Alternate text parameter for ODSP attached images in Teams

[What and Why:]

Adds support for alternate text on OneDrive/SharePoint-hosted images shared in Microsoft Teams, improving accessibility for users who rely on screen reader functionality. 

[Rollout Schedule:]

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in early December 2026 and expect to complete by mid-December 2026.

[Impact on Your Organization:]

Who is affected:

• Microsoft 365 users who share or receive image attachments stored in OneDrive and SharePoint through Microsoft Teams.

Platforms/Services:

• Microsoft Teams (Windows, Mac, and web)

What will happen:

• Users can add alt text to an image attachment while composing a message, and can add or update the description later by editing their sent message.
• Screen readers can announce the saved description when users encounter the image in the Teams message.
• The description is associated with the image in that Teams message; it does not modify the original image file in OneDrive or SharePoint.

[Action Required/Recommendations:]

No admin action is required. You may want to:

• Notify help desk staff and end users about the change.
• Update your organization's accessibility guidance to encourage concise, meaningful descriptions when sharing images in Microsoft Teams.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.