diff --git a/changelog.d/profile-image-descriptions.add b/changelog.d/profile-image-descriptions.add
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..85cc48083
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/profile-image-descriptions.add
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Allow providing avatar/header descriptions
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/development/API/differences_in_mastoapi_responses.md b/docs/development/API/differences_in_mastoapi_responses.md
index 3bf8637f8..cbd0d6bce 100644
--- a/docs/development/API/differences_in_mastoapi_responses.md
+++ b/docs/development/API/differences_in_mastoapi_responses.md
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ Has these additional fields under the `pleroma` object:
 - `background_image`: nullable URL string, background image of the user
 - `tags`: Lists an array of tags for the user
 - `relationship` (object): Includes fields as documented for Mastodon API https://docs.joinmastodon.org/entities/relationship/
-- `is_moderator`: boolean, nullable,  true if user is a moderator
+- `is_moderator`: boolean, nullable, true if user is a moderator
 - `is_admin`: boolean, nullable, true if user is an admin
 - `confirmation_pending`: boolean, true if a new user account is waiting on email confirmation to be activated
 - `hide_favorites`: boolean, true when the user has hiding favorites enabled
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ Has these additional fields under the `pleroma` object:
 - `notification_settings`: object, can be absent. See `/api/v1/pleroma/notification_settings` for the parameters/keys returned.
 - `accepts_chat_messages`: boolean, but can be null if we don't have that information about a user
 - `favicon`: nullable URL string, Favicon image of the user's instance
+- `avatar_description`: string, image description for user avatar, defaults to empty string
+- `header_description`: string, image description for user banner, defaults to empty string
 
 ### Source
 
@@ -256,6 +258,8 @@ Additional parameters can be added to the JSON body/Form data:
 - `actor_type` - the type of this account.
 - `accepts_chat_messages` - if false, this account will reject all chat messages.
 - `language` - user's preferred language for receiving emails (digest, confirmation, etc.)
+- `avatar_description` - image description for user avatar
+- `header_description` - image description for user banner
 
 All images (avatar, banner and background) can be reset to the default by sending an empty string ("") instead of a file.
 
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index c6c536943..517009253 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -586,16 +586,26 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
     |> validate_length(:bio, max: bio_limit)
     |> validate_length(:name, min: 1, max: name_limit)
     |> validate_inclusion(:actor_type, Pleroma.Constants.allowed_user_actor_types())
+    |> validate_image_description(:avatar_description, params)
+    |> validate_image_description(:header_description, params)
     |> put_fields()
     |> put_emoji()
     |> put_change_if_present(:bio, &{:ok, parse_bio(&1, struct)})
-    |> put_change_if_present(:avatar, &put_upload(&1, :avatar))
-    |> put_change_if_present(:banner, &put_upload(&1, :banner))
+    |> put_change_if_present(
+      :avatar,
+      &put_upload(&1, :avatar, Map.get(params, :avatar_description))
+    )
+    |> put_change_if_present(
+      :banner,
+      &put_upload(&1, :banner, Map.get(params, :header_description))
+    )
     |> put_change_if_present(:background, &put_upload(&1, :background))
     |> put_change_if_present(
       :pleroma_settings_store,
       &{:ok, Map.merge(struct.pleroma_settings_store, &1)}
     )
+    |> maybe_update_image_description(:avatar, Map.get(params, :avatar_description))
+    |> maybe_update_image_description(:banner, Map.get(params, :header_description))
     |> validate_fields(false)
   end
 
@@ -674,13 +684,41 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
     end
   end
 
-  defp put_upload(value, type) do
+  defp put_upload(value, type, description \\ nil) do
     with %Plug.Upload{} <- value,
-         {:ok, object} <- ActivityPub.upload(value, type: type) do
+         {:ok, object} <- ActivityPub.upload(value, type: type, description: description) do
       {:ok, object.data}
     end
   end
 
