Alt Text and Captions on Instagram

Add Alt Text to Image Posts

In the browser

To add alt text in the browser version of Instagram:

1. On the page for adding an image caption, click the “Accessibility” dropdown option.
2. Type your text in the “Write alt text…” box for each image.
   
3. Click “Share” at the top right once the post is ready.

In the mobile app

To add alt text in the Instagram app:

1. On the page for adding an image caption, click the “Advanced settings” option.
   
2. Scroll to the “Accessibility” section and click on “Write alt text.”
   
3. Click on the “Write alt text…” field and type your text.
   
4. Click the “Done” button in the top right to return to “Advanced settings.”

Note: You cannot add alt text to images in Instagram Stories. Avoid using stories for call-to-action posts when possible.

Add Captions to Instagram Reels

Instagram will automatically generate captions for reels through both the app and browser. Users who have captions turned on in their settings can see captions in the app. Visit Instagram’s Help Center for instructions to enable captions, helping users with disabilities, like vision loss and deafness.

In the browser

To add captions in the browser:

1. On the page to add a caption, click the “Accessibility” dropdown option.
2. Select the toggle button for “auto-generated captions.” The button turns blue to indicate that captions are turned on.
   

In the app

To add captions to your reels in the Instagram app:

1. On the page to add a caption, click the “Advanced settings” option.
2. Scroll to "Accessibility" and toggle "Show captions" to blue to enable captions.
   
3. Afterward, click the back arrow button in the top left corner to continue editing your post.