Finalsite + AudioEye: Fix alt text issues

A step-by-step walkthrough for editors, from finding flagged images on your page to writing good alt text and confirming the fix. Part of the AudioEye how-to series: practical guides for the most common issues your AudioEye report surfaces.

In this article

• Why alt text matters
• What AudioEye shows you
• Step 1: Find exactly which image is flagged
• Step 2: Decide what the image communicates
  • When an image NEEDS alt text
  • When an image DOES NOT need alt text
• Step 3: Write the alt text
• Step 4: Update the alt text in Finalsite
  • Use AI in resources to generate alt text in bulk
• Step 5: Verify the fix

Why alt text matters

Alt text is a written description of an image. When someone uses a screen reader, the software reads this text aloud. Without it, the user only hears "image" or a raw file name, which provides no context. This affects users with low vision, people on slow connections where images fail to load, and search engines trying to understand your content.

What AudioEye shows you

Issues appear as "Image missing alternative text" or "Image alternative text is the filename." While the report gives you the URL, the /?oss=1 scanner is the fastest way to see which specific image is the problem.

Step 1: Find exactly which image is flagged

Open the flagged page and add /?oss=1 to the end of the URL (or &oss=1 if a ? already exists). Press Enter and wait for the scanner panel to appear.

• The scanner highlights the specific image.
• It shows the WCAG criterion (typically 1.1.1 Non-text Content).
• It shows the current alt text value or confirms it is missing.

Step 2: Decide what the image communicates

Ask yourself: What would a sighted person take away from this image?

When an image NEEDS alt text

• It contains information not in the surrounding text.
• It provides context (a photo of a person or event).
• It contains text (infographics, banners, flyers).
• It is a link or a button.

When an image DOES NOT need alt text

• It is purely decorative (background textures, dividers). Adding "decorative image" results in auditory clutter for screen readers, adding no value to the user's experience.
• The same information is already in a nearby caption or body text.

Step 3: Write the alt text

Aim for 125 characters or fewer. Describe the "why" and "what" of the image.

Step 4: Update the alt text in Finalsite

Where you edit depends on how the image was added. Here are a few areas in Composer where you can update alt text:

• Add alt text to an image in the editor: Double-click the image to open Image Properties and update the Alternative text field.
• Add alt text to a navigation dropdown image: Hover over the image and use the quick action panel. This is the fastest way to handle bulk updates.
• Add alt text in Resources' quick action panel
• Add alt text to constituent profile images in File Manager
• Post thumbnails 
• Navigation thumbnails: Images displaying in navigation menus can have alt text added to them in the Nav Info tab in Page Settings.

Use AI in resources to generate alt text in bulk

Finalsite's AI Alt Text Generator can suggest descriptions during upload or scan your library in bulk. Always review AI suggestions to ensure they match your specific school context. Learn more in the article, "

Step 5: Verify the fix

1. Publish your changes.
2. Reload the page with /?oss=1.
3. Confirm the scanner no longer highlights that image.

Related articles

• Accessibility management with AudioEye (the overview article, including how the scanner and the report work together)
• AudioEye FAQs (the companion FAQ, including the full scanner walkthrough)
• Finalsite + AudioEye: Fix a color contrast flag
• Best practice: writing alt text for images