Why does an Excel insert in Word turn into images?

Dear contact_003,

Thank you for reaching out.

According to our tests, we experience the same behavior as you. When inserting an Excel file, it turns into an image.

Currently, when you insert an Excel file, it turns into an image. This is the current design of Microsoft Word.

Possible workaround

You can use the below method to prevent the Excel file from being changed to an image.

• Open the Microsoft Excel worksheet, then highlight the data you want to include in the Word document.

• Copy the data. Press Ctrl+C (on a Mac, press Command+C). Or, right-click the selected data and select Copy.

• Open the Word document and place the cursor where you want the worksheet data to appear.
• Press Ctrl+V (on a Mac, press Command+V). Or, go to the Home tab and, in the Clipboard group, select Paste.
  Don't choose the Paste drop-down arrow.

• The data appears in the Word document.

Here's how to embed using the Paste Special option:

• Open the Microsoft Excel worksheet, then highlight the data you want to include in the Word document.

• Copy the data. Press Ctrl+C (on a Mac, press Command+C). Or, right-click the selected data and select Copy.

• Open the Word document and place the cursor where you want the worksheet data to appear.
• Go to the Home tab and, in the Clipboard group, select the Paste drop-down arrow, then choose Paste Special.

• In the Paste Special dialog box, select Paste.

• Select Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object.

• Select OK.

• The Excel data appears in the Word document.

How to Link Excel Data to a Word Document

The steps to link a worksheet to a Word document are similar to the steps to embed the data.

• Open the Microsoft Excel worksheet, then highlight the data you want to include in the Word document.

• Copy the data. Press Ctrl+C (on a Mac, press Command+C). Or, right-click the selected data and select Copy.

• Open the Word document and place the cursor where you want the worksheet data to appear.
• Go to the Home tab, select the Paste drop-down arrow, then choose Paste Special.

• In the Paste Special dialog box, select Paste link.

• Choose Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object.

• Select OK.

• The Excel data appears in the Word document.

Thank you for your time and patience, we hope you have a great day!

Kind regards,

Community Moderator | Sophia

I am not sure which option you tried, but you can insert an Excel workbook as an object via Insert > Object. Make use of the Create from File tab.