How to add captions to images in Google Docs

Literal descriptions of images can provide additional context for images. You can verify the image, verify its authenticity, report its origin, and credit the original author. Whatever the reason, signatures matter a lot.

In formal or official documents, subtitles may even be a formatting requirement. Thus, it is important to learn how to do this when working in Google Docs on articles, books, presentations, and other electronic documents.

This article will cover the various captioning methods available, including a method that helps you automate the process and add captions to multiple images at the same time according to your instructions.

How to add captions to images in Google Docs on PC

Google Docs users have unlimited access to the cloud word processor when using a PC, Chromebook, or Mac. So you can add captions to images in four different ways, each with its own benefits.

Use “in line” text for image captions

The “In Line” image format simplifies the process of adding captions to images in Google Docs. Here is how you can do it.

Paste the image into a Google Docs document .
Select an image and click Line Up in the toolbar.
Click below the image and enter a caption.
Select the text and adjust its color, alignment and size using the options on the top toolbar.

Use a picture to caption an image

The Drawing feature in Google Docs is a great option to keep your signature on the image even if you move elements around in the document.

Open a new document in Google Docs .
Click the “Insert” button on the toolbar.
Select the “Draw” function.
Click the “+ New” button.
Click the Image button on the new toolbar.
Upload an image from your device or paste the image URL.
Click the Text Box button next to the Image button.
Draw the text box by hand and enter a title.
Format the text as you wish and align it manually by dragging the text box until you are satisfied.
Click the “Save and Close” button.

This method allows you to select and drag an image in a document without leaving a caption behind.

Use a table to caption an image

Placing an image in a table allows you to add a caption using the cell below it. Here’s how to do it while removing the table border.

Create a new document in Google Docs .
Click the “Insert” button on the toolbar.
Select the “1 x 2” table to create two cells.
Add the desired image to the top cell.
Enter a title in the bottom cell.
Right-click the table border.
Select the “Table Properties” option.
Find the “Table Border” option and set it to “0 pt”.

These changes will make the table border invisible. Like the Draw feature, inserting an image into a table allows you to move it along with the caption anywhere in the document.

Use a free subtitle add-on

As a browser-based service, Google Docs allows users to install and experiment with various add-ons. Caption Maker is a handy add-on for adding multiple captions at the same time and streamlining your workflow.

Here is how you can use it in your browser.

Go to Google Workspace Marketplace .
Search for ” Create Signatures ” in the search bar.
Install the add-on in your browser.
Go to Google Docs and add images to the document.
Click “Extension” on the toolbar in Google Docs.
Select “Create Signatures” and click the “Start” button.
Customize the add-on options to your liking.
Click “Sign” to add captions to all images in the document.

How to add captions to images in Google Docs on iPad

The iPad version of Google Docs works similarly to the iPhone and Android apps. This is a simplified version of the browser version, but it still handles image captions quite well using two different methods.

Use Tables to Add Signatures

Here’s how to use a table to add a caption to an image and keep the two elements connected as they move through the document.

Launch Google Docs on your iPad.
Open a document or create a new one.
Tap the Blue Pencil icon to enable editing options if you don’t already see them.
Tap the Plus icon in the toolbar.
Select Table.
Insert a 1 x 2 table with different cells for image and text.
Go to the top cell and tap the Plus icon.
Tap the “Image” option.
Upload an image or take a photo.
Or select an existing image from the document and move it to the top cell.
Go to the cell below and enter a title.
If necessary, format the text as you wish.

Add Formatted Labels to a String

Wrapping text formatting “Inline” is an even faster way to add a caption.

Select an image from a Google Docs document .
Go to Image Options.
Find the Text Wrap feature and set its formatting to Inline.
Move below the image by pressing the return key and write a caption.

The only problem with this method is that the signature and image don’t stick together if you try to move them to a new location in the document.

How to add captions to images in Google Docs on Android phone

With over a billion downloads, Google Docs is one of the most popular word processors for mobile devices. If you want to add captions to images in a Google Docs document on an Android device, you can use one of two methods.

Use the table function

You can’t remove a table border in the mobile version of Google Docs. But creating a signature with a table still allows you to move the table anywhere in the document and keep the signature and image together.

Open Google Docs on your Android mobile device.
Upload a document or create a new one.
Tap the Plus icon on the top toolbar.
Select Table.
Create a table with one column and two rows.
Tap the Plus icon with the first cell selected.
Select the “Image” option.
Upload an image or drag an existing image from a document into a cell.
Enter a title in the cell below.

Add a caption with the “In line” text function

This method allows you to quickly add a signature, but does not allow you to move both elements together to another section of the document.

Select an image from a Google Docs document .
Press the “three dots” button.
Scroll down and select Image Options.
Set Text Wrap to Line.
Press the “Return” key on the virtual keyboard to move below the image.
Enter a signature.

How to add captions to images in Google Docs on iPhone

Adding signatures to Google Docs from iPhone is a simple process. The easiest way is to add a table to make the image and its title part of the same movable element.

Add headers to table

Make sure you have installed the Google Docs app from the app store .

Launch Google Docs on your iPhone.
Open a document.
Select the Blue Pencil icon in the lower right corner of the screen to enable editing options.
Tap the Plus icon on the top toolbar.
Select Table.
Create a “1 x 2” table with one column and two rows.
Select the top cell and tap the Plus icon in the toolbar.
Tap the “Image” option.
Take a photo or upload a picture.
Go to the cell below and enter a title.

Add captions with “in line” formatting

You can add captions even faster and cleaner using the In Line text formatting option. This will prevent you from moving the photo to another location on the document with the caption attached. However, it will help you keep your document clean and without table borders.

Select an image from a Google Docs document and tap the Blue Pencil icon in the bottom right corner.
Select Image Options.
Give the “Wrap Text” function the formatting “In Line”.
Move below the image to write a caption.

Don’t forget to click the Blue Pencil icon to enable the editing option. You may need to do this every time you open a document.

Subtitles make your documents look professional

Google Docs is a reliable free online word processor. Although the mobile version has obvious limitations, the browser app offers a wide range of text formatting and image editing options.

Subtitles are easy to do if you want to zoom in on your documents, offer more context, credit third-party photos, etc.

Let us know what you think of the results of using the different captioning methods in Google Docs and which option you prefer. If you have any further suggestions or workarounds, especially for mobile devices, please share them in the comments section below.

Posted on November 21, 2022 / by Serg / 168 / Google docs