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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(44.800000000000004, 81%, 14%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EM%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In the above image, the pasted tables are from Word on a Mac (Left) and Word on a PC (Right). I have tried numerous methods to make Excel tables paste nicely into Word as a picture, e.g., Paste as PNG, Copy as Picture from Excel (all methods), don't compress images in Word, paste as object, camera tool in Excel, etcetera, etcetera. This is a constant issue in Mac Office and perennially makes it onto these forums, and yet, it remains an issue. It is not an update issue. Can Microsoft and Apple find a work around that makes an Excel table paste as crisply into a Word document on MacOS as it does on Office for Windows when I paste as "Picture (Enhanced Metafile)". I know this partly due to how Windows and Mac copy pixels, but it is frustrating that after 10+ years of using Mac and Windows versions of Office, this continues to be a problem with no real solution (that I can find) to date.
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Thank you for the reply. Now, there appears to be another problem. The paste as PDF method worked well, but it worked well only on Mac. The image was sharp and looked good on my MacBook. Further, it even looked good after a size reduction to 86%.
When the document was opened in Word on PC, the image was blurry and indicates that it was zoomed to 132% in the Size and Option dialogue.
OK, it wasn't mentioned that cross-platform distribution is a factor. The Window OS doesn't support PDF as an image file type.
Try using the Edit> Paste Special - Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object.
If that doesn't provide a satisfactory result the only other suggestion I can offer is to use a graphics program to convert the copied content to EMF, SVG or other vector-based format which is supported on both Mac & Windows. There are are many available, some of which are relatively inexpensive or free.
I appreciate the feedback. Yes, cross-platform use is a factor, and I should have made sure that was a consideration as well. The Excel Worksheet Object is a decent workaround, but it is still a hassle for other reasons. I will look at the EMF, SVG route and see what can be done. Otherwise, the only way around the basic issue of raster vs. vector is going with a Windows machine or VM like Parallels with an installation of Office. Not a bad workaround, but it would be nice if there were a OS based way of doing so.
Have you tried just copying in Excel the using Edit> Paste Special — PDF in Word?
The methods you mentioned all create raster images but the text content is vector. Conversion causes pixelation which translates as blurriness to the human eye
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(41.6, 25%, 14%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EGN%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi MFish9085
Thank you for reaching out to the Q&A Forum. I understand how disruptive this issue can be to your workflow, and I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
Regarding the behavior you're experiencing when pasting Excel tables into Word on macOS: When a table is pasted as a picture, macOS typically uses a raster image format such as PNG. Unlike Windows, which supports Enhanced Metafile (EMF), a vector-based format, macOS lacks native support for EMF. As a result, the pasted image is stored at a fixed pixel resolution, and any scaling within Word can degrade its clarity. Additionally, Word for Mac may apply default image compression, which further reduces sharpness.
We appreciate Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP’s helpful workaround using Paste Special > PDF, which often preserves vector quality. I’d also like to suggest another method that may yield the same results that simply paste the table from Excel into Word using Command + V > Right-click the pasted table and choose Paste as Picture.
In practice, this approach frequently produces a higher-resolution image compared to directly pasting as a picture or using Paste Special with PNG or TIFF formats. It’s worth trying both methods to see which best suits your needs.
Thank you again for your engagement. I hope the insights shared by both Bob Jones and myself prove helpful in resolving this issue.
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Thank you for the reply. Now, there appears to be another problem. This worked as well as the Paste as PDF suggestion did, but it worked well only on Mac. The image was sharp and looked good on my MacBook. Further, it even looked good after a size reduction to 86%.
When the document was opened in Word on PC, the image was blurry and indicates that it was zoomed to 132% in the Size and Option dialogue.
Hello MFish9085, sorry for the late reply, and thank you for your patience.
As you know and as discussed with Bob, there are certain limitations when working across macOS and Windows, particularly regarding how pasted tables are handled.
A big thank you to Bob for sharing such helpful and effective information in the thread. His suggestions, such as using Paste Special > Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object or converting to vector formats like EMF/SVG, remain among the best approaches to maintain clarity and improve cross-platform compatibility.
At this point, as a moderator, my ability to directly resolve this issue is limited. However, I strongly encourage you to submit this concern through the Microsoft Feedback Portal This helps ensure that your experience is visible to the product team and can be considered for future improvements.
Thank you again for your understanding and for taking the time to raise this issue so thoughtfully. Your feedback is truly appreciated, and it plays an important role in helping us improve the experience for everyone.