Shopify fix guide

Fix Missing alternative text on images on Shopify

Images without text alternatives are invisible to many assistive technologies unless they are purely decorative.

This page ties the generic issue to how it usually shows up in Shopify markup and tooling, then walks you through a fix and verification loop.

Verify on a live URL

Scan, fix, deploy, then rescan the same address to compare reports.

Main issue guide: Missing alternative text on images →

Where this comes from on Shopify

Product media, collection banners, and sections where `image` objects omit alt in Liquid.

What this issue means

What this issue is

Alternative text (`alt`) describes the purpose of an image in words. When `alt` is missing on meaningful images, screen readers may skip the image entirely, read the file name, or provide unhelpful noise.

Decorative images should use `alt=""` so assistive tech knows to ignore them.

Why it matters

People who cannot see the image rely on the description to understand charts, product photos, buttons styled as images, and instructional graphics.

Common causes

CMS users insert images without filling the alt field. Developers use `<img>` without `alt`. Icons that act as buttons omit `aria-label`.

Better implementation

Use concise, accurate descriptions: `<img src="chart.png" alt="Sales increased 12% year over year">`. For decorative flourishes: `<img src="divider.svg" alt="">`.

How to fix on Shopify

Check theme sections for product cards; metafields may drive alt for variants.

How to fix

Add concise alt that matches the image purpose, not the file name. For SVG icons that act as buttons, pair with visible text or aria-label.

In CMS media libraries, require alt before publish for non-decorative images.

Common mistakes on Shopify

Variant images missing descriptive alt.
Logo blocks outputting filename as alt.
Editing checkout (limited) vs theme—know which surface you can change.
Forgetting to test accelerated/mobile themes.

How to verify the fix

Preview the theme or use a development theme URL the scanner can reach.
Test cart and collection templates if that is where the issue appeared.
Rerun the scan after theme deploy; keep before/after report URLs.

Related: 1.1.1 Non-text Content.

Same issue on other platforms

Guides

Next steps

Run a scan on staging or production.
Re-read the main issue page for context and WCAG notes.
Shopify accessibility hub for more platform resources.

TestAccessibility · Shopify fix · localhost:3001