You installed the WriteAlt Shopify app. Now what?
The app needs to connect to your WriteAlt account. WriteAlt has made this simple. No more manual API keys. No copy-paste. Just one click.
This guide walks you through every step.
Step 1: Open the WriteAlt Settings Tab
After installing the WriteAlt Shopify app:
Go to your Shopify admin panel
Find the WriteAlt app in your apps list
Click on the app to open it
Navigate to the Settings tab
You will see two options:
I am a new customer
I am already a customer
Step 2: Choose Your Option
If you are a new customer
Click I am a new customer. WriteAlt will:
Create a WriteAlt account for you using your Shopify email
Send your login credentials to your email address
Link your Shopify store automatically
Check your email. You will receive your WriteAlt account password. Use it to log in to writealt.com. Your credits work across all platforms — Shopify, WordPress plugin, REST API, and web dashboard.
If you are already a customer
Click I am already a customer. A browser popup will appear:
Log in to your existing WriteAlt account
Authorize the connection to your Shopify store
The app connects instantly
Once connected, the app will automatically show your credit balance, account email, and available plans.
Step 3: Configure Your Settings
The WriteAlt Shopify app has three tabs. Set them up once. Then forget them.
Tab 1: Settings (Your Defaults)
| Setting | What It Does | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Alt text generation language | Match your store's language (130+ available) |
| Alt text style | Comprehensive, Professional, or Brief | Recommended (balanced for SEO) |
| Auto-generate on upload | Creates alt text automatically when Shopify adds new images | Enable (set and forget) |
| Convert to WebP | Converts images to modern WebP format | Enable (faster loading) |
| Compress Images | Reduces file size above your limit | Enable |
| AI Image Naming | Renames image files for SEO | Enable |
| Compression Quality | Medium (80 percent) vs High | Medium (balance of quality and speed) |
| Naming Format | lowercase-with-dashes | lowercase-with-dashes (SEO standard) |
Tab 2: Alt Media Bulk
This is where you generate alt text for existing products.
Click Refresh images to load your product images
Use filters:
All (every product image)
No alt (only images missing alt text)
Has alt (already has descriptions)
Select images manually or click Select missing alt
Choose language and style (uses your defaults)
Click Generate alt text
Review and Save back to Shopify
Tab 3: Image Optimizer
This tab compresses, converts, and renames your images.
Click Refresh optimizer to scan your products
Review which images need:
WebP conversion
Compression
SEO-friendly naming
Select images or click Select needs optimization
Click Optimize selected
Your credits are used for generation only. Optimization uses your Shopify plan.
Step 4: Monitor Your Credits
Your credit balance appears at the top of each tab. Each alt text generation uses one credit per image.
Credits apply to both manual and auto-generation
Unused credits roll over
Refill with a subscription or pay-as-you-go packs
Pro Tips
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Enable auto-generation | New products get alt text without lifting a finger |
| Run bulk generation first | Process your entire catalog in minutes, not hours |
| Use No alt filter | Focus only on images that need help |
| Set compression to 0.5 MB | Catches images worth compressing without over-processing |
| Keep WebP conversion on | Smaller files equal faster site equal better SEO |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Popup does not appear | Check your browser is not blocking popups. Allow popups for Shopify. |
| Login fails | Make sure you are using the correct WriteAlt account email. |
| Credits not showing | Refresh the page. Check your WriteAlt account has active credits. |
| Images not loading | Click Refresh images or Refresh optimizer button. |
| Generation fails | Check your internet connection. Try a smaller batch. |
Ready to Start?
Once connected and configured, the WriteAlt Shopify app works automatically.
New products get alt text on upload
Existing products can be bulk-generated in minutes
Your products become visible to AI search
First 25 images are free. No credit card required.
