PDF untagged Screen reader compatibility
PDF
Dec 12, 2023
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 48 screen reader / browser combinations
For expected failures, the results show which AT combos the failures affect. Results are recorded from the user's viewpoint, so describe the user impact of authoring errors.
Code used for this test:
<a href='SR_PDF_untagged.pdf'>SR_PDF_untagged.pdf</a>
Change History
Last updated: December 12, 2023
- NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
- NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2017.3 to NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
- JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
- JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 17.0.2007 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
- VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.14 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
- VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 12.4 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions. | Untagged document, heading level 2. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Reads fragments of text, no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Clickable, untagged document. Save as. Best for printing. PDF. Blank. In. Blank. Word which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re. Saving. |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions. | Untagged document, heading level 2. Unlabeled graphic, graphic. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions. | Untagged document, heading level 2. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Reads fragments of text, no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Clickable, untagged document, save as best for printing PDF in Word which saves document as untagged, check. In Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions. | Untagged document, heading level 2. Unlabeled graphic, graphic. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Reads fragments of text, no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Clickable, untagged document, save as best for printing PDF in Word which saves document as untagged, check. In Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Graphic unlabeled, graphic, save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check. In Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Reads fragments of text, no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Clickable, untagged document. Save as. Best for printing. PDF. In. Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re. Saving. |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Graphic unlabeled, graphic. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged. In Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Reads fragments of text, no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Clickable, save as. Best for printing. PDF. In. Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re. Saving. |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged. Check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Reads fragments of text, no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Clickable, save as. Best for printing. PDF. In. Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re. Saving. |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged. Check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged. Check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions and incorrect roles. | Untagged document, heading level 2. Save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, dot unlabeled graphic. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or images. | Untagged document, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Reading | Reads document text fragments and incorrect heading levels, but no image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Unlabeled graphic, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions and incorrect roles. | Untagged document. Save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, dot unlabeled graphic, heading level 2. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or images. | Untagged document, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Reads document text fragments and incorrect heading levels, but no image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Unlabeled graphic, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Reads document text fragments, but no image descriptions and incorrect roles. | Untagged document. Save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, dot unlabeled graphic, heading level 2. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or images. | Untagged document, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Reads document text fragments and incorrect heading levels, but no image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Unlabeled graphic, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, dot unlabeled graphic. |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or images. | Untagged document, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Reads document text and incorrect heading levels, but no image descriptions. | Heading level 2, untagged document. Unlabeled graphic, save as apostrophe best for printing apostrophe PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document, save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Graphic five. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, dot, unlabeled graphic. |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document, save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving, clickable. |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
JAWS 17.0.2007 | IE11 | Reading | Reads document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Graphic five. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Utagged document, Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. Image. Image. |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Image, untagged document, Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. Image |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | 6 items, untagged document, Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat document properties after re-saving. Image |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Only some text read, no indication of document roles or image descriptions | 3 items, untagged document, image |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Only text read, no indication of document roles or image descriptions | 3 items, untagged document, image |
VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari 16.6 | Touch | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, image. |
VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Untagged document. Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, image. |
VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, image. |
VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, image. |
VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Reads partial document text, but no indication of document roles or image descriptions. | Save as best for printing PDF in Word which which saves document as untagged, check in Acrobat. Document properties after re-saving, graphic, unlabeled graphic. |
Test notes
All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.
Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:
- Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
- Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
- Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
- Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device
In the “What the user hears” column:
- Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
- Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
- Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
- (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear