How to prevent pictures from changing into other pictures

Karl 0 Reputation points
2026-09-12T07:10:39.58+00:00

I use Word to create items for my board game, but occasionally images are replaced by different images the next time I open a file. This often happens to multiple versions of the same image, but not all of them. In the attached image, most of the icons are correct, but the one in the bottom middle square above the coin has changed - this was a shield with the number 8 in when I printed out and shutdown the document last night, but had changed on loading up this morning. A few other similar icons have changed throughout the document. Is there a way to prevent this happening, or is it a quirk of using Word for something it wasn't designed for, i.e. multiple images within shapes?image

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. Jhun Buala 5,535 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-12T08:10:13.56+00:00

    Hi Karl,

    Good day. This can happen in Word when a document contains many repeated images, especially when they're placed inside shapes or text boxes. Heres a few things to try:

    1. Make sure the pictures are embedded, not linked to external image files.
    2. Save the document as .docx rather than the older .doc format.
    3. Try using Insert > Pictures instead of repeatedly copying/pasting the same image.
    4. If possible, use a table with fixed-size cells instead of multiple shapes. This tends to be more stable for layouts like board-game pieces.

    If the problem continues, try testing with a copy of the document to see whether the images themselves are being replaced or if Word is only displaying the wrong image.

    I hope this solves the issue.

    Regards,
    Jhun

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