How to add alt text to images on X (Twitter)

X calls it an image description. It helps people who are blind, have low vision, use assistive technology, live in low-bandwidth areas, or want more context. X says descriptions on X differ from the rest of the web: the limit is 1,000 characters, the description is the only guaranteed place an image is described, and descriptions must follow the X Rules like posts do.

X's two pages describe visibility differently. Its writing guide says everyone can access image descriptions; its how-to page says a description isn't visible once posted and reaches people through screen readers and braille displays.

Sources: X Help Center: How to write great image descriptions, checked 15 October 2026; X Help Center: How to make images accessible for people, checked 15 October 2026

The steps are the same on iOS and Android.

1. Tap the post compose icon and attach your photos.
2. Tap +Alt on the image.
3. Type your description and tap Done.
4. To change it, tap the description again before you post.
5. Repeat for each image, then post.

Source: X Help Center: How to make images accessible for people, checked 15 October 2026

X also has keyboard steps for VoiceOver on Mac and for JAWS and NVDA on Windows: open the composer with N, Tab to Add photos or video, then press Enter on the added image to open the description dialog.

1. Click the Post compose button, or press N.
2. Attach your photos.
3. Click Add description.
4. Type your description and click Done. Reopen Add description to edit it before posting.

Source: X Help Center: How to make images accessible for people, checked 15 October 2026

• Capture what matters: action, people, names where relevant, how things relate and anything unusual
• Be brief. In X's espresso example, a 137-character version says as much as a 224-character one
• Be objective. Say someone is smiling rather than guessing they're having fun
• Write out or summarise any text in the image. For a long document, summarise it and link the source in the post
• Spell out abbreviations and capitalise acronyms so screen readers read them properly
• Say what kind of image it is: close-up, aerial shot, screenshot or illustration
• Use full sentences in sentence case, not all capitals
• Skip "Photo of" and "Image of", and don't repeat what your post already says

Source: X Help Center: How to write great image descriptions, checked 15 October 2026

Our examples, following X's tips:

• A menu board: "Chalkboard outside the café listing today's specials: tomato soup, cheese toastie, lemon cake."
• A product shot: "Close-up of a hand-thrown blue mug with a speckled glaze, on a white shelf."
• An offer graphic: "Graphic reading: 20% off all haircuts this Tuesday only." Copy the exact words from the image

Source: X Help Center: How to write great image descriptions, checked 15 October 2026

• It can't go on videos. X says image descriptions can't be added to videos, so put key details in the post text
• It can't run past 1,000 characters. Summarise longer text and link to the full version
• X's steps only cover adding and editing a description before you post, so check it before you select Post
• It doesn't replace clear post text. Describe the image, not the whole message

Sources: X Help Center: How to make images accessible for people, checked 15 October 2026; X Help Center: How to write great image descriptions, checked 15 October 2026

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