New: Easily Add Images in Google Sheets (Including Receipts)

On both desktop and mobile, Google has made it much easier to add images inside cells in Google Sheets.

Previously, the only option for putting images in a Google Spreadsheet was using the IMAGE function. However, that method was a bit clumsy and only worked with publicly hosted image files.

In addition to the IMAGE function, you can now insert any image, like those saved on your desktop or mobile device, into a cell with a new option found inside the Insert menu.

How it works

• On Desktop:
  • Via the menu bar at the top of a Sheet: Insert > Image > Image in cell
  • Select image from Drive or upload one.

• On Mobile:
  • Tap once on a cell to select
  • Tap again to bring up menu: Insert > Tap the “+” at the top of the screen > Image > Image in cell
  • Select an image from the options presented to you.

Ideas for how to use it

Many Tiller customers have asked for an easier way to use images with their spreadsheets, especially for receipts. (Previously we shared tips for using Google Keep and Sheets together.)

Other ideas:

• Adding photos to help identify and track purchases.
• Using food photos in a mean or food intake tracker.
• Adding product images to inventory lists.
• Using image icons instead of emoji in Google Sheets to add visual context to categories.

Details

According to the Google Blog:

• You can have multiple cells containing an image in a Sheet, but note that only one image per cell is possible at the moment.
• Images inside cells will be associated with a row and move along with the data—so, if you move rows, filter or sort them, the images will move with the content in the row, unlike previously when images would sit on top of the grid.
• Using the formatting and alignment tools, you can pin the image to a specific corner of the cell or set the alignment how you’d like. By default, images will align to the bottom left corner of the cell.
• This feature will be ON by default

Helpful links

• Google Help Center: Add an image to a spreadsheet
• How to Use Google Sheets With Calendar, Keep, and Tasks