• You can add alt text descriptions in Excel to any kind of illustration, including photos, screenshots, shapes, 3D models, and Smart Art.
  • Alt text is a sentence or two that describes an image you’ve inserted in a spreadsheet. It’s a convenience for visually impaired users.
  • To add alt text to an image, right-click and choose “Edit alt text…”
  • Visit Business Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

Alt text is an important tool that helps identify images, improve SEO standing, and provides visually impaired users, or anyone who needs additional help identifying the contents of visuals, assistance with on-screen images.

It’s most closely associated with web page design, but you can add alt text to images in any Microsoft Office document, including Excel spreadsheets. Excel lets you add alt text to every kind of image and graphic in two ways, including from the “Illustrations” button in the “Insert” ribbon.

While most people don’t routinely do this, it can be a good idea, especially if your document will be referenced by anyone who uses a screen reader for visual assistance.

Here’s how to add alt text to your Excel spreadsheet.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Microsoft Office (From $149.99 at Best Buy)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to add alt text in Excel

1. Open Excel and add your desired image to a spreadsheet.

2. Right-click the image and choose "Edit alt text…" from the drop-down menu. The Alt Text pane should appear on the right side of the screen.

How to add alt text in Excel 1

Foto: The alt text command is found in the context menu when you right-click an image. Source: Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Type the alt text you want to use to describe the image.

4. If the image is irrelevant to understanding the overall spreadsheet - for example, it's a line or box that's been added entirely for aesthetic reasons - click the checkbox beside "Mark as decorative."

How to add alt text in Excel 2

Foto: If an image adds no informational value to a spreadsheet, you can mark it as decorative. Source: Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. When you're done, close the pane or click something else. The alt text will be automatically added to your document.

Related coverage from Tech Reference: