Table of contents
What is alt text and why it matters How to add alt text in the WordPress Media Library How to add alt text when uploading new images How to add or edit alt text in the Block Editor (Gutenberg) How to add alt attributes in the Classic Editor How to write effective alt text (and what to avoid) Plugins that help manage or automate alt text Getting started Additional resources
Get the industry’s fastest WordPress hosting ◦ 99.999% uptime
◦ Comprehensive security
◦ 24/7 support
Explore options

WordPress Guide → Images → Add Alt Tags

How to add alt tags to images in WordPress

A man looks intently at a large computer monitor as he compares managed WooCommerce hosting plans

Alt text isn’t just a checkbox for SEO—it’s a key part of accessibility, content clarity, and image performance. If you’re uploading images to WordPress without filling in the “alt” field, you’re leaving value on the table.

Image alt text (alternative text) is a short description added to an image’s HTML code that explains the image’s content and purpose. It’s used by screen readers to help visually impaired users understand visual elements, and it also helps search engines index images for SEO. If the image fails to load, the alt text appears in its place as a fallback.

Get fast, reliable hosting for WordPress

Power your site with the industry’s fastest, most optimized WordPress hosting

WordPress.org hosting

What is alt text and why it matters

Image alt text (alternative text) is a short description added to an image’s HTML code that explains the image’s content and purpose. It’s used by screen readers to help visually impaired users understand visual elements, and it also helps search engines index images for SEO. If the image fails to load, the alt text appears in its place as a fallback.

Accessibility

Alt text helps screen readers describe images to users who are blind or visually impaired. It’s required for WCAG 2.1 compliance and a better user experience for everyone.

SEO value

There’s debate about whether or not search engine crawlers can see and interpret images, but if they can, they probably don’t. Image alt text helps Google understand what is on the page.

That means helpful, descriptive alt text can boost your image SEO and help your site appear in image search results.

UX and loading behavior

If an image fails to load, the alt text will display in its place. This improves clarity and helps users stay oriented on your page.

How to add alt text in the WordPress Media Library

Here’s the most direct way to add or edit alt tags for images you’ve already uploaded.

  1. Go to Media > Library in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Click on the image you want to edit.
  3. In the Attachment Details pane on the right, find the Alt Text field.
  4. Enter a short, descriptive phrase.
    • Example: “Golden retriever playing with a ball in the park”
  5. Click the Update button to save changes.

How to add alt text when uploading new images

When you’re uploading an image directly while editing a post or page:

  1. Open a post or page in the editor.
  2. Click Add Media or drag and drop an image.
  3. In the Upload Files or Media Library tab, select your image.
  4. Fill in the Alt Text field before clicking Insert into post.

This ensures your alt text is added right from the start.

How to add or edit alt text in the Block Editor (Gutenberg)

If you’re using the block editor:

  1. Click on the image block in your post or page.
  2. In the right-hand sidebar under Block > Image settings, find the Alt text (alternative text) field.
  3. Type in your alt description.
  4. Your changes are saved automatically as part of the post.

How to add alt attributes in the Classic Editor

For sites still using the Classic Editor:

  1. Insert your image into the post using the Add Media button.
  2. In the Image Details popup, fill in the Alternative Text field.
  3. Click Update to apply your changes.

How to write effective alt text (and what to avoid)

Great alt text is all about clarity, usefulness, and context. Here’s how to get it right—and the most common pitfalls to avoid.

  1. Be concise but descriptive. Stick to one short sentence (ideally under 125 characters) that clearly describes the image.
  2. Focus on purpose, not just appearance. Explain what the image shows and why it’s there.
  3. Don’t use “image of” or “picture of.” Screen readers already announce the presence of images.
  4. Avoid keyword stuffing. Include relevant words naturally, but don’t force extra SEO terms into the description.
  5. Make each alt tag unique. Don’t reuse the same text across different images.
  6. Don’t skip important visuals. If the image adds meaning to the content, make sure the alt text reflects that.

For example, if you’re selling Minecraft servers and you include an image of a person at their gaming desk:

  1. Good alt text: “gamer enjoying private minecraft server” — It includes a strategic keyword (“minecraft server”), but it’s not forced.
  2. Meh alt text: “person at gaming desk” — It’s descriptive, but you’ve missed a little SEO opportunity by not mentioning your product.
  3. Terrible alt text: “minecraft server cheap best awesome minecraft server” — This is keyword stuffing. Don’t do this.

Plugins that help manage or automate alt text

If you’re working with a large number of images, plugins can help automate or bulk edit alt attributes:

  1. Yoast SEO: Alerts you when images are missing alt text.
  2. Image Attributes Pro: Automatically generates SEO-friendly alt tags based on file name, post title, or custom rules.
  3. Auto Image Attributes From Filename With Bulk Updater: Adds alt, title, and description tags from image filenames.

Ready to get started?

Get the fastest, most secure WordPress.org hosting on the market.

All WordPress hosting

Trust us to help you choose the ideal hosting solution

Loading form…