How to Add Alternate Text to images on Instagram

You can provide image descriptions for images in your Instagram posts on the web, iOS, and Android. Image descriptions are useful for people with visual impairments, especially those who rely on screen reader software such as NVDA, JAWS, and Narrator on Windows, VoiceOver on all Apple operating systems, and Talk Back on Android.

The key to good image descriptions is to be short, concise, and descriptive. Examples might include:

• "A man walking down the street with their German Shepherd guide dog. The person is wearing a charcoal button-down shirt and khaki pants.”
• “An office cubicle with beige walls, a large brown L-shaped desk, 2 monitors, and a small computer tower”
• “A table with an arrangement of food items for an office gathering, including soups, various cakes, candies, pasta dishes, and turkey.”

Below are the steps to achieve this.

Desktop (Web)

1. Select the image you want to post. Click “Add Description.”
2. Apply any filters or edits you wish to make and then click “Next.”
3. Click “Accessibility” and type the alt text you want to apply to the image
4. When your post is complete, click “Share.”

To add alternative text to images you’ve already posted:

1. Click “Options.”
2. Click “Edit.”
3. Click “Accessibility.”
4. Type the alt text that you want to apply to the image
5. Click “Done”

Mobile (iOS)

1. Select the image that you want to post
2. Tap “Next”, apply filters and any other edits you wish to make, and tap “Next.”
3. Tap “More Options.”
4. Tap “Write Alt Text.”
5. Type the alt text you want to apply to the image and then tap “Done.”

To add alternative text to images you’ve already posted:

1. Go to the image you want to add alt text to and tap “Options.”
2. Tap “Edit”
3. Tap “Edit Alt Text”
4. Type the alt text you want to apply to the image and then tap “Done.”

Mobile (Android)

1. Select the image that you want to post
2. Tap “Next”, apply filters and any other edits you wish to make, and tap “Next.”
3. Tap “More Options”
4. Tap “Write Alt Text”
5. Type the alt text you want to apply to the image and then tap “Done.”

To add alternative text to images you’ve already posted:

1. Go to the image you want to add alt text to and tap “Options.”
2. Tap “Edit”
3. Tap “Edit Alt Text”
4. Type the alt text you want to apply to the image and then tap “Done.”