Documentation

Everything you need to install, configure and use Alt Text IA — from your first setting to bulk generation.

1. Installation

  1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for "Alt Text IA".
  3. Click Install, then Activate.

A new Settings > Alt Text IA menu appears in your dashboard.

2. Get an API key (free tier)

In free mode, you use your own API key from the AI provider of your choice. It's free to get, and most providers offer a free usage quota that's enough to test.

Recommended: Google Gemini (free, no credit card)

  1. Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey
  2. Sign in with a Google account
  3. Click "Create API key"
  4. Copy the generated key

Alternative: OpenAI

  1. Create an account on platform.openai.com
  2. Go to API Keys, click "Create new secret key"
  3. A credit card may be requested depending on your account (usage-based billing, a few cents per generation)

Alternative: Anthropic Claude

  1. Create an account on console.anthropic.com
  2. Go to API Keys, create a new key

3. Plugin configuration

  1. Go to Settings > Alt Text IA
  2. Choose your AI provider from the dropdown
  3. Paste your API key in the corresponding field
  4. Set the desired generation language (e.g. en_US for English)
  5. Make sure "Automatically generate..." is checked
  6. Click Save
The generation language isn't auto-detected from your content — you set it yourself. If your text comes back in the wrong language, check this field first.

4. How it works

Automatic generation: every time you upload a new image to your media library, Alt Text IA generates alt text if the image doesn't already have any. An image that already has alt text is never modified.

Media library scan: the "Scan my media library" button (in settings) scans all your existing images and shows how many are missing alt text — available in both free and Pro.

Bulk generation (Pro feature): automatically processes every image found by the scan, instead of fixing them one by one.

5. Free tier limits

FeatureFreePro
Automatic generation on upload10 / monthUnlimited
API keyYoursIncluded
Bulk generation (existing images)—✓

The free quota resets automatically on the 1st of every month.

6. Troubleshooting

SymptomLikely cause
Alt text stays empty after uploadMissing or invalid API key, monthly quota reached, or "Automatic generation" unchecked
Text comes back in the wrong languageFix the "Generation language" field in settings
Nothing happens on an existing imageExpected: automatic generation only applies to new uploads. Use "Scan my media library", then upgrade to Pro to process existing images in bulk
Error message mentioning an AI "model"The selected provider changed a model's availability; the plugin automatically retries with another available model next time
If an issue persists after checking these points, verify your quota and key validity directly on the provider's site (OpenAI, Google AI Studio, or Anthropic Console) — that's the most common cause.

7. Upgrade to Pro

From Settings > Alt Text IA, click "Upgrade to Pro to unlock bulk generation". Payment and license management are handled securely by Freemius; no API key to configure in Pro mode.