Google Sheets has added a new feature in its INSERT menu. Now you can insert images in cells without formula in Google Sheets. No need to use the Image function ‘anymore’.

Earlier you can insert an image on the cell, not in the cell using the INSERT menu. To insert an image into a cell, the only available option was the IMAGE function.

As far as I am concerned, this function is not flawless. Consider inserting an image into a cell from Google Drive using this function. It may not be an easy task.

Even if you found success in inserting images from Drive to Sheets using the IMAGE function, it may fail to load in the second time.

I mean when you close your Google Sheets file that contains the inserted image and reopens, the image may not load. It happened to me in the past.

Now the new feature solves that dilemma. Just check the Insert menu on your Google Sheets for this new feature.

If this feature is not yet available to you, it may be rolling out slowly. So you will soon see this feature.

The new Image in cell option lets you insert images from the following sources.

1. Direct Upload.
2. Take a snapshot and insert into a cell.
3. Insert an image in a cell by image URL.
4. Your albums.
5. Insert Google Drive stored image file into a cell in Google Sheets.
6. Make a Google Search and insert the image.

This is exciting, right? Here is one example of how to insert images in cells without formula in Google Sheets.

Insert Images From Google Drive to Cells in Google Sheets

To insert images from Google drive to Google Sheets, that into cells, please follow the below steps.

Steps:

Go to the menu Insert and click on Image > Image in cell.

Select the tab “Google Drive”.

You can see your Google Drive stored files. Browse and click on the image that you want to insert from Google Drive to Sheets. Then click the “Select” button.

The selected image from Google Drive will be inserted into the active cell in Sheets. This is the quickest way to insert an image from Google Drive to a cell in Google Sheets.

Here I have noticed one thing. The inserted image keeps the original image’s aspect ratio. It’s equal to the resizing mode # 1, which is default in the IMAGE function.

Must Check: Google Sheets Function Guide.

Increase the cell width and height to see that.

You can use the Search tab on the Insert > Image > Image in cell window to insert images from;

1. After performing a search on Google.
2. From the LIFE photo archive.
3. From the stock image archive.

Use your keyword to search on the search field there. The images are free to use only on Google Drive. But do make sure before using.

The Advantage of Inserting Drive Images into Sheets Cells

Assume you are a teacher. You can upload photos of your study materials in Google Drive. Then insert it into Google Sheets cells to train your students.

For example, I have entered a few animals names in column A and inserted corresponding images into column B.

The above animal names and images are in Sheet1. In Sheet2, the below formula will extract the image of Lion.

=vlookup("Lion",Sheet1!A1:B3,2,0)

Hope the above examples well explain how to insert images in cells without formula in Google Sheets.