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How to select multiple shapes or objects in Word?

Author: Amanda Li Last Modified: 2025-04-14

When working with shapes and objects in a Word document, you might find the need to select multiple items at once for moving, formatting, or editing purposes. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to efficiently select multiple shapes or objects in Word using two methods:

Select multiple shapes or objects with Select feature
Quickly select all shapes in current document with Kutools for Word


Select multiple shapes or objects with Select feature

This method shows how to use the Select feature in Word to select multiple shapes or objects, whether they are adjacent or non-adjacent, by using the Select Objects or Selection Pane options.

Select multiple adjacent shapes or objects at once:

  1. Click "Select" > "Select Objects" under the "Home" tab.
    Select Objects option on the ribbon
  2. Draw a box over the shapes or objects to select them all at once.
    Multiple shapes are selected

Note: Press the Esc key to release the selection.

Select multiple non-adjacent shapes or objects at once:

  1. Click "Select" > "Selection Pane" under the "Home" tab.
    Selection Pane on the ribbon
  2. The "Selection" pane will appear on the right side of the document, listing all objects in the current view or on the current page. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the object names one by one to select them.
    Multiple shapes are selected

Note: The "Selection Pane" only displays objects on the current view or page. To manage objects on another page, select an object on that page to display the objects on it.


Quickly select all shapes in current document with Kutools for Word

If you want to select all shapes in the current document at once, the "Select Shapes" utility in Kutools for Word makes it easy.

Kutools for Word, equipped with AI πŸ€–, offers over 100 handy features to simplify your tasks.
  1. Click "Kutools" > "Select" > "Shapes".
    (Select) Shapes option on the Kutools tab on the ribbon
  2. All shapes in the current document will be selected immediately.
    Multiple shapes are selected

Tip: If your document contains multiple embedded objects, such as Word objects, Visio objects, and so on, and you want to select them all simultaneously, you can use the "Select Paragraphs with Embedded Objects" option in Kutools for Word. Click "Kutools" > "Paragraphs" > "Select Paragraphs with Embedded Objects".
Select Paragraphs with Embedded Objects tool provided by Kutools
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Demo: Quickly select all shapes in the current document with Kutools for Word

Discover the Kutools / Kutools Plus tab in this video from Kutools for Word. Enjoy 100+ features and permanently free AI utilities. Download now!


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