Alt text Instagram guide: meaning, where to add it, examples

What is alt text on Instagram?

On Instagram, alt text means the same thing as on a website: a text version that takes the place of the picture for a person without sight. When someone using a screen reader on their phone reaches your post, the app reads the account name, then the alt text, then the caption. Without it they hear something generic, or nothing about the picture at all.

So when the app says write alt text, it is asking you to describe the photo for a person who cannot see it. In Hindi it is often explained as चित्र का लिखित विवरण, a written description of the picture. For the wider idea, see what alt text is.

How to add alt text on Instagram when posting

1. Create a new post and choose one or more photos.
2. Move to the screen where you write the caption.
3. Scroll down and tap Advanced settings.
4. In the Accessibility part, tap Write alt text.
5. Each photo appears with its own box. Type a description for every one.
6. Save, go back and share the post.

The option sits in different places in some versions, and on some phones it shows as Accessibility on the caption screen itself. If you cannot find it, update the app; the Instagram Help Center has the current steps.

Edit alt text on Instagram for posts already shared

You can add or change it any time without deleting the post:

1. Open the post on your profile.
2. Tap the three dots at the top.
3. Tap Edit.
4. Tap Edit alt text, usually in the lower right corner of the photo.
5. Type the new text and tap Done.

For a carousel, swipe to each image while in edit mode; each has its own button. This is also how you see what the automatic description says for your own post, since the box often shows the current text.

How to see alt text on Instagram

Followers cannot see alt text by looking at the post. It is meant to be heard. Three ways to check it:

• Your own posts: use the edit route above and read what is in the box.
• With a screen reader: turn on the screen reader built into your phone and move to the post; it speaks the text.
• On a computer: open the post in a browser, right click the photo, choose Inspect and look at the alt attribute in the code.

That is also why alt text is not a place for hashtags or jokes meant for everyone. The people who hear it need the description.

Automatic alt text and why you should replace it

If you leave the field empty, the app creates its own description with object recognition. The results tend to sound like "May be an image of a group of friends standing near water". That tells a blind follower almost nothing: who the people are, what the text says, or why you posted it.

Alt text Instagram examples and writing tips

Think about what a friend would tell you over the phone if you could not see the picture. Lead with the subject, add the detail that matters, and stop.

Skip "image of" and "photo of", because the screen reader already says it is a photo. Keep emojis and hashtags out, since each one is read in full. More patterns are in alt text examples and how to write alt text.

Carousels, reels and stories

In a carousel, each photo is described on its own, so describe each one, not the set as a whole. If the slides tell a story or walk through steps, say which step each shows.

Reels and videos do not get the same alt text box in most versions. Describe the important visuals in the caption, and turn on captions for any speech. For stories, put key information in typed text, not only inside a picture, and keep text sizes large.

Does alt text on Instagram help SEO and reach?

The app has said descriptions help it understand what a post contains, and that may help a little with search inside the app. There is no public promise that it raises reach, and stuffing keywords into it makes the description worse for the people who rely on it. Write for humans; any search benefit is a side effect. Search engines treat website images differently, as our image search guide explains.