How to convert SVG icons to Shapes using Microsoft Word

Microsoft Office can transform all SVG pictures and icons into Office shapes, allowing you to change their color, size, or texture. SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. The feature is also available for Office 365 subscribers. In this post, let us cover the method of converting SVG icons to shapes using Word.

Convert SVG icons to Shapes using Microsoft Word

SVG is an XML-based vector image format for two-dimensional graphics that supports interactivity and animation. The open standard was established in 1999. Here is how to insert the SVG file and customize it.

Insert SVG Icons

Multiple options and variations are available, and you can try to customize how your SVG image looks in your document. To access those tools,

• Open Microsoft Word and click the Insert tab.
• Next, choose icons from the list of options shown in the screenshot below.

• After that, choose the desired image from a section. By default, the gallery offers a collection of pre-defined styles for converting your image to a line drawing or changing its fill color. In the example below, I’ve inserted a logo (books); the original is all black and single-colored.

Insert SVG file from Computer

If you have your SVG file on your PC, you can also choose to insert it and customize it.

• Select Insert > Pictures > This Device.
• Please navigate to the SVG file you want to insert, select it, and choose Insert.

How to customize an SVG image

You can rotate and use alignment options for more precise placement, as well as crop the SVG files. If that’s not enough, you can customize it further.

• When you select the image, it will reveal the Graphics Format tab. It includes the option to cover the image in shape.
• Go to Change > Convert to Shape. It will separate a single element into its multiple components.

• So, if required, you can label or color them individually. What you are doing here is converting an SVG image or icon to an Office shape so you can disassemble the SVG file and edit it how you like.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to regroup the parts into one image. To do that, you can first arrange the parts to your liking and then use Ctrl+click to select all of them. Then, on the Shape Format tab on the ribbon, select Group > Group.

I hope the post was easy to follow, and you were able to edit the SVG files in Microsoft Word, and other Office products.

Please note that this feature (Convert Shapes) is available from Microsoft Office 2016 and above on Windows. Also, if you are an Office 365 subscriber and still do not find this feature, ensure you have the latest version of Office Installed.

Note: The feature is not available for Office for Android.

How to convert SVG into JPG?

While Microsoft Word or Microsoft Paint doesn’t have a built-in tool for converting an existing SVG into Word, you can use online tools to do it. However, ensure the SVG is of the right size and format.

How do I open an SVG file as an image?

SVG files can be displayed on any modern web browser, as they use XML, a text-based markup language similar to HTML. To view an SVG file, simply drag and drop it onto your browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge, and the image will appear in a new tab.