How do I make sure my PDF is fully accessible after auto-tagging?

First, use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool. Second, open the 'Reading Order' tool to check and correct the content flow. Third, run the 'Accessibility Checker' to find any remaining issues. Finally, fix any flagged items manually, especially for alt text and complex tables.

Last‑Minute Accessibility Tagging in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”The [journal] emailed that my revised [manuscript] must meet accessibility tagging by…+

The [journal] emailed that my revised [manuscript] must meet accessibility tagging by [deadline=tomorrow]. I have the [pdf] with figures, footnotes, and complex tables, but I’ve never produced tagged PDFs for publishers. I’m afraid of breaking figure captions or mis-tagging headings. Tell me whether to hand this to the publisher with a clear cover note or attempt tagging now, outline the minimal safe tagging steps I can do today, and name what I must not touch without guidance.

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 file you want to tag in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select the Tools icon from the toolbar.
3
Choose Prepare for accessibility from the list of tools.
4
Click Automatically tag PDF to generate accessibility tags.
Best practiceAfter auto-tagging, review the tags using the Accessibility tags panel to ensure the structure matches the document content, as automated tagging may not always be perfect.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly access the Accessibility tags panel by right-clicking the Navigation pane and enabling it for easier tag review.

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

Glossary

words on this page

AccessibilityMaking sure everyone, including people with disabilities, can use something.ExampleThe website was designed with Accessibility in mind, so screen readers can easily navigate it.

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.

TagsHidden labels in a PDF that tell screen readers what each part of the document is (like a heading or a paragraph).ExampleScreen readers use hidden tags to tell users whether a part of the document is a list item or a table.

Who does this

3 roles

Accessibility SpecialistDocument Remediation SpecialistInstructional Designer

FAQ

about this task

First, use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool.
Second, open the 'Reading Order' tool to check and correct the content flow.
Third, run the 'Accessibility Checker' to find any remaining issues.
Finally, fix any flagged items manually, especially for alt text and complex tables.

PDF/UA is a specific standard for PDF documents, focusing on how the PDF itself is structured and tagged. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a broader, technology-agnostic standard for all web content, including PDFs. Many regulated tasks require meeting both standards. Think of PDF/UA as the 'how' for PDFs, and WCAG as the 'what' for overall accessibility.

Fixing accessibility in the original document, such as a Word file, saves a lot of time and effort. When you create an accessible source document, the PDF exported from it will often be accessible from the start. This means you spend less time fixing problems later in Acrobat, which can be very time-consuming for untagged PDFs.

Yes, the Accessibility Auto-Tag API is powered by Sensei, Adobe's AI. It can tag both native PDFs (made from digital files) and scanned PDFs. It identifies headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs, and can even detect the language.

Tagging is the most important part of PDF accessibility. Tags provide the structure and reading order for assistive technologies. Without proper tags, a PDF is very difficult for screen readers and other tools to understand, even if it looks fine visually.

Last‑Minute Accessibility Tagging

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides