Trouble Shooting & FAQ – Lite

Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions

1. Introduction

SmartDescribe Lite helps WooCommerce store owners generate alternative text (alt text) for product featured images using Google Gemini AI.

Most issues can be resolved by checking the plugin settings, confirming the API connection and ensuring that the affected product has a suitable featured image.

This guide covers common problems and their solutions.

2. Installation and Activation

Q1. Why can’t I find SmartDescribe Lite in my WordPress dashboard?

Possible causes:

  • The plugin has not been installed.
  • The plugin has not been activated.
  • You are logged into an account without sufficient administrative permissions.

Solution:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
  3. Find SmartDescribe Lite.
  4. If it is installed but inactive, click Activate.
  5. Return to the dashboard and look for the SmartDescribe Lite menu.

If the plugin is missing, upload and install the plugin ZIP file.

Q2. Why does SmartDescribe Lite say WooCommerce is required?

SmartDescribe Lite works with WooCommerce products.

Solution:

  1. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
  2. Find WooCommerce.
  3. Activate it if it is installed but inactive.
  4. If WooCommerce is not installed, install and activate it before using SmartDescribe Lite.

Q3. What are the minimum requirements?

SmartDescribe Lite requires:

  • WordPress 5.0 or later.
  • PHP 7.4 or later.
  • WooCommerce 5.0 or later.
  • A valid Google Gemini API key for AI generation.

For security and compatibility, use supported, up-to-date versions of WordPress, PHP and WooCommerce.

3. Google Gemini API Configuration

Q4. Why do I need an API key?

SmartDescribe Lite uses Google Gemini AI to generate product image alt text.

The API key allows the plugin to make requests to the AI provider.

Without a valid and usable API key, AI generation will not work.

Q5. Where do I get a Google Gemini API key?

Obtain an API key through Google AI Studio:

https://aistudio.google.com/apikey

Follow Google’s current instructions to create or access a key.

Keep the key private and do not share it publicly.

Q6. Where do I enter my API key?

  1. Open your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to SmartDescribe Lite → Settings.
  3. Enter your key in the Google Gemini API key field.
  4. Save your settings.
  5. Click Test Connection.

Important: Save your settings before testing the connection.

Q7. The connection test fails. What should I do?

Work through these checks:

  1. Confirm that the API key was copied correctly.
  2. Re-enter the key if necessary.
  3. Save the settings.
  4. Run Test Connection again.
  5. Check that your Google account and API project have the required access.
  6. Review any error message returned by the plugin.
  7. Check whether Google reports usage limits or service issues.

If the problem persists, your hosting environment may be preventing outgoing API requests. Ask your hosting provider to investigate if necessary.

Q8. Does SmartDescribe Lite support OpenAI or Anthropic Claude?

No. SmartDescribe Lite uses Google Gemini.

Support for additional AI providers, including OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude, is available in SmartDescribe Pro.

Q9. Is Google Gemini API usage free?

Do not assume that API usage is unlimited or free.

Google’s pricing, quotas and access requirements can change and may depend on the model, account and usage.

Check Google’s current API terms and usage information before processing large numbers of products.

4. Individual Product Optimisation

Q10. Where do I optimise an individual product?

  1. Open your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to SmartDescribe Lite → Products.
  3. Find the product.
  4. Click Optimise in its row.
  5. Wait for the operation to finish.
  6. Review the result.

Q11. Why can’t I find my product?

SmartDescribe Lite displays up to 50 published WooCommerce products on its Products screen.

Check that:

  • The product is published.
  • You are looking for the correct product.
  • The product appears among the products displayed by the plugin.

If the product is not listed, open WooCommerce and confirm its publication status.

Yes. SmartDescribe Lite targets the product’s featured image.

If a product has no featured image, assign one in WooCommerce, save the product and try again.

No. SmartDescribe Lite targets the product’s featured image. It does not automatically optimise every image in the product gallery.

Q14. Why hasn’t the alt text changed?

