What this rule checks
Ensure <img> elements have alternative text or a role of none or presentation.
Why it matters
WCAG 1.1.1 requires a text alternative for meaningful images. Without it, a screen reader user can't tell which product a photo shows.
How to fix it
On any website
- Add a short, specific description to each image's alt text in your CMS or template.
- Describe what matters to a shopper: product name, color and the angle shown (for example 'Canvas tote in olive, front view').
- Decorative images should have an empty alt attribute (alt="") so screen readers skip them.
On Shopify
- In Shopify admin, open Products > [product] > Media, click each image and fill in 'Alt text'. For section images, open Online Store > Themes > Customize and set the image alt text in the section settings.
- Describe what matters to a shopper: product name, color and the angle shown (for example 'Canvas tote in olive, front view').
- Decorative images should have an empty alt attribute (alt="") so screen readers skip them.
On WooCommerce and WordPress
- In WordPress, open Media > Library, select each image and fill in 'Alternative Text'. Product gallery images use the same field.
- Describe what matters to a shopper: product name, color and the angle shown (for example 'Canvas tote in olive, front view').
- Decorative images should have an empty alt attribute (alt="") so screen readers skip them.
How to check the fix
- Re-scan the affected pages.
- Use a screen reader (VoiceOver: Cmd+F5 on Mac) to hear the product images announced.
How FixReports finds it
Our scan runs the axe-core rule image-alt in a real Chrome browser on every page it tests, and reports each failing element with its page, its markup and, where it applies, a screenshot.
An automated test confirms that this specific problem is present. It can't tell whether the rest of the page is accessible: some barriers only show up when a person checks the page.