How to Add Alt Text to a Picture in Word

Alternative text is used by screen reading programs to describe a picture, chart, or graphic to a user who may have difficulty seeing it.

Add Alt Text

If your document might be viewed by someone who relies on a screen reader, make sure that every image includes alternative text, so consumers can have a fuller understanding of its content.

1. Select a picture.
2. Click the Format tab in the Picture Tools ribbon group.
3. Click the Alt Text button.
   
4. Enter a description in the Description field.

   If the image is merely decorative, you could instead check the Mark as decorative check box. This will instruct the screen reading software to describe it as decorative, and you won't need to write alt text for it.

5. (Optional) Check the Mark as decorative check box.
6. Close the Alt text pane.
   

Now, when this document is read aloud by a screen reader, the picture will have a description.