To ensure your PDF is accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies, it is important that all web content, including PDFs, meets accessibility standards. PDF accessibility is often considered the "gold standard" because PDFs are commonly used for sharing final, published content, whereas Word files are typically not posted online. While most accessibility updates and fixes should be made in the original source document, Adobe Acrobat Pro offers a built-in Accessibility Checker that can help identify and resolve common issues within the PDF itself. This tool scans your document for accessibility barriers and provides guidance on how to address them. Follow the steps below to run an accessibility check and review any issues that may need attention.
- Open the PDF using Adobe Acrobat Pro (not in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader).
- In the upper-right corner of the window, locate the "Find text or tools" search box.
- Type "Accessibility Check," then click on Accessibility Check under the TOOLS menu.
- A dialog box titled "Accessibility Checker Options" will appear. Click the "Start Checking" button at the bottom.
- Once the check is complete, a list of categories with identified issues will appear. Click on each category with bold text (e.g., Document, Page Content, Alternate Text, Tables) to view and resolve the listed issues. Whenever possible, make these fixes in the original source document rather than in Adobe Acrobat Pro, as this ensures better long-term accessibility and consistency. Please see the How to Check for Accessibility Issues with Microsoft Office article for more information.
- Before a PDF can be uploaded to the web, the accessibility check must come back with zero issues.
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