Add alternative text to images in a PDF
Alternative text (alt text) lets people who cannot see an image understand what it conveys. Every informative image needs it, and purely decorative images should be marked as decorative.
Writing good alt text
- Describe what the image communicates, not just what it looks like.
- Keep it short: usually one or two sentences.
- For a chart, state the main finding and link to or include the data in text.
- If the image only decorates, mark it decorative so screen readers skip it.
In Word
Right-click the image and choose View Alt Text (older versions: Edit Alt Text), then type a description or tick "Mark as decorative". This carries into the PDF when you export with tags enabled.
In Acrobat Pro
Run the accessibility check, choose Figures alternate text → Fix to open the Set Alternate Text dialog, and add descriptions. Mark purely decorative images as artifacts.
Guides last checked 2026-10-18. General information, not legal advice. Menu names can differ between software versions.