Accessible PDF Check
Check what a screen reader can use — tags, language, title and image alt text — without uploading the file.
or drop files here
What the check looks at
- Whether the document is tagged, so a screen reader can follow its structure
- The declared language, the document title, and whether viewers display that title
- Alternative text on every figure element in the structure tree
- Encryption, which can block text extraction for assistive technology
It reads the file on your device and produces a report. It does not re-tag or “fix” the document, because automated re-tagging cannot know what the content means.
- Checked in your browser — the PDF is never uploaded
- Reports what is missing and what to fix, row by row
- No PDF/UA badge sold: re-tagging needs a human, not a converter
Accessible PDF Check
Most accessibility advice about PDFs assumes you own Acrobat Pro and a tagging workflow. This check answers the earlier question: what does the file actually contain? It reads the six structural facts assistive technology depends on — a structure tree, the marked flag, the document language, a title, the display-title preference and alternative text on figure elements — and reports each one with what was found and what to change. Everything runs on your device, so a contract, a payslip or a medical letter is never uploaded to find out whether it is readable. The result is a structural verdict, not a PDF/UA certificate: a file can pass every row and still have a reading order no human would write, and re-tagging a document requires someone who can see it.
How to check a PDF for accessibility
- 1Drop your PDF into the box above, or tap Choose files. The document stays on your device — nothing is uploaded for the check.
- 2Press Check accessibility. The structure tree, marked flag, language, title, display-title setting and figure alt text are read directly from the file.
- 3Read each row: green passes, red failures and amber warnings, with the exact fix for the ones that failed.
- 4Download the plain-text report if you need to send it to a designer, a supplier or an accessibility officer.
What makes this check worth running
- Runs entirely in your browser — the PDF never leaves the device, so sensitive documents can be checked safely
- Checks figure alt text by walking the structure tree, rather than guessing from the page count
- Explains the fix for every failure, including why automated re-tagging cannot do it for you
- Downloads a plain-text report you can forward or file with an accessibility audit
- No PDF/UA badge sold: the result says what was found, not what a regulator wants to hear
Accessible PDF FAQ
Does this make my PDF accessible?
No. It checks the structural facts a screen reader depends on and tells you what is missing. Fixing them means re-exporting with tagged output from the source application, or tagging the document in a desktop editor with a human deciding the reading order and alt text.
Why does an untagged PDF fail so many checks?
Four of the checks depend on tagging. Without a structure tree there is no marked flag, no figure elements to carry alt text, and a screen reader gets one flat run of text. Tagging once fixes the group, which is why re-exporting from Word or InDesign with tagged output is the usual answer.
Is the file uploaded to a server?
No. The check parses the PDF in your browser and produces the report locally. It is one of the everyday tools that never upload the document, so it is safe for contracts, payslips and medical records.
Does passing this check mean the document is PDF/UA conformant?
No, and we will not claim that. PDF/UA (ISO 14289) covers much more — reading order, artefacts, tables, lists, form fields and alternative descriptions — and conformance is validated by dedicated tools and people. This check covers the failures that make a document unusable fastest.
What exactly is checked?
Six structural facts: a structure tree, the marked flag, document language, title, display-title preference, and alternative text on figure elements. Each row shows pass, fail or warning with a plain-language fix.
Can this tool re-tag my PDF for me?
No. Reading order and alt text need a human who understands the document. The check tells you what is missing; Word, InDesign or Acrobat with tagged export is how you fix it.
Is there a file size limit?
The free check covers everyday PDFs up to 100 MB, same as the rest of the free plan. The work stays in your browser either way.
Will the report help an accessibility audit?
Yes as a first pass. Download the plain-text report for designers or suppliers, then follow up with a full PDF/UA review if you need a formal claim.
Privacy promise
- Secure & private
- Privacy promise