+  defp validate_image_description(changeset, key, params) do
+    description_limit = Config.get([:instance, :description_limit], 5_000)
+    description = Map.get(params, key)
+
+    if is_binary(description) and String.length(description) > description_limit do
+      changeset
+      |> add_error(key, "#{key} is too long")
+    else
+      changeset
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp maybe_update_image_description(changeset, image_field, description)
+       when is_binary(description) do
+    with {:image_missing, true} <- {:image_missing, not changed?(changeset, image_field)},
+         {:existing_image, %{"id" => id}} <-
+           {:existing_image, Map.get(changeset.data, image_field)},
+         {:object, %Object{} = object} <- {:object, Object.get_by_ap_id(id)},
+         {:ok, object} <- Object.update_data(object, %{"name" => description}) do
+      put_change(changeset, image_field, object.data)
+    else
+      {:description_too_long, true} -> {:error}
+      _ -> changeset
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp maybe_update_image_description(changeset, _, _), do: changeset
+
   def update_as_admin_changeset(struct, params) do
     struct
     |> update_changeset(params)
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/operations/account_operation.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/operations/account_operation.ex
index d9614bc48..21a779dcb 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/operations/account_operation.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/operations/account_operation.ex
@@ -813,6 +813,16 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ApiSpec.AccountOperation do
           allOf: [BooleanLike],
           nullable: true,
           description: "User's birthday will be visible"
+        },
+        avatar_description: %Schema{
+          type: :string,
+          nullable: true,
+          description: "Avatar image description."
+        },
+        header_description: %Schema{
+          type: :string,
+          nullable: true,
+          description: "Header image description."
         }
       },
       example: %{
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/schemas/account.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/schemas/account.ex
index 8aeb821a8..1f73ef60c 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/schemas/account.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/api_spec/schemas/account.ex
@@ -111,7 +111,9 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ApiSpec.Schemas.Account do
             format: :uri,
             nullable: true,
             description: "Favicon image of the user's instance"
-          }
+          },
+          avatar_description: %Schema{type: :string},
+          header_description: %Schema{type: :string}
         }
       },
       source: %Schema{
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ApiSpec.Schemas.Account do
     example: %{
       "acct" => "foobar",
       "avatar" => "https://mypleroma.com/images/avi.png",
+      "avatar_description" => "",
       "avatar_static" => "https://mypleroma.com/images/avi.png",
       "bot" => false,
       "created_at" => "2020-03-24T13:05:58.000Z",
@@ -162,6 +165,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ApiSpec.Schemas.Account do
       "followers_count" => 0,
       "following_count" => 1,
       "header" => "https://mypleroma.com/images/banner.png",
+      "header_description" => "",
       "header_static" => "https://mypleroma.com/images/banner.png",
       "id" => "9tKi3esbG7OQgZ2920",
       "locked" => false,
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
index 54d46c86b..68157b0c4 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountController do
       |> Maps.put_if_present(:is_discoverable, params[:discoverable])
       |> Maps.put_if_present(:birthday, params[:birthday])
       |> Maps.put_if_present(:language, Pleroma.Web.Gettext.normalize_locale(params[:language]))
+      |> Maps.put_if_present(:avatar_description, params[:avatar_description])
+      |> Maps.put_if_present(:header_description, params[:header_description])
 
     # What happens here:
     #
@@ -277,6 +279,12 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountController do
       {:error, %Ecto.Changeset{errors: [{:name, {_, _}} | _]}} ->
         render_error(conn, :request_entity_too_large, "Name is too long")
 
+      {:error, %Ecto.Changeset{errors: [{:avatar_description, {_, _}} | _]}} ->
+        render_error(conn, :request_entity_too_large, "Avatar description is too long")
+
+      {:error, %Ecto.Changeset{errors: [{:header_description, {_, _}} | _]}} ->
+        render_error(conn, :request_entity_too_large, "Banner description is too long")
+
       {:error, %Ecto.Changeset{errors: [{:fields, {"invalid", _}} | _]}} ->
         render_error(conn, :request_entity_too_large, "One or more field entries are too long")
 
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex
index 298c73986..7de6745d4 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex
@@ -219,8 +219,10 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountView do
 
     avatar = User.avatar_url(user) |> MediaProxy.url()
     avatar_static = User.avatar_url(user) |> MediaProxy.preview_url(static: true)
+    avatar_description = image_description(user.avatar)
     header = User.banner_url(user) |> MediaProxy.url()
     header_static = User.banner_url(user) |> MediaProxy.preview_url(static: true)
+    header_description = image_description(user.banner)
 
     following_count =
       if !user.hide_follows_count or !user.hide_follows or self,
@@ -321,7 +323,9 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountView do
         skip_thread_containment: user.skip_thread_containment,
         background_image: image_url(user.background) |> MediaProxy.url(),
         accepts_chat_messages: user.accepts_chat_messages,
-        favicon: favicon
+        favicon: favicon,
+        avatar_description: avatar_description,
+        header_description: header_description
       }
     }
     |> maybe_put_role(user, opts[:for])
@@ -345,6 +349,10 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountView do
 
   defp username_from_nickname(_), do: nil
 
+  defp image_description(%{"name" => name}), do: name
+
+  defp image_description(_), do: ""
+
   defp maybe_put_follow_requests_count(
          data,
          %User{id: user_id} = user,
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/update_credentials_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/update_credentials_test.exs
index bea0cae69..97ad2e849 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/update_credentials_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/update_credentials_test.exs
@@ -430,6 +430,75 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.UpdateCredentialsTest do
       assert :ok == File.rm(Path.absname("test/tmp/large_binary.data"))
     end
 
+    test "adds avatar description with a new avatar", %{user: user, conn: conn} do
+      new_avatar = %Plug.Upload{
+        content_type: "image/jpeg",
+        path: Path.absname("test/fixtures/image.jpg"),
+        filename: "an_image.jpg"
+      }
+
+      res =
+        patch(conn, "/api/v1/accounts/update_credentials", %{
+          "avatar" => new_avatar,
+          "avatar_description" => "me and pleroma tan"
+        })
+
+      assert json_response_and_validate_schema(res, 200)
+
+      user = User.get_by_id(user.id)
+      assert user.avatar["name"] == "me and pleroma tan"
+    end
+
+    test "adds avatar description to existing avatar", %{user: user, conn: conn} do
+      new_avatar = %Plug.Upload{
+        content_type: "image/jpeg",
+        path: Path.absname("test/fixtures/image.jpg"),
+        filename: "an_image.jpg"
+      }
+
+      assert user.avatar == %{}
+
+      conn
+      |> patch("/api/v1/accounts/update_credentials", %{"avatar" => new_avatar})
+
+      assert conn
+             |> assign(:user, User.get_by_id(user.id))
+             |> patch("/api/v1/accounts/update_credentials", %{
+               "avatar_description" => "me and pleroma tan"
+             })
+             |> json_response_and_validate_schema(200)
+
+      user = User.get_by_id(user.id)
+      assert user.avatar["name"] == "me and pleroma tan"
+    end
+
+    test "limit", %{user: user, conn: conn} do
+      new_header = %Plug.Upload{
+        content_type: "image/jpeg",
+        path: Path.absname("test/fixtures/image.jpg"),
+        filename: "an_image.jpg"
+      }
+
+      assert user.banner == %{}
+
+      conn
+      |> patch("/api/v1/accounts/update_credentials", %{"header" => new_header})
+
+      description_limit = Config.get([:instance, :description_limit], 100)
+
+      description = String.duplicate(".", description_limit + 1)
+
+      conn =
+        conn
+        |> assign(:user, User.get_by_id(user.id))
+        |> patch("/api/v1/accounts/update_credentials", %{
+          "header_description" => description
+        })
+
+      assert %{"error" => "Banner description is too long"} =
+               json_response_and_validate_schema(conn, 413)
+    end
+
     test "Strip / from upload files", %{user: user, conn: conn} do
       new_image = %Plug.Upload{
         content_type: "image/jpeg",
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view_test.exs
index f88b90955..5d24c0e9f 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view_test.exs
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountViewTest do
         hide_follows_count: false,
         relationship: %{},
         skip_thread_containment: false,
-        accepts_chat_messages: nil
+        accepts_chat_messages: nil,
+        avatar_description: "",
+        header_description: ""
       }
     }
 
@@ -340,7 +342,9 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.AccountViewTest do
         hide_follows_count: false,
         relationship: %{},
         skip_thread_containment: false,
-        accepts_chat_messages: nil
+        accepts_chat_messages: nil,
+        avatar_description: "",
+        header_description: ""
       }
     }