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How to make images accessible for people

When you Tweet photos using the Twitter app for iOS or Android, or on twitter.com, you have the option to compose a description of the images so the content is accessible to more people, including those who are blind or low-vision.

Good image descriptions are concise and descriptive, helping people understand what’s happening in an image.

This article includes instructions for composing image descriptions using:

How to set image descriptions
How to add image descriptions in Tweets from Twitter for iOS
Step 1

Start by tapping the Tweet compose icon  and attach your photo(s).
Note: For detailed instructions about adding photos to your Tweets, read this article.

Step 2

On the image, tap the +Alt button to insert descriptive text.

Step 3

Type your description of the image and tap Done. Tap the description again to edit it prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 4

You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to videos.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from Twitter for Android
Step 1

Start by tapping the Tweet icon  and attach your photo(s).
Note: For detailed instructions about adding photos to your Tweets, read this article.

Step 2

On the image, tap the +Alt button to insert descriptive text.

Step 3

Type your description of the image and tap Done. Tap the description again to edit it prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 4

You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to videos.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from twitter.com
Step 1

Click on the Tweet compose button, or press the “n” key to use the keyboard shortcut.

Step 2

Attach your photo(s).
Note: For detailed instructions about adding photos to your Tweets, read this article.

Step 3

To insert descriptive text, click Add description.

Step 4

Type your description of the image and click the Done button. To edit the description, re-open the Add description dialog prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 5

You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to videos.

VoiceOver on Twitter for iOS
How to add image descriptions in Tweets using VoiceOver
Step 1

Find the Compose Tweet button at the top right of the screen using touch exploration.

Step 2

Double-tap the Compose Tweet button.

Step 3

Find the Photo library button using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 4

Double-tap the Photo library button to add an image.

Step 5

Use touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture to find the image to add.

Step 6

Double-tap an image to add it and return to the composer.

Step 7

In the composer, find the image using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 8

While focused on the image, swipe up or down until you hear "Add description to photo" and then double-tap to add a description for the image.

Step 9

Type your description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 10

Find the Done button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 11

Double-tap the Done button to add the description and return to the composer.

How to edit image descriptions in Tweets using VoiceOver
Step 1

You can edit your image description prior to posting the Tweet. In the composer, find the image using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 2

While focused on the image, swipe up or down until you hear "Edit description for photo" and then double-tap to add a description to the image.

Step 3

Change the description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 4

Find the Done button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 5

Double-tap the Done button to add the description and return to the composer.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets using TalkBack
Step 1

Find the Write button at the bottom left of the screen using touch exploration.

Step 2

Double-tap the Write button.

Step 3

Find the Photos button using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 4

Double-tap the Photos button to add a photo.

Step 5

Use touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture to find the photo to add.

Step 6

Double-tap a photo to add it and return to the composer.

Step 7

In the composer, find the Add description button using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 8

Double-tap the Add description button.

Step 9

Type your description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 10

Find the Done button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 11

Double-tap the Done button to add the description and return to the composer. (Note: after adding the description, the label of the Add description button will be changed to match the description.)

How to edit image descriptions in Tweets using TalkBack
Step 1

You can edit your image description prior to posting the Tweet. Find the button labeled with the current description using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 2

Double-tap the button.

Step 3

Change the description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)

Step 4

Find the Done button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.

Step 5

Double-tap the Done button to add the description and return to the composer. (Note: after adding the description, the label of the Add description button will be changed to match the description.)

 

Using VoiceOver for Mac with twitter.com

 

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from twitter.com

  1. Open the Tweet composer using the keyboard shortcut (press the “n” key).
  2. Use the “tab” key to navigate to the Add photos or video button and press “enter”.
  3. Use the file system dialog to choose the image to add.
  4. In the composer, find the image you've added using the “tab” key. The image will be labeled according to the order in which it was added (e.g. "Image 1").
  5. To insert descriptive text, open the thumbnail preview dialog by pressing the “enter” key while focused on the image.
  6. Type your description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)
  7. Find the Done button by pressing the “tab” key and press “enter”, or just press “enter” while holding down the “command” key.
  8. To edit the description, re-open the thumbnail preview dialog prior to posting the Tweet.
     

Using the JAWS for Windows screen reader with twitter.com

 

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from twitter.com

  1. Press the “insert” and “3” keys together to temporarily bypass JAWS' virtual navigation.
  2. Open the Tweet composer using the keyboard shortcut (press the “n” key).
  3. Use the “tab” key to navigate to the Add photos or video button and press “enter”.
  4. Use the file system dialog to choose the image to add.
  5. In the composer, find the image you've added using the “tab” key. The image will be labeled according to the order in which it was added (e.g. "Image 1").
  6. To insert descriptive text, open the thumbnail preview dialog by pressing the “enter” key while focused on the image.
  7. Type your description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)
  8. Find the Done button by pressing the “tab” key and press “enter”, or just press “enter” while holding down the “control” key.
  9. To edit the description, re-open the thumbnail preview dialog prior to posting the Tweet.
     

Using the NVDA screen reader for Windows with twitter.com

 

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from twitter.com

  1. Press “insert” and Space keys together to enter forms mode.
  2. Open the Tweet composer using the keyboard shortcut (press the n key).
  3. Use the “tab” key to navigate to the Add photos or video button and press “enter”.
  4. Use the file system dialog to choose the image to add.
  5. In the composer, find the image you've added using the “tab” key. The image will be labeled according to the order in which it was added (e.g. "Image 1").
  6. To insert descriptive text, open the thumbnail preview dialog by pressing the “enter” key while focused on the image.
  7. Type your description of the image. (The limit is 1000 characters.)
  8. Find the Done button by pressing the “tab” key and press “enter”, or just press “enter” while holding down the “control” key.
  9. To edit the description, re-open the thumbnail preview dialog prior to posting the Tweet.
     

Note: Once posted, the description applied to the image won't be visible but visually impaired people will have access to the description via their assistive technology (e.g., screen readers and braille displays).

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