How To Add Alternative Text In Excel

You tin create alternative text (Alt Text) for shapes, pictures, charts, SmartArt graphics, or other objects in your Role document. Alt Text helps people with visual impairments understand pictures and other graphical content. When someone uses a screen reader to view documents, they will hear Alt Text; without Alt Text, they will just know they've reached a picture without knowing what the picture shows.

You can employ the procedures in this commodity to help yous learn how to add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object.

To larn how to write alternative text, see Everything y'all demand to know to write effective Alt Text.

In this topic

Excel for Microsoft 365, Outlook for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, and Give-and-take for Microsoft 365
Excel 2019, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2019, and Word 2019
Excel 2016/2013, Outlook 2016/2013, PowerPoint 2016/2013, and Word 2016/2013
Excel 2010, Outlook 2010, PowerPoint 2010, and Word 2010

Excel for Microsoft 365, Outlook for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, and Give-and-take for Microsoft 365

Add alt text

Do one of the post-obit:
- Right-click the object and select Edit Alt Text.
- Select the object. Select Format > Alt Text.
Note:To add together alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or chart, click the border of the SmartArt graphic or chart, and not an individual shape or slice.
In the Alt Text pane, type 1-2 sentences in the text box to describe the object and its context to someone who cannot meet it.

Mark visuals as decorative

If your visuals are purely decorative and add together visual interest just aren't informative, y'all can mark them as such without needing to write any alt text. Examples of objects that should be marked as decorative are stylistic borders. People using screen readers will hear that these objects are decorative so they know they aren't missing any important information. You can mark your visuals as decorative in Excel, PowerPoint, and Discussion.

To open the Alt Text pane, do one of the post-obit:
- Right-click an paradigm, and then select Edit Alt Text.
- Select an prototype, select Format > Alt Text.
Select the Decorative check box. The text entry field becomes grayed out.

Toggle Automated Alt Text on and off

If you don't want automatically generated alt text to exist added to inserted pictures, yous can plough off the automatic alt text option. If you change your mind later, yous can but every bit hands turn information technology back on.

Select File > Options > Ease of Access.
In the Automatic Alt Text department, select or unselect the Automatically generate alt text for me choice, and and then select OK.

Go to summit

Excel 2019, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2019, and Word 2019

Add alt text

Do one of the following:
- Right-click the object and select Edit Alt Text.
- Select the object. Select Format > Alt Text.
Annotation:To add alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or nautical chart, click the border of the SmartArt graphic or nautical chart, and not an individual shape or piece.
In the Alt Text pane, blazon 1-2 sentences in the text box to describe the object and its context to someone who cannot come across it.

Tip:Relieve time and add an alt text generated past the system to the object. In the Alt Text pane, select Generate a clarification for me. In the Brand Role piece of work smarter for y'all dialog, select Plough on. Then edit the automatic alt text to improve arrange the content.

Mark visuals as decorative

If your visuals are purely decorative and add together visual interest but aren't informative, y'all can mark them as such without needing to write any alt text. Examples of objects that should be marked as decorative are stylistic borders. People using screen readers volition hear that these objects are decorative then they know they aren't missing whatsoever important information.

To open the Alt Text pane, do one of the following:
- Correct-click an image, and then select Edit Alt Text.
- Select an image, select Format > Alt Text.
Select the Decorative cheque box. The text entry field becomes grayed out.

Go to superlative

Excel 2016/2013, Outlook 2016/2013, PowerPoint 2016/2013, and Word 2016/2013

Do ane of the following:
- For a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, correct-click the object, click Format Object, Format Picture, Format Chart Area, or other, then click Alt Text.
  
  Annotation:The pane where y'all click Alt Text is dynamic and the championship and lists change depending on the object you click.
  
  To add alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or chart, click the edge of theSmartArt graphic or chart, and not an individual shape or piece.
- For an Excel PivotTable, correct-click it, point to PivotTable Options, and and so click Alt Text.
In the Description box, enter an caption of the shape, motion-picture show, chart, PivotTable, SmartArt graphic, or other object. This box should always exist filled in.

Tip:If you don't desire Alt text, either remove the words from the alt text Title and Description boxes, or don't make full them in.
If you desire, in the Title box, enter a brief summary. This box should only exist filled in if yous are entering a detailed or long explanation in the Description box.

Note:Unless you lot take a complex chart, y'all will unremarkably want to enter text in just the Description box. When you lot have complex content to draw, and so filling in the Title field is useful so reading the full description is not necessary unless desired.

Notes:

If yous frequently add alternative text to shapes, pictures, charts, SmartArt graphics, or other objects, you can add the Alt Text command to the Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut to information technology.
To use the Alt Text command on the Quick Access Toolbar, select the shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, click the toolbar button, and then add together your alternative text.

In the upper-left corner above the ribbon, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar .
Click More Commands > Choose commands from > Commands Not in the Ribbon.
Click Alt Text > Add.

Get to top

Excel 2010, Outlook 2010, PowerPoint 2010, and Word 2010

Do one of the post-obit:
- For a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic object, right-click information technology, click Format object, and then click the Alt Text pane.
  
  To add alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or chart, click the border of the SmartArt graphic or nautical chart, and not an individual shape or piece.
- For an Excel PivotTable, correct-click it, point to PivotTable Options, and then click Alt Text.
In the Description box, enter an explanation of the shape, pic, chart, PivotTable, SmartArt graphic, or other object. This box should e'er be filled in.
If you lot want, in the Title box, enter a brief summary. This box should only be filled in if you are entering a detailed or long caption in the Clarification box.

Notation:Unless you have a complex chart, you will commonly want to enter text in just the Description box. When yous accept circuitous content to describe, then filling in the Title field is useful so reading the full description is non necessary unless desired.

