Common PDF Accessibility Issues

The most frequent problems that cause PDFs to fail accessibility requirements.

PDF accessibility failures are rarely caused by a single mistake. In most cases, documents fail due to a small set of recurring structural issues that are not visible during visual review.

This page outlines the most common PDF accessibility issues and explains why documents that appear accessible often fail in practice.

Missing or incomplete tagging

One of the most common PDF accessibility issues is missing or incomplete tagging.

Without proper tags:

  • Screen readers cannot understand document structure

  • Content is read as a flat stream of text

  • Navigation by headings, lists, or sections is impossible

A PDF may display text clearly on screen while being unusable for assistive technology users.

Incorrect reading order

Reading order determines how content is presented to screen reader users.

Common problems include:

  • Columns read out of sequence

  • Sidebars interrupting main content

  • Footnotes read mid-sentence

  • Content positioned visually but ordered incorrectly

Incorrect reading order is one of the most frequent reasons accessible-looking PDFs fail usability testing.

Visual headings without semantic structure

Headings that are styled visually but not tagged as headings are a common accessibility failure.

When headings are not semantic:

  • Screen readers cannot identify document sections

  • Users cannot navigate efficiently

  • Content hierarchy is lost

Visual formatting alone does not convey structure to assistive technologies.

Decorative content exposed to screen readers

Decorative elements should be hidden from assistive technologies.

Common issues include:

  • Decorative icons announced unnecessarily

  • Background images exposed as content

  • Repeated logos interrupting reading flow

When decorative content is not properly handled, documents become noisy and difficult to navigate.

Incorrect or unnecessary alt text

Alt text issues are extremely common in PDFs.

Typical problems include:

  • Missing alt text on informative images

  • Alt text added to decorative images

  • Overly verbose or meaningless descriptions

Most images in PDFs are decorative. Alt text is required only when information would otherwise be lost.

Inaccessible tables

Tables often fail accessibility requirements due to poor structure.

Common table issues include:

  • Missing header identification

  • Incorrect row and column relationships

  • Tables used for layout instead of data

When tables are not properly structured, screen reader users cannot understand how data relates.

Inaccessible forms

PDF forms are a high-risk area for accessibility.

Frequent issues include:

  • Fields without labels

  • Incorrect tab order

  • Instructions not associated with fields

  • Error messages not announced

Forms that look usable visually may be impossible to complete with assistive technologies.

Missing document language or metadata

Metadata supports accessibility and usability.

Common failures include:

  • Missing document language

  • Filenames used instead of titles

  • Metadata lost during conversion

Without proper metadata, screen readers may announce content incorrectly or without context.

Over-reliance on automated tools

Automated tools identify some issues but cannot evaluate usability.

They cannot determine:

  • Whether reading order makes sense

  • Whether content is understandable when read aloud

  • Whether navigation is efficient

PDFs often pass automated checks while still failing real-world accessibility requirements.

Why these issues persist

These issues persist because:

  • Accessibility problems are often invisible

  • Visual review appears sufficient

  • Automated tools provide false confidence

  • Source document structure is poor

  • Accessibility is treated as a final step

Without structured review and testing, these problems go unnoticed.

Conclusion

Common PDF accessibility issues are structural, not cosmetic. Documents often fail accessibility requirements defined by WCAG despite appearing well formatted and professional.

Understanding these issues is the first step toward producing PDFs that are truly accessible and compliant.

Accessibility Testing Note

These issues are commonly identified during PDF accessibility testing, where document structure and real-world usability are evaluated using assistive technologies.