PDF Accessibility Checker — WCAG 2.1 Compliance Audit Guide

Why PDF Accessibility Matters

PDF documents that aren't accessible create barriers for millions of people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies. Whether you're in government, education, healthcare, or private sector, accessible PDFs are often a legal requirement — and always the right thing to do.

Without proper accessibility features, your PDFs may:

• Exclude people with disabilities who can't access content via screen readers
• Violate compliance standards like WCAG 2.1, Section 508, or ADA
• Fail accessibility audits for procurement, grants, or legal requirements
• Miss entire audiences who depend on accessible formats

The PDFlys Accessibility Checker lets you audit any PDF against WCAG 2.1 — right in your browser, with your file never leaving your device.

What the PDF Accessibility Checker Does

The checker runs 30 accessibility checks across six key categories, following WCAG 2.1 guidelines:

• Document Structure (9 checks) — Proper tagging, logical reading order, language specification, document title
• Text Accessibility (5 checks) — Text extractability, heading hierarchy, reading order consistency
• Image Accessibility (3 checks) — Decorative vs. informative images, meaningful alt descriptions
• Table Accessibility (3 checks) — Header rows, data cell markup, table summaries
• Navigation (6 checks) — Bookmarks, TOC, page labels, link text quality
• Forms (4 checks) — Field labels, tab order, accessible controls, tooltips

Each check is weighted by severity. You get an overall accessibility score (0-100) with a letter grade (A-F), plus a detailed breakdown showing exactly what passed, what failed, and how to fix it.

How to Check PDF Accessibility (Step-by-Step)

Auditing your PDF for accessibility compliance takes less than a minute.

Step 1: Open the Accessibility Checker

Go to the PDFlys Accessibility Checker tool. No signup or account required.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

Drag and drop your PDF file into the tool, or click to browse. Processing happens client-side — your document stays on your device.

Step 3: Review Your Accessibility Score

Within seconds, you'll see your overall accessibility score and grade:

• 90-100 (A): Excellent accessibility
• 80-89 (B): Good, minor issues
• 70-79 (C): Fair, some barriers
• 60-69 (D): Poor, significant issues
• Below 60 (F): Fails accessibility standards

Step 4: Explore the Detailed Report

Expand each category to see individual checks. Every failed check includes:

• What failed (e.g., "Document not tagged")
• Why it matters (e.g., "Screen readers need tags to understand structure")
• How to fix it (specific remediation steps)

Step 5: Export Your Audit Report

Click Export Report as PDF to generate a downloadable accessibility audit report. This is useful for:

• Compliance documentation for legal or procurement requirements
• Remediation tracking for development teams
• Audit evidence for accessibility reviews

Common Accessibility Issues and Fixes

Missing Document Tags

Problem: Screen readers can't interpret untagged PDFs correctly. Fix: Re-create the PDF from the source document with accessibility tags enabled (most authoring tools have an "accessible PDF" export option).

Images Without Alt Text

Problem: Screen reader users can't understand image content. Fix: Add descriptive alt text to all meaningful images. Mark decorative images as "artifacts."

Forms Without Field Labels

Problem: Users can't identify what information to enter in form fields. Fix: Ensure every form field has a visible label and proper accessibility markup.

Missing Bookmarks

Problem: Users can't navigate long documents efficiently. Fix: Add bookmarks based on your document's heading structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What WCAG criteria does the checker evaluate?

The checker evaluates PDFs against WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA success criteria — the same standards required by Section 508, ADA, EN 301 549, and most international accessibility regulations.

Can I check confidential documents safely?

Yes. Your PDF never leaves your device. The entire audit runs client-side in your browser — no data is transmitted, no copies are made. This makes the tool suitable for sensitive HR documents, legal contracts, and healthcare records.

Will the checker fix issues for me?

It identifies issues and provides specific remediation guidance, but it won't automatically rewrite your PDF. Most accessibility fixes require returning to the source document (Word, InDesign, HTML) and re-exporting with correct settings.

How many PDFs can I check?

There's no limit. Check as many documents as you need — no account, no payment, no caps.

Does the audit report meet compliance requirements?

The exported PDF report documents every check result with pass/fail status and remediation steps. It's suitable as evidence for internal audits, procurement reviews, and legal compliance documentation.

Beyond the Score — Next Steps

If your audit reveals issues, here's a practical workflow:

1. Fix critical failures first — document tagging, missing alt text, unlabeled forms
2. Re-export from source — apply accessibility settings in your authoring tool
3. Re-check with PDFlys — verify your fixes improved the score
4. Reduce file size after remediation with Compress PDF — re-tagged documents can grow larger

For organizations running regular accessibility reviews, the audit export pairs well with internal tracking workflows. Re-run the checker periodically as documents are updated to maintain compliance.