How to Draw Circles in Word

While you can't outright draw free-form in Word, you can use the shapes menu to make shapes like circles. This wikiHow will teach you how to draw a circle in the computer desktop and mobile versions of Word.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Using the Mobile App

  1. Image titled Draw Circles in Word Step 1
    1
    Open a blank project in Word. When you tap to open Word, the program will launch and ask if you want to open a previous document or start a new one. You'll want to open a new document to practice creating circles before you use them in any other documents.
    • This app icon looks like two white pieces of paper on a blue background that you can find on your home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
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    2
    Tap ••• (iOS) or
    Image titled Android7expandless.png
    (Android) at the top of your keyboard.     If you don't see this menu, you'll need to tap anywhere in the document to pull this menu up.
    • The menu options will change and your keyboard should disappear.
    • If you're opening up a previous document, enable editing mode by tapping the pencil icon.
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    3
    Tap the arrows next to Home. You'll see this on the left side of your screen.
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    4
    Tap Insert. The menu options in the right panel of the window will change.
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    5
    Tap Shapes. Tapping this will bring you to a menu of shapes you can insert into the document.
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    6
    Tap a circle you want to add. You can scroll through to find the "Basic Shapes" header; you'll find a circle in that section if there isn't one under "Recent Shapes."
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    7
    Edit the circle in your document. When you tap a circle shape from the menu at the bottom of the screen, it is copied into your document. You can pull, pinch, and drag the dots around the shape to edit its appearance.
    • When you're satisfied with the circle, tap the document around the circle and that editing menu will close. If you need to edit that shape again, you can tap on it.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Using Word for Windows or Mac

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    1
    Open Word. You'll find this program in your Start Menu or Applications folder.
    • You can either start a new document or resume a previously created document.
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    2
    Click the Insert tab. You'll see this in the editing ribbon above the document with "Home."
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    3
    Click Shapes. A menu of shapes you can add to the document will drop-down.
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    4
    Click a circle you want to add. You'll find circle shapes in "Basic Shapes."
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    5
    Click and drag while pressing ⇧ Shift on your keyboard to draw the circle on your document. After you select a circle theme and click and drag your mouse over the document to draw your circle, you can edit it.
    • If you don't hold down the Shift key, your shape may not result in a circle.
    • You can change the overall look of your circle by changing the settings in Format > Shape Fill.[1]
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/draw-a-curve-or-circle-shape-bf9826a8-c21f-4a84-8823-cd90a079f0fd

About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA
Written by:
Darlene Antonelli, MA
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 8,274 times.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: July 15, 2020
Views: 8,274
Categories: Microsoft Word
Article SummaryX

1. Open a blank project in Word.
2. Tap the three-dots menu icon (iOS) or the up-pointing arrow icon (Android) .
3. Tap the arrows next to Home.
4. Tap Insert.
5. Tap Shapes.
6. Tap the circle icon.
7. Edit the circle in your document.

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