How to add alt text
Where the alt text field lives in the tools you actually use. Need the words first? Write them with the alt text generator, or the social mode of the image describer.
HTML
- Add the alt attribute to the img element.
- Use alt="" for decorative images, never omit the attribute.
<img src="teapot.webp" alt="Sage-green ceramic teapot" width="800" height="600">Markdown
- The text inside the square brackets becomes the alt.
React / Next.js
- Pass alt as a prop. Next.js <Image> requires it.
- Use alt="" for decorative images.
<Image src="/teapot.webp" alt="Sage-green ceramic teapot" width={800} height={600} />WordPress
- Select the Image block.
- In the block sidebar, fill in "Alternative text".
- Or set it in Media Library for future inserts (existing posts keep their old alt).
- Toggle "Mark as decorative" (newer versions) for decorative images.
Shopify
- Products > open a product.
- Click an image, then "Add alt text".
- Save. Repeat per image and per variant image.
Squarespace
- Edit the image block.
- In the Content tab, add the text in the image filename or caption field (Squarespace uses it as alt text on many block types).
- Check the published page source to confirm.
Wix
- Click the image, then Settings.
- Fill in "What's in the image? Tell Google".
- Leave empty and mark as decorative where offered.
Google Docs, Word, PowerPoint
- Right-click the image.
- Choose "Alt text" (Docs) or "View Alt Text" / "Edit Alt Text" (Office).
- In Office, tick "Mark as decorative" if it is.
- Before sharing, open Advanced settings (Accessibility in some versions).
- Tap "Write alt text" and save.
- Existing posts: ••• > Edit > Edit alt text.
- After adding the image, tap "Alt text" on the image preview.
- Type your description and save.
X (Twitter)
- After attaching an image, tap "+Alt" (or "Add description").
- Type up to 1,000 characters and save.
- Edit the photo before posting (or after, via Edit).
- Choose "Alternative text", then "Override generated alt text" and type your own.
Bluesky and Mastodon
- Tap "ALT" on the attached image.
- Type the description (up to 2,000 characters on Bluesky, 1,500 by default on Mastodon).
Email (Mailchimp and others)
- Select the image block and find "Alt text" in its settings.
- Many email clients block images by default, so alt is often the first thing people see.
Platform auto-alt is a starting point
WordPress plugins, Facebook and Microsoft Office can generate alt text automatically. It usually names objects ("May be an image of 1 person, bicycle and street") without knowing why you posted the picture. Replace it with a sentence about what matters, following the best practices.
Check it worked
After publishing, run the page through the alt text checker, or right-click the image and inspect it: the alt attribute should contain your text.
Questions people ask
How do I add alt text in WordPress?
In the block editor, select the Image block and fill in "Alternative text" in the block settings sidebar. In the Media Library, open the image and use the "Alternative Text" field. The Media Library value is used when you insert the image later, but changing it does not update images already placed in posts.
How do I add alt text on Instagram?
When posting, tap "Advanced settings" (or "Accessibility" in newer app versions) before sharing, then "Write alt text". For an existing post, tap the three dots, choose Edit, then "Edit alt text" on the image.
How do I add alt text in Markdown?
Put it in the square brackets: . Empty brackets produce alt="", so leave them empty only for decorative images.
How do I add alt text in Shopify?
In the admin, open the product, click the image, and choose "Add alt text". Themes then output it as the alt attribute. Each product image can have its own alt.