Extract Images from DOCX with C# / IronWord

IronWord’s ExtractImages() method enables you to programmatically extract all embedded images from Word documents, providing access to image data and metadata like dimensions and format for saving or processing.

Quickstart: Extract Images from DOCX in C#

```csharp {title="Quick Image Extraction Example"} // Install IronWord: Install-Package IronWord using IronWord;

// Load your Word document WordDocument doc = new WordDocument("document.docx");

// Extract all images var images = doc.ExtractImages();

// Save each image with custom naming int imageIndex = 0; foreach (var image in images) { // Save to specified format image.SaveAs($"output-{imageIndex}.png");

// Access image properties
Console.WriteLine($"Image {imageIndex}: {image.Width}x{image.Height}");
imageIndex++;

}

Extracting images from Word documents is a common requirement for content migration, media management, and programmatic document processing. Whether you're building a content management system, automating document workflows, or creating digital archives, IronWord simplifies access to embedded images, allowing them to be saved, reused, or analyzed through properties like dimensions and format.

The `ExtractImages()` function provides a simple and efficient way to retrieve all images from a document and access their metadata for further processing. This method returns a collection of image objects that contain both the raw image data and useful metadata properties. For developers working with [PowerPoint presentations](https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/ppt/examples/create-empty-presentation/), similar functionality exists in other Iron libraries, demonstrating a consistent API design across the product suite.

### How Do I Get Started with IronWord?

---

<div class="hsg-featured-snippet">
    <h2>How to Extract Images from DOCX</h2>
    <ol>
        <li>Download a C# library for extracting images from DOCX</li>
        <li>Load an existing Word document</li>
        <li>Access and extract image content using <code>ExtractImages</code></li>
        <li>Save extracted images to disk</li>
        <li>Process or export the image files</li>
    </ol>
</div>

## How Do I Extract Images from a Word Document?

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Extracting images from a Word document is straightforward with IronWord. The file `embedded_images.docx` will be used as an example file which includes 5 images on 3 different pages. The code snippet below defines the core workflow for the image extraction process using the `ExtractImages()` method.

When working with document processing libraries, it's essential to understand [licensing requirements](https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/ppt/licensing/) to ensure your application complies with usage terms. IronWord follows similar licensing patterns to other Iron products, offering perpetual licenses with comprehensive support options. For production deployments, you'll need to apply [license keys](https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/ppt/get-started/license-keys/) to remove any watermarks or restrictions.

```csharp
:path=/static-assets/word/content-code-examples/how-to/extract-images-properties.cs

The ExtractImages() method returns an enumerable collection of image objects, each containing the complete image data along with metadata. This approach allows for flexible processing workflows—you might save images to disk as shown above, convert them to different formats, or stream them directly to cloud storage services. The method handles various image formats commonly embedded in Word documents, including JPEG, PNG, BMP, and GIF.

What Does the Sample Document Look Like?

What Output Should I Expect?

The extracted images retain their original format (e.g., .jpg, .png, or other formats) and can be saved with appropriate file extensions. You can iterate through all images in the document or target specific sections based on your requirements.