Possible causes include:

  • The optimisation failed.
  • The generated text is similar to the previous description.
  • The screen has not refreshed.
  • You are checking a different image.

Solution:

  1. Refresh the SmartDescribe Lite Products screen.
  2. Review the product’s status.
  3. Open the product in WooCommerce.
  4. Locate the featured image.
  5. Check the alternative text field in the image’s attachment details.

Q15. Can I optimise a product that already has alt text?

Yes. SmartDescribe Lite can generate replacement alt text for a featured image that already has a description.

Important: The existing alt text may be replaced. Copy the original description somewhere safe if you may need it later.

Q16. Can I undo an optimisation?

SmartDescribe Lite does not include the dedicated optimisation history and undo features available in SmartDescribe Pro.

If you want to preserve the original alt text, record it before optimising the product.

5. Bulk Product Optimisation

Q17. Can I optimise multiple products at once?

Yes. SmartDescribe Lite supports bulk optimisation.

  1. Navigate to SmartDescribe Lite → Products.
  2. Select the products you want to process.
  3. Click Optimise Selected.
  4. Monitor the operation’s progress and status.
  5. Review the results when processing finishes.

Q18. Does Select All select every product in my store?

Do not assume that it selects your entire catalogue.

The Products screen displays up to 50 published products. Check the displayed products and selection before starting a bulk operation.

Q19. Why did some products fail during bulk optimisation?

Possible causes include:

  • An invalid API key.
  • Google Gemini usage limits or access restrictions.
  • A temporary provider or network problem.
  • A missing or inaccessible featured image.
  • A server-side error.

Solution:

  1. Identify the products that failed.
  2. Review the displayed status or error message.
  3. Check the API connection.
  4. Confirm that the affected products have suitable featured images.
  5. Resolve any underlying problem.
  6. Retry the affected products.

Q20. Why is bulk optimisation taking a long time?

Each product requires processing, and the duration depends on the number of selected products, provider response times and server conditions.

For large catalogues, start with a small selection and expand gradually.

Avoid repeatedly clicking the bulk optimisation control while a run is in progress.

Q21. Will bulk optimisation replace existing alt text?

Yes, generated alt text may replace existing descriptions for the selected products.

Record existing descriptions first if you may need to restore them manually.

Q22. Should I optimise my entire catalogue immediately?

A staged approach is recommended.

  1. Select a small group of products.
  2. Run bulk optimisation.
  3. Review the generated descriptions.
  4. Adjust your settings if necessary.
  5. Continue with additional products once you are satisfied with the results.

This makes it easier to identify problems before processing a large number of images.

6. Writing Tone and Character Limit

Q23. What writing tones are available?

SmartDescribe Lite offers four writing tones:

  • Professional: Straightforward and businesslike.
  • Friendly: Approachable and natural.
  • Descriptive: Emphasises useful visual details.
  • Concise: Favours short, direct descriptions.

Choose the tone that best suits your business.

Q24. What does the character limit do?

The character limit setting ranges from 50 to 500 characters.

It guides the intended length of the generated alt text.

A longer description is not necessarily better. Use enough detail to describe the image accurately without unnecessary wording.

Q25. Why is the generated text too long or too short?

Review your character limit and writing tone.

  1. Navigate to SmartDescribe Lite → Settings.
  2. Adjust the character limit.
  3. Select the appropriate writing tone.
  4. Save your settings.
  5. Test the new configuration on an individual product.

Always review the result rather than relying solely on the configured limit.

Q26. Why does the generated text not match my brand voice?

The writing tone guides the AI but does not guarantee a precise brand voice.

Choose the closest available tone and test it on several products.

Review the generated descriptions and make manual corrections where necessary.

7. Alt Text Quality and SEO

Q27. Will SmartDescribe Lite improve my Google rankings?

SmartDescribe Lite can help you create useful product image alt text, which supports accessibility and helps search engines interpret images.

However, no plugin can guarantee higher search rankings.

Search performance depends on many factors, including content quality, site structure, competition, technical SEO and overall relevance.

