In the WordPress block editor, select an Image block, choose Add caption in its toolbar, and type your text in the field that appears below the image. Save or update the post, then view the published page to check how your theme displays the caption.
Add a caption in the WordPress block editor
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Open the post or page in the WordPress block editor. Select an existing image. If there is no image yet, insert an Image block and upload a file or choose one from the Media Library.
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With the Image block selected, click Add caption in the block toolbar.
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Enter the explanatory text in the caption field below the image. The field supports basic text formatting available in the editor.
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Click Save draft, Publish or Update, depending on the page status. Open the public page and confirm that the caption appears as intended.
Show or hide an existing caption
Select the image and use the caption control in the Image block toolbar again. WordPress uses that control to show or hide the caption field and its text. Hiding a caption removes it from that image instance in the content; it does not make the image’s other metadata interchangeable with a caption.
Edit a caption from the Media Library
WordPress also stores image details in the Media Library. Open Media in the WordPress dashboard, select an image, and edit its metadata. The available fields include Title, Caption, Alt Text and Description. WordPress defines a caption as “A brief explanation of the media.”
Use the Media Library when you are maintaining the image’s stored information. Use the Image block’s caption field when you are adding or changing the visible caption while editing a particular post or page. Exact behavior when stored metadata is reused or overridden can vary by WordPress version and editing context, so verify the image instance you are publishing.
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Caption versus alt text, title and description
| Field | Purpose | Where readers encounter it |
|---|---|---|
| Caption | A brief visible explanation or identification of the image. | Normally beneath the image in the published content. |
| Alt Text | Alternative text that communicates the image’s meaningful content or function for accessibility. | Assistive technology and situations where the image cannot be seen or loaded. |
| Title | An identifying name for the media item. | Media management and, depending on the implementation, other interface or markup contexts. |
| Description | Longer internal information about the media. | Media-management screens and places that specifically expose the description. |
A caption does not replace alt text. For alt text, the Image block guide distinguishes between a value set on one post or page and a Media Library value that acts as the default when the image is inserted elsewhere. Review the block-level value when the image’s meaning or role changes in a specific article.
When an image should be decorative
If an image adds no meaningful information and provides no function, mark it as decorative using the accessibility option available for that Image block. Do not add a caption merely to compensate for missing alt text, and do not treat a decorative-image decision as a caption setting.
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Check the published result
The editor controls are consistent, but the final presentation is not universal. A theme or plugin may change caption typography, spacing, color or alignment. After updating the post, inspect the public page on the screen sizes your readers use. If the text is missing, select the image again, confirm that the caption control is enabled and that text remains in the field, then check for theme or plugin styling that may be hiding it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Classic Editor users
The steps above apply to the modern block editor. WordPress maintains a separate Classic Editor workflow; its controls and screen layout are different. If your site still uses the Classic Editor, follow the Classic Editor-specific instructions for that editor rather than expecting the Image block toolbar to appear.
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