WP-CLI Alt Text Generator for WordPress

AltTextGeneratorAI WordPress plugin adds an alt-text command to WP-CLI. Use it to generate alt text for your whole Media Library in one command after a migration, as a scheduled job, or as part of a deploy script.

Before you start:

• AltTextGeneratorAI WordPress plugin is installed and active
• Your API key and website domain are saved in AltTextGenerator > Settings. The command uses the same saved settings.

Commands

Options for wp alt-text generate

Each image uses one credit. Run wp alt-text status first to check your balance, and add --dry-run to preview large jobs.

Examples

# Check API status, credits, and how many images are missing alt text
wp alt-text status

# Generate alt text for every image that's missing it
wp alt-text generate

# Also regenerate images whose alt text is too short
wp alt-text generate --short

# Regenerate every image in the library
wp alt-text generate --all

# Regenerate specific attachments, even if they already have alt text
wp alt-text generate --ids=12,34,56 --force

# Preview what would be processed, without using any credits
wp alt-text generate --limit=20 --dry-run

WP-CLI runs on the server that hosts your site, so you connect to that server over SSH. FTP will not work, because it only transfers files. Many hosts, including Hostinger, SiteGround, Kinsta, Cloudways and WP Engine, offer SSH and have WP-CLI installed already.

1. Enable SSH in your hosting panel. On Hostinger, go to Websites > your site > Advanced > SSH Access and click Enable. On other hosts, look for "SSH Access" or "Terminal".
2. Set an SSH password (click Change next to Password) and note the IP address, port and username shown there.
3. Open a terminal. On Mac use Terminal. On Windows use PowerShell, Windows Terminal or PuTTY.
4. Connect with the command your host shows, in this form:

ssh -p PORT USERNAME@IP_ADDRESS

# Example
ssh -p 65002 u123456789@203.0.113.10

Type yes if asked to trust the server, then enter your SSH password. Nothing appears while you type it, which is normal.

5. Go to your WordPress folder, the one that contains wp-config.php. On Hostinger it looks like this:

cd domains/yourdomain.com/public_html
ls

6. Run the commands from the lists above, starting with wp alt-text status.
7. Disconnect by typing exit.

1. Confirm WP-CLI is available: wp --info
2. Confirm the plugin is active: wp plugin list --status=active should show alt-text-generator-ai
3. Run wp alt-text status. It should show "API Status: Verified" and your credits. If it says "Not Verified", save your API key and domain in AltTextGenerator > Settings first.
4. Run wp alt-text generate --limit=5 --dry-run to see which images would be processed, without using credits.
5. Run wp alt-text generate --limit=1 to generate alt text for one real image. Then check it in the Media Library: the Alternative Text field should be filled and your credit count should drop by one.
6. Once that works, run wp alt-text generate (add --short or --all if you want those too) to process the rest of your library.