Alternative text describes the meaningful information in a Google Slides image for people using assistive technology. It is particularly important when a graphic carries data or an explanation that is not available elsewhere in text. An image’s filename is rarely an adequate description of its purpose.
Select the meaningful visual
Open the slide on a computer and select the image or graphic. Identify what the audience needs to understand from it: a comparison, a trend, an object, or a relationship. Avoid writing a description of decorative details while omitting the actual point of the visual.
Add or edit the description
Use the image’s Alt text controls through the available image or format options. Google’s accessibility guidance also lists Ctrl+Alt+Y on Windows and the corresponding Command-Option shortcut on Mac. Enter a concise description and inspect any advanced title field only when useful.
If automatic alt text is present, verify it. An automatically identified object may be accurate in a literal sense while failing to explain why the picture matters to the slide.
Review in context
Check whether the description and visible caption complement one another without unnecessary repetition. For a complex chart, provide the essential conclusion and an appropriate fuller data explanation through accessible text. Review the slide’s reading order and test with the relevant assistive technology where possible. Adding alt text is one accessibility step; it does not establish that the entire presentation, its media, exports, or navigation are fully accessible to every audience member.
References
- Make your document, presentation, sheets & videos more accessible
- Use Google Slides with a screen reader
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.