Making images accessible for people on Twitter

When you Tweet photos using the Twitter app for iOS or Android, 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:

Twitter for iOS

Twitter for Android

VoiceOver on Twitter for iOS

Talkback on Twitter for Android

Twitter for iOS

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

1. Go to your Settings by tapping the Me tab and then the gear icon 
2. Tap Display and sound.
3. Tap Accessibility.
4. 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 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.

Twitter for Android

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

1. Go to your Settings by tapping the overflow icon 
2. Tap Accessibility.
3. Next to Compose image description, 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.

VoiceOver on Twitter for iOS

How to enable the composition of image descriptions using VoiceOver

1. Find the Me tab at the bottom right of the screen using touch exploration.
2. Double-tap the Me tab to go to your profile.
3. Find the Settings button at the top of the screen using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
4. Double-tap the Settings button.
5. Double-tap the Settings item in the popup menu.
6. In settings, find the Display and sound item by using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
7. Find the Accessibility item using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
8. Double-tap Accessibility.
9. Find the Compose image description switch button using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
10. 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 More button at the top right of the screen using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
2. Double-tap the More button to open the menu.
3. In the menu, find the Settings item using either touch exploration or the right/left flick gesture.
4. Double-tap the Settings item.
5. In settings, find the Accessibility item using the right/left flick gesture.
6. Double-tap Accessibility.
7. Find the Compose image description 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.)