you drag the object.

Group objects

When you group objects, you are combining the objects together so that you can format, move, or copy them as a group.

1. Hold down Shift, click the objects that you want to group together, and then depending on the type of object that you clicked, click the Shape Format tab or the Picture Format tab.

2. Click the Group icon, and then click Group.

   

Tip: If Group appears dimmed or unavailable that's usually because you haven't already selected two, or more, objects that can be grouped together.

See also

Insert pictures in Office for Mac

Crop a picture

Rotate to any angle

1. Click the object that you want to rotate.

2. Click the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.

   

Reverse text

See the article Reverse or mirror text.

Rotate a table or a SmartArt graphic

Copy the table or SmartArt graphic, paste it as a picture, and then rotate the picture.

See also

Wrap text around a circle or other shape

Crop a picture

Group or ungroup shapes, pictures, or other objects