Adding alt text to Shopify images involves editing each image through the product editor, media library, or using bulk editing apps for efficiency across large catalogues. Alt text improves accessibility whilst providing SEO benefits through image search visibility and supporting your broader digital marketing efforts, including social media management.
Manual alt text addition works for individual products. Navigate to Products in your Shopify admin, select the product, click on the image you want to optimise, and look for the “Alt text” field below the image preview. Write descriptive alt text that explains what the image shows whilst incorporating relevant keywords naturally. For example, “Model wearing black turtleneck jumper with high-waisted jeans” rather than keyword stuffing like “black jumper turtleneck womens fashion clothing.“
Media library management provides centralised control. Access your media files through Settings > Files in the Shopify admin. Here you can view all images, add or edit alt text, and organise media assets. This centralised approach works well when optimising existing images across your store.
Bulk editing apps save significant time for large catalogues. Apps like SEO Manager, Smart SEO, or Bulk Image Edit allow you to add or edit alt text for multiple images simultaneously. Template-based approaches can automatically generate alt text using product titles and attributes, though you should review automated outputs to ensure quality and natural language.
Alt text best practices improve effectiveness. Write descriptive text that genuinely explains image content for visually impaired users using screen readers. Include relevant keywords naturally without stuffing. Keep alt text concise, typically under 125 characters. For decorative images that don’t add informational value, use empty alt text (alt=””) rather than leaving the field blank.
Theme customisation may be necessary for non-product images. Homepage banners, collection images, and blog post images often require theme file editing to add alt text. Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Customise, select the section containing the image, and look for alt text fields in the settings panel.