Notes:

If y'all frequently add alternative text to shapes, pictures, charts, SmartArt graphics, or other objects, you can add the Alt Text control to the Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut to it.
To use the Alt Text command on the Quick Admission Toolbar, select the shape, motion picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, click the toolbar push, and so add your alternative text.

In the upper-left corner above the ribbon, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar .
Click More Commands > Choose commands from > Commands Not in the Ribbon.
Click Alt Text > Add.

Get to top

Come across also

Everything you need to know to write constructive Alt Text

Welcome to Function Help & Grooming

In this topic

Excel for Role 365, Outlook for Part 365, PowerPoint for Office 365, and Word for Office 365 for Mac
Excel 2019, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2019, and Word 2019 for Mac
Excel 2016 for Mac

Excel for Microsoft 365, Outlook for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, and Discussion for Microsoft 365 for Mac

Add alt text in Excel for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, and Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac

Practice one of the following:
- Control-click the object and select Edit Alt Text.... The Alt Text pane opens.
- Select an object. In the ribbon, select the object'due south Format tab, then select Alt Text.
Note:To add together alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or chart, click the edge of the SmartArt graphic or nautical chart, and not an individual shape or piece.
In the Alt Text pane, blazon 1-2 sentences in the text box to describe the object and its context to someone who cannot see information technology.

Add together alt text in Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac

Control-click the object and select Edit Alt Text.... The Alt Text pane opens.

Notation:To add alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or chart, click the border of the SmartArt graphic or chart, and not an private shape or piece.
In the Alt Text pane, blazon one-ii sentences in the text box to describe the object and its context to someone who cannot run into information technology.

Add alt text to an Excel PivotTable

Control-click a PivotTable, and select PivotTable Options....
In the PivotTable Options... dialog, select Alt Text.
In the Alt Text tab, type a title for the PivotTable in the Title text box.
In the Description text box, type 1-2 sentences to depict the tabular array and its context to someone who cannot run into it. Once you're done, select OK.

Alt text dialog for an Excel PivotTable.

Mark visuals as decorative

If your visuals are purely decorative and add visual interest but aren't informative, y'all can mark them as such without needing to write any alt text. Examples of objects that should exist marked as decorative are stylistic borders. People using screen readers will hear that these objects are decorative so they know they aren't missing whatsoever important information. You tin can mark your visuals as decorative in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

To open the Alt Text pane, exercise one of the following:
- Right-click an paradigm, and then select Edit Alt Text.
- Select an image, select Format > Alt Text.
Select the Decorative bank check box. The text entry field becomes grayed out.

Toggle Automated Alt Text on and off

If you lot don't desire automatically generated alt text to be added to inserted pictures, you can turn off the automatic alt text choice in PowerPoint and Word. If you change your mind later on, y'all tin can just as easily turn information technology dorsum on.

Press Command+, (Comma). The preferences window opens.
Select General.
In the Automatic Alt Text department, select or unselect the Automatically generate alt text for me option.

Go to top

Excel 2019, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2019, and Discussion 2019 for Mac

Add alt text

Do i of the following:
- Command-click the object and select Edit Alt Text.... The Alt Text pane opens.
- Select an object. In the ribbon, select the object's Format tab, and then select Alt Text.
Note:To add alt text to the entire SmartArt graphic or nautical chart, click the border of the SmartArt graphic or nautical chart, and non an individual shape or slice.
In the Alt Text pane, blazon 1-two sentences in the text box to describe the object and its context to someone who cannot see information technology.

Tip:Relieve time and add an alt text generated past the organization to the object. In the Alt Text pane, select Generate a description for me. In the Use Intelligent Services? dialog, select Turn on.

Add together alt text to an Excel PivotTable

Control-click a PivotTable, and select PivotTable Options....
In the PivotTable Options... dialog, select Alt Text.
In the Alt Text tab, type a championship for the PivotTable in the Title text box.
In the Description text box, type ane-2 sentences to draw the table and its context to someone who cannot run across it. Once you're done, select OK.

Mark visuals equally decorative

If your visuals are purely decorative and add together visual interest but aren't informative, you lot can marker them as such without needing to write any alt text. Examples of objects that should be marked as decorative are stylistic borders. People using screen readers volition hear that these objects are decorative so they know they aren't missing any of import information. You tin can marker your visuals as decorative in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

To open the Alt Text pane, exercise one of the following:
- Right-click an image, and and then select Edit Alt Text.
- Select an epitome, select Format > Alt Text.
Select the Decorative check box. The text entry field becomes grayed out.

Go to summit

Excel 2016, Outlook 2016, PowerPoint 2016, and Word 2016 for Mac

Do one of the following:
- For a shape, picture, nautical chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, correct-click the object, click Format Object, Format Picture show, Format Nautical chart Expanse, or other, and then click Alt Text.
  
  Note:The pane where yous click Alt Text is dynamic and the championship and lists alter depending on the object you click.
  
  To add alt text to the unabridged SmartArt graphic or chart, click the edge of theSmartArt graphic or chart, and not an individual shape or piece.
- For an Excel PivotTable, right-click it, signal to PivotTable Options, and then click Alt Text.
In the Clarification box, enter an explanation of the shape, film, chart, PivotTable, SmartArt graphic, or other object. This box should always exist filled in.

Tip:If you lot don't want Alt text, either remove the words from the alt text Title and Clarification boxes, or don't fill them in.
If y'all want, in the Title box, enter a cursory summary. This box should only be filled in if yous are entering a detailed or long explanation in the Clarification box.

Note:Unless you have a complex chart, you will unremarkably desire to enter text in merely the Description box. When you have complex content to depict, then filling in the Title field is useful then reading the total description is not necessary unless desired.

Become to top

Come across also

Everything you need to know to write effective Alt Text

Welcome to Part Help & Training