What is alt text for?
Alt text helps explain important information in an image to people who use screen readers. According to Google’s accessibility guide, when alt text is missing, users may hear only “image” and miss relevant details. The guide recommends adding alt text to visual data when no other text description is available. Some images may have automatic alt text; check that it is accurate. Google’s accessibility guide
When writing a description, consider what the image adds to the slide: does it introduce an object, show a process, or convey a comparison? Rather than unnecessarily repeating text already on the slide, include the details needed to understand the image’s meaning. This is a practical editorial choice about the description’s length and content; do not leave out important information in the image.
Before you begin
Open the presentation and identify the image, drawing, or chart you want to describe. Google’s help page gives instructions for adding alt text to these visual elements. Determine the image’s main message on the slide and what information is needed to understand it. If there is more than one image, consider each one separately.
If a chart contains an important trend or comparison, it may be useful to state the main finding in the description. If all the exact values matter, do not try to fit them all into brief alt text; also check whether another text description is available on the slide. These examples are practical suggestions for choosing what to include in the description.
Add alt text in Google Slides
- Select the image you want to describe on the slide.
- Open Image options > Alt text. Google’s guide describes this menu path for Slides.
- In the description field, write about the image and the information needed.
- If you want to add a title, open Advanced options; the guide shows the option to add a title there.
- Review your text: Can someone who cannot see the image understand what matters for the slide from the description?
Google’s guide gives the alt text shortcut as ⌘ + Option + Y on Mac and Ctrl + Alt + Y on other platforms. You can also use the menu path above instead of the shortcut. For users working with a screen reader, Google’s separate Google Slides screen reader guide describes another method: select the image, press Shift + F10 to open the context menu, and choose Alt text. The guide then explains how to move to the alt text field in the Format options sidebar. Menu names may look different depending on your interface language; check the selected image’s menu for the alt text option.
Example: describing a line chart
Hypothetical example: The slide is titled “Weekly application count in the sample project,” and the chart shows application counts from Monday through Friday. The numbers are entirely fictional: 12 on Monday, 18 on Tuesday, 15 on Wednesday, 24 on Thursday, and 20 on Friday.
The description “Chart” identifies the type of visual, but does not convey the main trend. A more descriptive option might be: “Weekly application line chart: the count rises from 12 on Monday to 24 on Thursday, then falls to 20 on Friday.” This example describes both the chart’s subject and its main change. If the values for all five days matter, check whether they also appear as text on the slide.
Common situations
I can’t see the alt text option: First, make sure the image is selected; then check the Image options menu. If you use a screen reader, you can also try the context menu method mentioned above.
The automatic description seems incomplete or incorrect: Don’t assume automatic text is accurate. Google recommends checking the accuracy of automatic alt text. If the information in the image is unclear, ask the person who prepared the presentation to verify it rather than guessing.
The description is too general or too long: Instead of a phrase that only names the type, such as “Chart,” describe the important information in the image. Preserve the main message while removing irrelevant details. These are practical suggestions for reviewing a description.
Final checklist
- I checked the images and visual data that are important for understanding the presentation.
- The description includes the information needed to convey the image’s main message.
- I reviewed any automatically generated alt text for accuracy.
- I checked whether important chart values appear only in the visual.
- I reviewed the text in the description field again for the selected image.
To adjust the image’s placement on the slide, see the guide to wrapping text around an image in Google Slides. Adding an outline to text in Google Slides covers text formatting and is separate from the steps for adding alt text.
Frequently asked questions
Should I add alt text to every image?
Google recommends providing alt text for visual data when no other text description is available. If the meaningful information in the image is already conveyed in text, consider what is missing from the description; do not leave out important details of the image.
Does alt text make the entire presentation accessible?
Alt text helps describe visual content; on its own, it does not address every accessibility consideration in a presentation. Google’s guide also includes recommendations on other topics, such as contrast, link text, and text layout.
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