How to Make a Flowchart in Word

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methods

1Using SmartArt

2Creating a Flowchart Manually

Sample Flowchart

Other Sections

Questions & Answers

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Article Summary

This How.com.vn teaches you how to create flowcharts in Microsoft Word using SmartArt, or by arranging shapes manually.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using SmartArt

1. 
   1
   Open a Word document. Double-click a document to open it in Word. To create a new document, open Word by clicking it in the All Apps area of the Start menu (Windows) or in the Applications folder (macOS).

   • Depending on your version of Word, you may have to click File and then New (or Blank Document) to create a new document.
2. 
   2
   Click the Insert tab. It’s near the top-left corner of Word.
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3. 
   3
   Click SmartArt. It’s in the ″Illustrations″ panel in the toolbar at the top of the screen. Look for a green arrow icon with a white sheet of paper on it.

   • SmartArt are pre-made graphics created specifically for flowcharts. When selecting SmartArt, you’ll be able to preview what your flowchart will look like.
4. 
   4
   Browse available charts. The options on the left describe different types of charts. Click the type you want to create to see examples in the center panel, then click an example to select it. Details about the selection will appear in the far-right panel.
5. 
   5
   Click OK. This adds the selected chart graphics to the document.
6. 
   6
   Add labels to the chart. Use the label pop-up window to do this—just type them in and they’ll appear on the chart.
7. 
   7
   Adjust the layout and colors. Click through the buttons in the ″SmartArt Styles″ toolbar at the top of the screen to browse through options.
8. 
   8
   Save your finished flowchart. To do this:

   • Click the File menu.
   • Select Save As.
   • Name the document and click Save.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Creating a Flowchart Manually

1. 
   1
   Open a Word document. Double-click a document to open it in Word. To create a new document, open Word by clicking it in the All Apps area of the Start menu (Windows) or in the Applications folder (macOS).

   • Depending on your version of Word, you may have to click File and then New (or Blank Document) to create a new document.
2. 
   2
   Click the Insert tab. It’s near the top-left corner of Word.
3. 
   3
   Click Shapes. Its in the toolbar at the top of the screen, toward the left. A menu will various shapes will expand.
4. 
   4
   Click a shape under the ″Flowchart″ header.
5. 
   5
   Add the shape to the document. To do this, click somewhere on the document, and then drag your mouse to start drawing the shape. Once the shape is the correct size, lift your finger from the mouse
6. 
   6
   Add additional shapes. You can add shapes for each part of the flowchart. For example, you may want to insert a rectangle, followed by an arrow, followed by another rectangle, etc, to show progress.
7. 
   7
   Drag the shapes to the desired locations. Once the shapes are placed, you can easily drag them to a different position in the document.
8. 
   8
   Create text boxes for the labels. To do this:

   • Double-click a shape to access the Drawing Tools.
   • Click Draw Text Box at the top.
   • Click the place on the document where you want to add a text box, then drag the mouse to create a box.
   • Repeat these steps for each part of the chart that needs a label.
9. 
   9
   Add labels to the text boxes. Click a text box to start typing, and then repeat this step for each label you need to add.
10. 
    10
    Save your finished flowchart. To do this:

    • Click the File menu.
    • Select Save As.
    • Name the document and click Save.
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Sample Flowchart

Word Flowchart

Community Q&A

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• Question

  I want to know how to draw the arrows between the boxes of a flow chart.

  

  NavyBlueCat

  Community Answer

  Use the shapes function and find an arrow. Then drag the arrow to your preferred size and location. Drop in place and resize if needed or just leave it as it is.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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  Not Helpful 0Helpful 3
• Question

  How do I add additional boxes to a smart art flowchart?

  

  Travis Grudzinskas

  Community Answer

  In the vertical box list that appears when you create a smart art flowchart, you can hit enter to create another bullet point/box within the smart art flowchart.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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  Not Helpful 0Helpful 0
• Question

  How do I draw a flow chart to calculate simple interest?

  

  Holly Hort

  Community Answer

  Begin with the starting point of the flowchart. Input Principal, Rate, and Time. Create a decision shape (diamond) labeled "Input Principal, Rate, and Time" to represent the step where the user inputs the principal amount, interest rate, and time period. Use a process shape (rectangle) labeled "Calculate Interest" to represent the step where you multiply the principal, rate, and time to calculate the interest amount.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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