Before you begin
Confirm which videos the app can optimise
Video SEO Alt Tags File Names is designed for supported video media hosted within Shopify. It does not edit the metadata of videos embedded from external services such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Videos uploaded to supported Shopify product media can be included in the optimisation workflow.
Supported locally hosted video files can be reviewed through the app where Shopify permits metadata updates.
The app analyses an available thumbnail to create a description related to the visible subject.
A controlled fallback is used when a suitable thumbnail is unavailable for analysis.
Useful descriptions can help people and machines understand media, but no app can guarantee accessibility compliance, crawling, indexing, rankings, traffic or inclusion in AI-generated answers.
Step one
Install Video SEO Alt Tags File Names
- Open the app listing in the Shopify App Store.
- Select Install and choose the correct Shopify store.
- Review the requested access to products and Shopify files.
- Approve the installation and open the app from Shopify admin.
Step two
Choose how video processing is provided
Test the workflow on three videos before starting a paid subscription.
Use your own OpenAI API key for unlimited generation at the current $4.95 monthly app price. Separate API usage charges may apply through OpenAI.
Use managed AI without supplying your own API key. The current app price is $9.95 per month.
Add AI-assisted video display names to the managed workflow. The current app price is $14.95 per month.
Shopify shows and approves the current recurring charge before a paid plan begins. Confirm the live App Store pricing when selecting a plan.
Step three
Add your OpenAI API key only on the BYOK plan
- Create or retrieve a suitable API key from your own OpenAI account.
- Open the app settings and find the API-key field.
- Paste the key directly into the protected field and save it.
- Run the available connection check before attempting a bulk optimisation.
Never place an API key in product content, theme code, screenshots, support messages or browser-visible storefront fields. The app documentation states that stored keys are encrypted at rest and decrypted server-side only when required for processing.
Step four
Configure a useful fallback
A fallback is used when the app cannot analyse a suitable thumbnail. Choose wording that remains accurate for every video to which the fallback may be applied.
Useful only when the store identity provides meaningful context for the media.
Usually the most relevant automatic fallback for product-specific video media.
Use carefully when the same accurate description applies to the selected group of videos.
Avoid keyword lists, exaggerated claims and repetitive boilerplate. A short accurate description is more useful than metadata written only for search engines.
Step five
Sync and optimise supported videos
- Open the app dashboard and start the video sync.
- Review the number and type of supported videos discovered.
- Begin with the three free test optimisations or a small controlled batch.
- Review the results before processing the complete catalogue.
- When satisfied, run the bulk workflow or enable the available processing option for newly added content.
Use several videos with different products, thumbnails and subject matter. This helps you evaluate both AI-generated descriptions and your configured fallback.
Step six
Review the generated metadata
- Open the app's recent activity or processing history.
- Check that each description identifies the video subject accurately.
- Open a relevant product in Shopify admin and inspect its video media.
- Review supported Shopify file metadata where applicable.
- Edit wording manually when it is vague, inaccurate or unnecessarily promotional.
Best practices
Write metadata for understanding first
State what the video shows rather than filling the field with broad commercial keywords.
Include a product type, material, colour or action only when it is genuinely visible or relevant.
Where supported, use concise descriptive names and avoid stuffing repeated search terms.
Treat generated metadata as assisted work that still requires merchant oversight.
Troubleshooting
If a video is not processed
Externally embedded YouTube and Vimeo videos are outside the supported Shopify-hosted workflow.
If no suitable thumbnail is available, confirm that an accurate fallback rule has been configured.
Confirm that free test uses remain or that the intended paid plan is active.
On the BYOK plan, verify that the key is active, has suitable access and has available API billing.
If processing remains unsuccessful, keep the relevant video identifier and any app error message, then contact support without sending private API credentials.
Common questions
Video SEO Alt Tags File Names FAQ
Does the app work with YouTube or Vimeo embeds?
No. It is designed for supported videos hosted within Shopify and cannot write metadata to externally hosted YouTube or Vimeo content.
Can I test the app for free?
Yes. The current free plan includes three video optimisations so you can review the workflow before selecting a paid plan.
Will the app slow down my storefront?
The optimisation runs through the Shopify backend rather than loading a customer-facing JavaScript library. Continue to test storefront performance after installing any app.
Can I edit generated metadata?
Yes. Review the recent activity and edit supported product or file metadata through Shopify admin whenever generated wording needs refinement.
How quickly will Google recognise a change?
There is no guaranteed timetable. Search engines determine when to recrawl pages and whether to use updated metadata.
What happens if I uninstall?
Metadata already written to supported Shopify media is intended to remain, while automatic processing and access to the app workflow stop.
Ready to review your video metadata?
Test the workflow on three Shopify videos
Install Video SEO Alt Tags File Names, configure an accurate fallback and review the first generated descriptions before processing more media.