How to fix missing image alt text
Every image without alt text is invisible twice: to a screen-reader user, and to Google Images. Both are easy to fix.
Alt text (the alt attribute on an <img> tag) is a short written description of an image. Screen readers read it aloud to people who can't see the image, and search engines use it to understand what the picture shows — which is how an image ranks in Google Images.
Good alt text describes the content and function of the image in plain language, without “image of” preamble and without stuffing keywords.
Why it matters
Missing alt text is one of the most common accessibility failures on the web, and it's a WCAG requirement — a real legal-exposure item for many businesses. It's also free image-search traffic and extra on-page context you're leaving on the table.
How to tell if this is you
Abby flags “Image Alt Text” when content images are missing an alt attribute or use an empty one where a description is expected. Decorative images are a legitimate exception (see below).
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Scan my site freeThe fix
Add descriptive alt attributes to all <img> tags: <img src="..." alt="Description of image">. Alt text should describe the image content for accessibility and SEO.
Before
<img src="/team-photo.jpg">
After
<img src="/team-photo.jpg"
alt="The Example Studio team outside their Lake Forest workshop">
Fix it on your platform
WordPress
When uploading an image in the Media Library, fill in the "Alt Text" field. For existing images, go to Media > Library, click the image, and add alt text.
Shopify
Click on any image in your product/page editor, then fill in the "Image alt text" field that appears.
Wix
Click the image in the editor, click "Settings", and fill in the "What's in the image? (Alt Text)" field.
Squarespace
Click the image block, then click the pencil icon. Fill in the "Image Description (Alt Text)" field.
WooCommerce
Edit the product, scroll to Product Image or Gallery, click the image, and fill in the "Alt Text" field in the media library.
When this doesn’t apply
Required for accessibility on content images. Decorative images (background patterns, dividers, spacers) can use alt="" deliberately to mark them as invisible to screen readers. Pages with no images naturally pass.
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Get my fix planFAQ
Do decorative images need alt text?
No. For purely decorative images (dividers, background patterns, spacers) use an empty alt="" on purpose — that tells screen readers to skip them. The empty attribute must still be present; leaving alt off entirely is the failure.
Should I put keywords in alt text?
Describe the image accurately first. If a relevant keyword fits naturally, great — but keyword-stuffed alt text hurts accessibility and can look manipulative.
How long should alt text be?
A concise sentence — typically under ~125 characters so screen readers announce it cleanly. If an image needs a long explanation, put that in the surrounding text.