> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/knowledge-base/068-how-to-insert-figures-in-overleaf.md). # How to insert figures in Overleaf Overleaf provides 3 ways to create LaTeX figures: 1. Use the [**Insert Figure** button](#using-insert-figure-to-add-a-figure-to-your-project) (![The Insert Figure button on the editor toolbar](/files/B1pcH75kPuP9jTgswYuY)) to insert a figure into **Visual Editor** or **Code Editor**. 2. [Copy and paste an image](/latex/knowledge-base/075-how-to-paste-formatted-content-into-overleaf.md#pasting-images-into-your-overleaf-project) into **Visual Editor** or **Code Editor**. 3. Use **Code Editor** to write LaTeX code that [inserts a graphic and places it inside a figure environment](/latex/more-topics/27-inserting-images.md). Options 1 and 2 automatically generate the LaTeX code required to create your figure, but if you’re a confident LaTeX user you might prefer option 3 which provides the most flexibility. If you’re new to LaTeX then option 1, the **Insert Figure** button (the focus of this page), is a great way to get started. Before using any of these figure-creation methods, make sure your main LaTeX file has loaded the `graphicx` package by writing `\usepackage{graphicx}` within its [preamble](/latex/latex-basics/01-learn-latex-in-30-minutes.md#the-preamble-of-a-document). ## Using Visual Editor and Code Editor Before we explain how to insert a figure, it’s worth noting **Visual Editor**’s figure preview feature. Figures can be inserted into **Visual Editor** or **Code Editor**, but only **Visual Editor** provides a preview of the figure together with a button which opens a modal window allowing you to make changes. The following brief video clip demonstrates **Visual Editor**’s figure preview feature. {% embed url="" %} ## Using Insert Figure to add a figure to your project Use the following steps to insert a figure into an Overleaf LaTeX document. 1. Choose which editor you want to use: **Visual Editor** or **Code Editor**. 2. Select the **Insert Figure** button (![The Insert Figure button on the editor toolbar](/files/B1pcH75kPuP9jTgswYuY)) to display a list of options for inserting figures: ![List of options for inserting a figure](/files/6m0ZOBEnFnOl8aiHPTcW) 3. Use the following document links to jump to the option of interest: * [Upload from computer](#upload-from-computer) * [From project files](#from-project-files) * [From another project (video demo)](#from-another-project) * [From URL (video demo)](#from-url) ### Upload from computer This option creates a figure using a graphics file uploaded from your device. ![The upload from computer modal displayed when you upload a file](/files/BFjMtgOskMDxtWJuZpKJ) To use this option: 1. Upload a graphic using one of these methods: * drag and drop a graphics file onto the modal window (within the area shown) * paste an image into the modal window (within the area shown) * manually select a file located on your device 3. Give the graphics file a name. 4. (Optional) Choose a project folder in which to save the file. 5. Decide whether to use a figure caption. 6. Decide whether to include a label (used for [referencing the figure](/latex/more-topics/27-inserting-images.md#labels-and-cross-references)). 7. Set the image width (as a fraction of `\linewidth`). 8. Select **Insert figure** to upload the graphic and automatically generate a LaTeX `figure` environment based on your choices. ### From project files This option creates a figure using one of the graphics files previously uploaded to your current project. ![The insert from project files modal used to select a project file for creating a figure](/files/wnV1TVEGYtnBE74Cai4C) To use this option: 1. Choose a graphic contained in your project. 2. Decide whether to use a figure caption. 3. Decide whether to include a label (used for [referencing the figure](/latex/more-topics/27-inserting-images.md#labels-and-cross-references)). 4. Set the image width (as a fraction of `\linewidth`). 5. Select **Insert figure** to automatically generate a LaTeX `figure` environment based on your choices. ### From another project This option creates lets you create figures using graphics files contained in another one of your Overleaf projects. As shown in the animated sceenshot below, you select a project then choose a file previously *uploaded* to that project, or a file *output* (generated) by that project—for example, a PDF graphic generated by [externalizing TikZ graphics](https://learn.overleaf.com/learn/Questions/I_have_a_lot_of_tikz,_matlab2tikz_or_pgfplots_figures,_so_I%27m_getting_a_compilation_timeout._Can_I_externalise_my_figures%3F#How_to_externalize_TikZ_graphics). See the section [Select from output files](#select-from-output-files) for a video clip showing how to use an output file created by another project. ![An animated GIF showing how to choose file generated by another project](/files/fVrWLvOI731hCKH8oSAp) To use this option: 1. Choose a project containing graphics files you’d like to use in your current project. 2. Select one of that project’s graphics: * an **image file** *uploaded to* that project, or * an [**output file**](#select-from-output-files) *generated by* that project. 3. Give the graphics file a name. 4. (Optional) Choose a project folder in which to save the file. 5. Decide whether to use a figure caption. 6. Decide whether to include a label (used for [referencing the figure](/latex/more-topics/27-inserting-images.md#labels-and-cross-references)). 7. Set the image width (as a fraction of `\linewidth`). 8. Select **Insert figure** to automatically generate a LaTeX `figure` environment based on your choices. #### Select from output files The video clip below walks you through the process of incorporating a figure into your current project, utilizing a file generated from another project that creates [externalized TikZ graphics](/latex/questions-and-answers/60-i-have-a-lot-of-tikz-matlab2tikz-or-pgfplots-figures-so-i-m-getting-a-compilation-timeout.-can-i.md#how-to-externalize-tikz-graphics). {% embed url="" %} ### From URL This option lets you create figures using graphics added (downloaded) to your project via a URL. ![An image showing the modal window for downloading a file via a URL](/files/JUCtAJvzy9ao60UJphkN) To use this option: 1. Paste a [direct download link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_download_link) (URL) into the **Image URL** field. 2. Give the graphics file a name. 3. (Optional) Choose a project folder in which to save it. 4. Decide whether to include a figure caption. 5. Decide whether to include a label (used for [referencing the figure](/latex/more-topics/27-inserting-images.md#labels-and-cross-references)). 6. Set the image width (as a fraction of `\linewidth`). 7. Select **Insert figure** to automatically generate a LaTeX `figure` environment based on your choices. The following video clip demonstrates using a [Google Drive download URL](/latex/knowledge-base/051-how-can-i-upload-files-from-google-drive.md). It also shows how to change the figure size and give it a caption. {% embed url="" %} --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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