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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 people who are visually impaired.

This article includes information about how to enable the Compose image descriptions setting and instructions for composing image descriptions using:

View instructions for:

How to set image descriptions

How to enable the composition of image descriptions from Twitter for iOS 

  1. In the top menu, tap your profile icon, then tap Settings and privacy.
  2. Under General, tap Accessibility.
  3. Next to Compose image descriptions, drag the slider to turn the setting on or off.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from Twitter for iOS 

  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.
  2. On the image, tap Add description to insert descriptive text.
  3. Type your description of the image and tap Apply. Tap the description again to edit it prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  4. You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
    Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to GIFs or videos.

How to set image descriptions

How to enable the composition of image descriptions from Twitter for Android

  1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon  or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have.
  2. Tap Settings and privacy.
  3. Under General, tap Accessibility.
  4. Next to Compose image descriptions, tick the box to turn the setting on or off.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from Twitter for Android

  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.
  2. On the image, tap Add description to insert descriptive text.
  3. Type your description of the image and tap Apply. Tap the description again to edit it prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  4. You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
    Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to GIFs or videos.

How to set image descriptions

How to enable the composition of image descriptions from twitter.com

  1. Click on your profile icon and select Settings and privacy from the dropdown (or press the “g” key quickly, followed by the “s” key).
  2. Click Accessibility from the list of settings.
  3. Find the Compose image descriptions checkbox.
  4. Check the box to turn the setting on or off.
  5. Click Save changes.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from twitter.com

  1. Click on the Tweet compose button, or press the “n” key to use the keyboard shortcut.
  2. Attach your photo(s).
    Note: For detailed instructions about adding photos to your Tweets, read this article.
  3. To insert descriptive text, open the thumbnail preview dialog by clicking on the thumbnail. (If you are using the keyboard, focus the thumbnail using the “tab” key and press the “enter” key to open the thumbnail preview dialog).
  4. Type your description of the image and click the Apply button. To edit the description, re-open the thumbnail preview dialog prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  5. You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
    Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to GIFs or videos.
View instructions for:

VoiceOver on Twitter for iOS

How to enable the composition of image descriptions using VoiceOver

  1. Find the User menu button at the top right of the screen using touch exploration.
  2. Double-tap the User menu button.
  3. Find the Settings and privacy button in the middle of the screen using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  4. Double-tap the Settings and privacy button.
  5. Find the Accessibility item using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  6. Double-tap Accessibility.
  7. Find the Compose image descriptions switch button using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  8. Double-tap the button to turn the setting on or off.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets using VoiceOver

  1. Find the Compose Tweet button at the top right of the screen using touch exploration.
  2. Double-tap the Compose Tweet button.
  3. Find the Photo library button using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  4. Double-tap the Photo library button to add an image.
  5. Use touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture to find the image to add.
  6. Double-tap an image to add it and return to the composer.
  7. In the composer, find the image using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  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.
  9. Type your description of the image. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  10. Find the Apply button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  11. Double-tap the Apply button to add the description and return to the composer.

How to edit image descriptions in Tweets using VoiceOver

  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.
  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.
  3. Change the description of the image. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  4. Find the Apply button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  5. Double-tap the Apply button to add the description and return to the composer

TalkBack on Twitter for Android

How to enable the composition of image descriptions using TalkBack

  1. Find the Navigation drawer button at the top right of the screen using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  2. Double-tap the Navigation drawer button to open the menu.
  3. In the menu, find the Settings and privacy item using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  4. Double-tap the Settings and privacy item.
  5. Find the Accessibility item using the right/left flick gesture.
  6. Double-tap Accessibility.
  7. Find the Compose image descriptions checkbox using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  8. Double-tap the checkbox to turn the setting on or off.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets using TalkBack

  1. Find the Write button at the bottom left of the screen using touch exploration.
  2. Double-tap the Write button.
  3. Find the Photos button using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  4. Double-tap the Photos button to add a photo.
  5. Use touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture to find the photo to add.
  6. Double-tap a photo to add it and return to the composer.
  7. In the composer, find the Add description button using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  8. Double-tap the Add description button.
  9. Type your description of the image. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  10. Find the Apply button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  11. Double-tap the Apply 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

  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.
  2. Double-tap the button.
  3. Change the description of the image. (The limit is 420 characters.)
  4. Find the Apply button in the top right of the screen using touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
  5. Double-tap the Apply 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 enable the composition of image descriptions from twitter.com

  1. Navigate to Settings and privacy by pressing the “g” key quickly, followed by the “s” key.
  2. Press the “control + option + u” keys together to bring up the Web Rotor.
  3. Press the right arrow key to select Links in the Web Rotor.
  4. Use the down arrow key to find the item Accessibility and press the “enter” key.
  5. Press “enter” to navigate to the Accessibility settings.
  6. Press the “control + option + u” keys together to bring up the Web Rotor.
  7. Press the right arrow key to select Form controls in the Web Rotor.
  8. Use the down arrow key to find Compose image descriptions and press the “enter” key.
  9. Use the spacebar to turn the setting on or off.
  10. Press the “control + option + u” keys to bring up the Web Rotor
  11. Use the down arrow key to find Save changes and press the “enter” key.

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 420 characters.)
  7. Find the Apply 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 enable the composition of image descriptions from twitter.com

  1. Press the “insert” and “3” keys together to temporarily bypass JAWS' virtual navigation.
  2. After you hear Enter key to pass through, navigate to Settings using the keyboard. shortcut (press the “g” key, quickly followed by the “s” key).
  3. Press the “insert” and “F7” keys to bring up the list of links for the page.
  4. Use the down arrow key to find the item Accessibility and press the “enter” key.
  5. Press the “f” key to find the item Compose image descriptions.
  6. Use the spacebar to turn the setting on or off.
  7. Press the “f” key to find the Save changes button and press the “enter” key.

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 420 characters.)
  8. Find the Apply 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 enable the composition of image descriptions from twitter.com

  1. Press “insert” and “space” keys together to enter forms mode.
  2. Navigate to Settings and privacy by pressing the “g” key quickly, followed by the “s” key.
  3. Press “insert” and “space” keys together to exit forms mode.
  4. Press the “insert” and “F7” together keys to bring up the list of links for the page.
  5. Use the down arrow key to find the item Accessibility and press the “enter” key.
  6. Press the “f” key to find the item Compose image descriptions.
  7. Use the “spacebar” to turn the setting on or off.
  8. Press the “f” key to find the Save changes button and press the “enter” key.


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 420 characters.)
  8. Find the Apply 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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