Q28. Should I include keywords in alt text?

Include relevant product details when they accurately describe the image.

Avoid repeating keywords unnecessarily or adding terms that do not reflect what the image shows.

Useful alt text should prioritise accurate, readable descriptions over keyword stuffing.

Q29. Do I need to review AI-generated descriptions?

Yes.

AI can occasionally misinterpret an image or generate inaccurate details.

Review descriptions for:

  • Correct colours and visual features.
  • Accurate product details.
  • Natural wording.
  • Relevant descriptive information.
  • Unnecessary keyword repetition.
  • Unsupported claims.

This is especially important for handmade and one-of-a-kind products, where individual visual details can distinguish one item from another.

Q30. What if the image is decorative rather than informative?

Not every image needs descriptive alt text.

For images that are purely decorative and add no meaningful information, accessibility guidance generally recommends an empty alt attribute rather than a descriptive phrase.

Consider the purpose of the image before applying generated alt text. Product images usually convey useful information, but decorative elements may require different treatment.

8. Performance and Compatibility

Q31. Could SmartDescribe Lite slow down my website?

AI generation requires requests to an external provider. Processing a large number of products can increase server activity and API usage while the operation runs.

To reduce potential disruption:

  • Start with smaller groups.
  • Avoid running multiple large operations simultaneously.
  • Check server resources if requests repeatedly time out.
  • Contact your hosting provider if you suspect resource restrictions.

Q32. Does SmartDescribe Lite require an SEO plugin?

No. SmartDescribe Lite generates alt text for product featured images without requiring Yoast SEO or Rank Math.

Dedicated SEO plugin integrations are among the additional capabilities available in SmartDescribe Pro.

Q33. What should I do after updating WordPress or WooCommerce?

After a major update:

  1. Confirm that SmartDescribe Lite remains active.
  2. Open its settings page.
  3. Test the API connection.
  4. Optimise one test product.
  5. Check that the resulting alt text is saved correctly.

If problems begin immediately after an update, record the error and investigate compatibility before running further bulk operations.

9. When to Contact Support

If you cannot resolve an issue using this guide, gather the following information before requesting assistance:

  • Your SmartDescribe Lite version.
  • Your WordPress version.
  • Your WooCommerce version.
  • Your PHP version.
  • A description of the problem.
  • The steps required to reproduce it.
  • The exact error message, if available.
  • Whether individual optimisation, bulk optimisation or both are affected.

Never send your Google Gemini API key, WordPress password or other private credentials.

Providing clear diagnostic information makes it easier to identify the cause of the problem.

10. Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Before requesting support, check the following:

  • SmartDescribe Lite is activated.
  • WooCommerce is active.
  • Your product is published.
  • The product has a featured image.
  • Your Google Gemini API key is saved.
  • The API connection test succeeds.
  • Your writing tone and character limit are saved.
  • You have reviewed the operation’s status.
  • You have checked the featured image’s saved alt text.
  • You have reviewed any available error messages.

11. SmartDescribe Lite and SmartDescribe Pro

SmartDescribe Lite provides the core workflow for generating product image alt text using Google Gemini.

SmartDescribe Pro adds capabilities such as:

  • Additional AI providers, including OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude.
  • Dedicated optimisation history and undo features.
  • Category-specific templates.
  • Scheduled optimisation.
  • Notifications and dashboard reporting.
  • Integrations with supported SEO plugins.

Choose the version that best suits your store’s requirements.

12. Final Summary

SmartDescribe Lite is designed to make WooCommerce product image alt text easier to manage.

For the best results:

  1. Configure Google Gemini correctly.
  2. Choose appropriate writing preferences.
  3. Test individual products before bulk optimisation.
  4. Review generated descriptions for accuracy.
  5. Preserve existing alt text when necessary.
  6. Investigate failed requests rather than assuming every operation succeeded.

Accurate alt text is more valuable than simply processing the largest number of products. Focus on useful descriptions that represent your products correctly and support an accessible shopping experience.