Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable Automatic Alt Text and Captions in Word 365

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to stop Word 365 from automatically applying suggestions for captions or alt text when inserting images.

Product: Microsoft Word 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Inserting objects or images (such as microscope photos) into a document where automatic descriptions or visible captions are being applied without the user's intent.
Observed behavior: Word 365 either automatically generates hidden accessibility alt text for inserted images or automatically places a visible caption line below the objects.

Before you start

Identify whether Word is adding an accessibility Alt Text suggestion (hidden text for screen readers) or an AutoCaption (visible text below the image), as they require different settings to disable.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Automatic Alt-Text Generation

Use this method if Word is automatically generating background image descriptions for accessibility purposes.

Microsoft 365 uses intelligent services to automatically generate alt text for images to help visually impaired users. If these descriptions are inaccurate or unnecessary for your workflow, you can turn off the automatic generation globally.

Open Word Options

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the Word ribbon, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Accessibility Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on the 'Accessibility' tab on the left-hand pane.

Turn Off Automatic Alt Text

Under the 'Automatic Alt Text' section, clear the check box next to 'Automatically generate alt text for me' and click 'OK' to save your changes.

Setting Applied: Future images inserted into your documents will no longer receive automatic alt text suggestions.

Solution 2

Disable the AutoCaption Feature

Use this method if Word is automatically inserting a visible text caption (like 'Figure 1') whenever you insert an image or object.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word 365 automatically add text to my inserted images?

By default, Word 365 utilizes cloud-based intelligent services to automatically generate alt text for images. This feature is designed to improve document accessibility for users relying on screen readers.

What is the difference between Alt Text and Captions in Word?

Alt Text is hidden metadata used by screen readers to describe an image to visually impaired users. A Caption is visible text that appears directly above or below the image on the document page.

Can I disable AutoCaption for just specific image types?

Yes. In the AutoCaption menu under the References tab, you can individually check or uncheck which specific object types (like a Bitmap Image, Word Picture, or Excel Chart) should automatically receive a visible caption.

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