How do I make sure my PDF is accessible for everyone?

Use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool first to add basic structure. Then, use the 'Fix reading order' tool to set the correct flow of content. Finally, run the 'Full Check' (Accessibility Checker) to find and fix any remaining problems like missing alt text or incorrect headings.

What is the difference between PDF/UA and WCAG for document accessibility?

Feature PDF/UA WCAG. Focus Specific to PDF documents General for all web content and technology Purpose Ensures technical accessibility of PDF files Provides guidelines for making web content accessible Regulation Often required alongside WCAG for regulated work Widely adopted standard for digital accessibility

Improve Document Readability in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create an accessible [document=PDF version of the policy brief] with tagged headings and alt…+

Create an accessible [document=PDF version of the policy brief] with tagged headings and alt text for images and deliver it to the [desk=media desk] and [role=accessibility officer] by [deadline=Friday].

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Ensure reporters and disabled staff can use the brief — convert the [document=policy document]…+

Ensure reporters and disabled staff can use the brief — convert the [document=policy document] to a fully tagged accessible PDF, add alt text to all images, run the accessibility checker, and include a plain-text summary page so the [desk=media desk] and [role=accessibility officer] can verify compliance quickly.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF document you want to check for accessibility.
2
Click the Tools tab at the top of the Acrobat window.
3
Scroll through the list and select Accessibility to add the Accessibility tools to your workspace if they are not already visible.
Best practiceIf you do not see the Accessibility tools, you may need to add them from the Tools pane as they are not shown by default.
4
In the Accessibility tools pane, click Full Check.
5
In the Accessibility Checker Options dialog, review the settings and click Start Checking.
Best practiceFor a thorough check, ensure all checkboxes are selected before starting the check.
6
Review the results displayed in the Accessibility Checker panel on the left side of the screen.

In the appWith the API

You can right-click in the Navigation Pane to show the Accessibility tags panel for more detailed tag inspection.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Alt textA short description for images so people who cannot see them know what they show.ExampleA person using a screen reader hears 'a red bicycle leaning against a brick wall' when they encounter the image.

TaggingAdding labels to parts of a document so screen readers can understand it.ExampleTagging a document helps visually impaired users navigate its content with a screen reader.

Who does this

3 roles

Accessibility SpecialistInstructional DesignerDocument Remediator

FAQ

about this task

Use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool first to add basic structure.
Then, use the 'Fix reading order' tool to set the correct flow of content.
Finally, run the 'Full Check' (Accessibility Checker) to find and fix any remaining problems like missing alt text or incorrect headings.

PDF tagging adds hidden labels to parts of your document, like telling a screen reader 'this is a heading' or 'this is a paragraph.' This is very important because without these tags, a screen reader cannot understand the order or meaning of your content, making the document unreadable for people who rely on these tools.

Yes, you can. The PDF Accessibility Auto-Tag API, which powers the desktop tool, works for both native PDFs and scanned PDFs. It uses smart technology to identify headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs even in scanned documents. However, after auto-tagging, you will still need to manually check and correct the reading order and add alt text for any images, as automation is not perfect for complex elements.

Feature	PDF/UA	WCAG
Focus	Specific to PDF documents	General for all web content and technology
Purpose	Ensures technical accessibility of PDF files	Provides guidelines for making web content accessible
Regulation	Often required alongside WCAG for regulated work	Widely adopted standard for digital accessibility

It is much better to fix accessibility issues in the original source document, like a Word file, before you convert it to PDF. When you create an accessible source document, the exported PDF will often be accessible from the start. This saves a lot of time and effort because remediating an existing untagged PDF is a very long and difficult process, requiring many manual corrections.

Improve Document Readability

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides