How to Insert Image Inside a Cell in Google Sheets (3 Methods)

Images in Google Sheets will float above the grid instead of staying inside cells. When you sort or filter data, they remain in place while rows move, causing misalignment.

Inserting images inside cells fixes this. They move with the row, keeping data and visuals aligned.

An in-cell image is locked to its cell, ensuring consistent alignment in structured data.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to insert an image inside a cell in Google Sheets using three methods, along with when to use each one.

• Insert Menu - Add a single image quickly
• IMAGE Function - Insert images using URLs
• Drive Explorer Pro add-on - Insert multiple images with file details

Table of Contents

Inserting Images Using the Insert Menu

You can place an image into a cell using the built-in Insert menu. This is the native Google Sheets tool and does not require any installation or formulas.

When to use: Insert a single image into one cell without any setup.

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the image.
2. Click Insert in the top menu bar.
3. Select Image.
4. Click Insert image in cell.
5. Select an image source from the tabs at the top of the dialog, such as Upload, Google Drive, Link, Photos, or Camera/Webcam, depending on where your image is stored. The selected tab opens, and its panel appears below.
6. Browse or search for your image in the selected panel.
7. Select the image file you want to use.
8. Click Insert.

Result

The image is inserted inside the cell and stays attached to it.

It stays aligned with your data when you sort or filter the sheet.

For more details, refer to the official Google Sheets documentation.

Common mistake: Copying and pasting an image places it over the cells as a floating object. To fix this, select the image, click the three dots in the top-right corner, and choose Put image in selected cell.

Note: To make the image larger and easier to view, increase the cell size by resizing the column width or row height.

Limitations

• You can insert only one image at a time.
• To add images in multiple cells, you must repeat these steps for each one.

The Insert Menu works for single images, but it becomes slow when you need images in many rows. The IMAGE function provides a faster, formula-based approach for image insertion.

Inserting Images Using the IMAGE Function

You can use the IMAGE function to load images into cells using a URL. This built-in formula pulls an image from a web address and displays it inside the cell.

Instead of inserting images manually, you enter a formula once and copy it down to fill many rows.

When to use: You have direct image URLs and need to insert images across many rows.

Inserting Images Using the IMAGE Function

1. Copy the image URL. Find the image online, right-click it, and select Copy image address.

2. Select the target cell.

3. Enter the formula: =IMAGE("image_url"). Replace image_url with the direct web link.

   

4. Press Enter.

5. Google Sheets will ask for permission to access the image. Click Allow access to display it.

Note (Bulk use): If you have multiple image URLs, list them in a column and use =IMAGE(A1) in the adjacent column. Then double-click the fill handle to apply the formula to all rows. For more details, see the IMAGE function official documentation.

Result

Images appear inside cells and automatically update based on the URLs.

Limitations

• Requires public URLs
• Depends on external hosting

If you need to insert multiple images or manage files directly from Google Drive in Google Sheets, use Drive Explorer Pro.

Inserting Multiple Images Using the Drive Explorer Pro Extension

You can use Drive Explorer Pro to insert multiple images directly from Google Drive without needing public URLs.

The add-on opens a sidebar, a panel on the right side of your spreadsheet, where you configure your output and pick files.

When to use: Use this method when working with large datasets, shared drives, or when you need additional file details such as name and size.

Launching the Add-on

Download Drive Explorer Pro from the Google Workspace Marketplace and refer to the installation guide. When prompted, grant permissions to your Google account.

1. Go to Extensions → Drive Explorer Pro → Open Drive Explorer

The Drive Explorer Pro sidebar appears on the right side of the screen.

You only need to do this once. The add-on reads file details (name, size, etc.) to create preview links. No files leave your Google Workspace.

Configuring Settings

You only need to configure the settings once, and you can reuse them for future tasks.

Next, configure how the images and file details will appear in your sheet:

1. Go to the List Files tab.

   

2. Select where to insert the data:

   • Current Cell - start from the selected cell
   • Append Below Existing Data - add rows without replacing existing data

3. Choose what file attributes to display with each image, such as Image Preview, File Name, and File Size. Drag the options to rearrange the column order. To understand each option, see Select File Attributes

4. Click Save selected settings as Default to reuse this configuration in future tasks.

5. Go to the Settings tab and set the image size using Cell Width and Cell Height (in pixels).

6. Configure the File Access Settings to control who can view the image previews:

   • Only me - only you can view the images (default)
   • My organization - people in your organization can view the images
   • Anyone with the link - anyone with the link can view the images

Inserting Images from Drive

Once your settings are configured, you can insert images:

1. Click Select existing files from Drive and List in Sheets.
2. Choose images from your folder.
3. Click Select.

Uploading Files from a Computer

1. Select the destination folder in Google Drive. Make sure the correct folder is set as the default location. You can change it if needed.

2. Add files to upload.

   Drag and drop files into the upload box, or click the box to select files from your computer. The selected files appear in a list.

   

3. (Optional) If Show preview of selected files(s) is enabled, you can see a preview of image files before uploading. Remove any file if needed.

   

4. Upload and insert files. Click Upload files to Drive and list in Sheets. The files are uploaded to your selected folder, and their details are automatically added to the sheet.

Result

Images are inserted as structured data, where each row represents a file and columns display the image preview, file name, and size.

You can sort and filter the sheet without breaking alignment between images and their corresponding data.

For more details, see Drive Explorer Pro official Documentation

Advantages

• Insert multiple images at once
• Automatically includes file details
• Easy sorting and filtering
• Reusable settings
• Works with large datasets
• Enables team collaboration on shared data

Choosing the Right Method

Based on these features, choose the method that fits your workflow:

If you are working with multiple images or need better organization, Drive Explorer Pro is the most efficient option. It eliminates manual steps, reduces errors, and keeps your data structured and scalable.

Conclusion

You now have three ways to insert images inside cells. The Insert menu is best for quick, single images. The IMAGE function works well for inserting images from URLs, especially in bulk. Drive Explorer Pro is the most efficient option when working with multiple images, offering structured output, previews, and file details.

Choose the method based on your workflow, use simple options for one or a few images, and scalable tools when working with larger datasets.

Before sharing your sheet, adjust the row height and column width so images are clearly visible.