How to Run an Accessibility Check in Adobe Acrobat Pro

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 includes 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.

Note: The specific accessibility checks available may vary slightly depending on your version of Adobe Acrobat.

Follow the steps below to run an accessibility check and review any issues that may need attention.

  1. Open the PDF using Adobe Acrobat Pro (not in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader).

    Screenshot of the Start menu with Adobe Acrobat highlighted as a selected application.
     
  2. In the upper-right corner of the window, locate the "Find text or tools" search box.

    Screenshot of the 'Find text or tools' search box located in the upper-right corner of the Adobe Acrobat interface.
     
  3. Type "Accessibility Check," then click on Accessibility Check under the TOOLS menu.

    Screenshot of the Adobe Acrobat search box with the words 'accessibility check' entered, showing the clickable option to launch the Accessibility Checker.
     
  4. A dialog box titled "Accessibility Checker Options" will appear. Click the "Start Checking" button at the bottom.

    Note: Depending on the version of Adobe Acrobat you are using, you may see 30, 31, or 32 accessibility check options across all categories. The screenshot example below shows 31 of 32. This variation occurs because Adobe has combined or renamed certain checks in newer versions of Acrobat. The most comprehensive review occurs when all available accessibility checks are selected for your version of Acrobat.

    Screenshot of the Accessibility Checker Options dialog box with all options selected by default and the Start Checking button visible at the bottom.
  5. 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 365 (Office) article for more information.

    Screenshot of the accessibility check results panel displaying issues identified in bold text.
     
  6. Before a PDF can be uploaded to www.stcloudstate.edu, the accessibility check must come back with zero issues.
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ℹ️ Adobe PDF Accessibility: From Fundamentals to Mastery
This knowledge base guide helps St. Cloud State University faculty and staff learn how to create, test, and remediate accessible PDFs using Adobe Acrobat Pro to meet ADA Title II, WCAG 2.1 AA, and PDF/UA standards. It provides installation guidance and a curated sequence of Adobe training resources that progress from foundational accessibility concepts to advanced verification and compliance practices.