Vusely

Alt text

How to write alt text for your social media pictures

Alt text is a short description of a picture. Screen readers read it aloud for people who can't see the picture, and it is shown when a picture doesn't load. Instagram, Facebook and Threads all let you add one to a post, and adding it takes about ten seconds.

Start freeSee how it works

What you can do

  • Say what is there

    Name the main thing, what it is doing, and where. "Two loaves of rye bread cooling on a wooden rack by a window" tells someone more than "bread".

  • Quote words in the picture

    If the picture has a sign, a price tag or a headline, write the words. They are part of the message.

  • Skip the lead-in

    A screen reader already announces an image, so start with the subject, not "image of" or "photo of".

  • Keep it to a sentence or two

    Instagram accepts up to 1,000 characters, but a short description is easier to listen to. Say what matters and leave the hashtags in the caption.

How it works

  1. 1

    Add your picture

    In a new post, add the picture or pictures.

  2. 2

    Describe it

    Type a sentence under the picture, or press "Let Mia describe it" and change her suggestion.

  3. 3

    Post

    Vusely sends each description to Instagram, Facebook and Threads with its picture. A carousel can have one for every picture.

Mia describes the pictures she picks

When Mia writes a post for you, she describes its pictures too, using what she already knows about your photos. You can read and change the description before the post goes out, like anything else she writes.

A reel or a story has no alt text field on Instagram, so Vusely leaves it out there. The limits on this page are from Meta's developer documentation, last checked in October 2026.

Questions, answered

Is alt text required on Instagram, Facebook or Threads?

No, it is optional. It makes your post usable by people who rely on screen readers, which is a good reason to add it.

How long can alt text be?

Instagram allows up to 1,000 characters. Vusely suggests one or two short sentences, which is also easier to listen to.

Does every picture in a carousel get its own description?

Yes. Each picture can have its own, and they stay with their pictures if you change the order.

Can Mia write it for me?

Yes. Press "Let Mia describe it" under a picture, then edit the words. For pictures from your photo library she starts from the description she already has.

Last checked October 25, 2026.