Next step:
Check PDF Accessibility Privately
Run a practical browser-local inspection before a full manual accessibility review, without uploading your PDF.
Free No sign-up Runs in your browser Updated
Check a PDF privately
The file stays on your device. This quick check looks for selected document properties, tagged structure, possible scan pages, bookmarks and form labels.
Accessibility pre-check
pagesChoose a PDF to see the checks that pass, items needing attention and important manual review tasks.
Passed
Attention
Manual
This is a limited pre-check, not WCAG or PDF/UA certification. A passing item only confirms that a detectable feature exists. Manual review with keyboard navigation, assistive technology and the original source is still required.
Find common PDF accessibility gaps early
PDF Accessibility Checker performs a limited technical pre-check before formal testing or remediation. It looks for a document title and language, tagged structure, the setting that displays the title, possible image-only pages, apparently blank pages, bookmarks in longer files and tooltip labels on interactive form fields.
Private browser-local inspection
Your selected PDF is read in browser memory and is not uploaded to FigureOwl. This makes the checker suitable for an early review of internal documents, but you should still follow your organization's handling rules for confidential files.
Use the findings as a checklist, not a score
A detected tag tree does not prove that tags are correct. A tooltip does not prove that a form field has the best accessible name. The report deliberately separates detectable signals from tasks that require human judgment, rather than presenting a misleading accessibility score.
Check scanned pages and selectable text
A page containing images but no selectable wording is flagged as a possible scan. Run OCR when appropriate, then verify names, numbers, punctuation, language and reading order against the original. OCR adds text but does not automatically create a correctly tagged document.
Review structure with assistive technology
Headings, lists, tables, figures and paragraphs need meaningful tag types and a sensible reading order. Test keyboard navigation and a screen reader, inspect heading hierarchy, confirm table headers and associations, and make sure decorative and informative images are treated appropriately.
Check links, forms, color and contrast manually
Link purpose, field instructions, validation messages, focus order, color-only meaning and contrast cannot be judged reliably by this browser check. Review these items in context and test the finished PDF with the software and assistive technology used by your audience.
Export a useful review record
Download the findings as JSON for a remediation note or QA record. The export includes the detected results, suggested next steps and a reminder that the result is not WCAG or PDF/UA certification.
Frequently asked questions
No. A pass only confirms that a detectable feature exists. Its accuracy, meaning, order and usability still require manual review.
No. It is a limited automated pre-check, not a conformance audit or certification service.
It checks selected document properties, tagged-structure signals, possible image-only or blank pages, bookmarks in longer files and tooltip labels on interactive form fields.
The page appears to contain an image but no selectable text. It may need OCR, followed by careful verification and tagging.
No. It identifies those as manual-review tasks because meaningful order and useful alternative text depend on context.
Bookmarks are particularly useful for navigation in longer documents. The quick check uses 20 pages as a practical review prompt, not a universal legal threshold.
No. Supported inspection runs locally in your browser and the selected PDF is not uploaded to FigureOwl.
Correct the flagged items, inspect the tag tree, test keyboard navigation and screen-reader use, and review against the accessibility standard that applies to your document.