How to Show Hidden Images in Word and How to Unhide a Word

Q: Pictures not showing in Word, how to find hidden images in Word document?

"I have a four-page Word document with several images inserted. When I opened it this morning to see only white rectangles instead of pictures in the Word. Why are my pictures not showing up in the Word document? Are they hidden? How to show hidden images in a Word?"

Images or texts not showing in a Word document happens from time to time because they are hidden intentionally or unintentionally. This article shows you a detailed guide on how to show hidden images and texts in a Word document. What’s more, If you want to recover hidden Word documents and photos on Windows PC and laptop, you can use an ultimate EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard tool to help you make it effortlessly.  

How to Find Hidden Images/Pictures in Word 

When you can't see a picture or image in a Word document, you can try the tips below to find hidden pictures or images.

Step 1: Open your Microsoft Office Word > "Word Options" in Word 2007. (Click "File" > "Options" in Word 2016/2013/2010.)

Step 2: Click "Advanced" on the left pane, uncheck "Show picture placeholders" under Show document content. Then you should be able to see your hidden images or pictures in Word document again.

How to hide images in a Word document? 

Sometimes you need to insert pictures in Word to supplement the text message. On the contrary, sometimes, when you just want to scroll and read text quickly, they can become an additional obstacle. In this case, you can hide pictures in your Word document with the "Show picture placeholders" feature. using the same steps above. 

How to View Hidden Text in Word Document

If you've hidden some text lines in a Word document, or some content was set to hide in Word, is it possible to show the hidden text content? How? You'll find two options for showing hidden text in Word 2016/2013/2010/2007. (If you are using an older version of Word, please find more solutions from Microsoft Office support team or Google.)

Method 1. Show Hidden Text in Word 2016

The first way is to view the hidden text from Print settings.

Step 1. Open the Word document in Word 2016 in which you have hidden text.

Step 2. Go to "Print" settings and select "Page Setup". 

Step 3. Go to "Paper" settings, click "Print Options...".

Step 4. In Display, check "Print hidden text" and click "OK" to save changes.

By doing so, those hidden texts will only show up in the Print preview window. But still hidden in Word document. If you want to unhide text in Word 2016, follow the below tips.

Step 1. Press Ctrl + A to select all content in Word document.

Step 2. Right-click on content and select "Font...".

Step 3. Click the "Hidden" box twice, uncheck it and click "OK" to save changes. 

Now you can see all hidden content displaying in your Word document again.

Method 2. Display Hidden Text in Word 2013/2010/2007

Step 1. Click "File" > "Options" in Word 2013/2010. For Word 2007, click Office button > "Word Options".

Step 2. Click "Display" at the left pane. Check and uncheck the Hidden text box, leaving it empty.

Step 3. Click "OK" to save all changes. 

How to Recover Hidden Word Document/Photos in Windows 10/8/7 

In this part, we'll provide you with two reliable methods for recover hidden Word documents in Windows computer or external storage devices. Let's see how to do it now.

Method 1. Unhide a Word Document in File Explorer 

For Windows 10/8/8.1 users:

Step 1. Type file explorer in the Search box and select "File Explorer".

Step 2. Select "View" > "Options" > "Change folder and search options".

Step 3. In "Folder Options", select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" under Hidden files and folders. Also, uncheck Hide extensions for known file types. Click "Apply" to save all changes.

For Windows 7 users:

Step 1. Open Windows Explorer by clicking "Start" > "Computer".

Step 2. Click "Tools" > "Folder Options" > "View".

Step 3. Under the View tab, select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" below Hidden Files and Folders. Uncheck Hidden extensions for known file types and apply the changes. By doing so, you see all file extensions, and it will help you quickly locate the hidden Word documents or pictures. 

Method 2. Recover Hidden Word Documents and Photos with Data Recovery Software 

If you can't view hidden Word documents, pictures, audios, videos, or other files in File Explorer, there is still a great chance to restore hidden files by using professional file recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This competent and user-friendly data recovery program allows you to fully scan computer or storage devices, finding all existing, lost, formatted, and hidden files with two scanning modes - Quick Scan and Deep Scan.

In addition to restoring normally deleted files, EaseUS file recovery software also enables you to Undelete files Windows 10 in HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, SD card, pen drive, external hard drive, etc. Download and install it on your PC, then follow the guidelines below to restore your hidden Word document or pictures within three steps. 

Step 1. Choose the original location and start a scan

Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and hover over the partition or drive where the files were deleted. Click "Search for Lost Data" to search for deleted files that may still be recoverable.

Step 2. Search for the deleted files you need

After scanning, review the found files and select the ones you want to recover. You can filter by file type to find specific documents, photos, videos, or other file formats. Alternatively, enter the file name in the search box to locate the target file quickly.

Step 3. Preview and restore the selected files

Check the recoverable files using the preview feature. Select the files you want to restore, click "Recover", and choose a different storage location, such as another partition, an external drive, or cloud storage. Click "Save" to complete the recovery process.

(Note: The free version provides a 2GB data recovery allowance. You can restore everyday files within this limit without purchasing a license. Remember to save recovered files to a different location to avoid overwriting the original data.)