Use tags to create accessible PDFs

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to use structure tags in Adobe InDesign to turn on screen readers and improve content reflow in exported PDFs.

Applying tags to frames and graphics before exporting to PDF improves accessibility and helps screen readers interpret visual content. You can tag page items and add descriptions to graphics without affecting the document’s appearance.

Apply tags to text frames and graphics

Select View > Structure > Show Structure.

Select Add Untagged Items from the Structure pane menu .

Select Window > Utilities > Tags.

Review the Tags panel to confirm that Story, Figure, and Artifact tags appear in the list.

Select a text frame or graphics frame using the Selection tool.

In the Tags panel, select the appropriate tag for the selected frame.

Verify the tag assignment by checking the Structure pane.

Label graphics for screen reader software

Select Window > Utilities > Tags.

Confirm the graphic is tagged as Figure by selecting it and checking the Tags panel.

Select View > Structure > Show Structure.

In the Structure pane, select the Figure element corresponding to your graphic.

Select New Attribute from the Structure pane menu.

In the Name field, type Alt (case-sensitive).

In the Value field, type the descriptive text that explains the image content or function.

Select OK.

Note

For images that display text as graphics (such as ornate drop caps), type ActualText in the Name field instead of Alt.

Group related items into Article elements

When multiple page items form a cohesive unit, such as a headline, image, and caption that together tell one story, grouping them into an Article element improves navigation and comprehension for screen reader users.

Select View > Structure > Show Structure.

In the Structure pane, select New Element from the panel menu.

Select Window > Utilities > Tags.

Select the Article element from the Tags panel.

Drag individual page elements (such as Story and Figure tags) in the Article element in the Structure pane to create a logical hierarchy.

Right-click the Article element and choose New Attribute.

For Name, type Title (case-sensitive).

For Value, type a descriptive name that identifies the article content.

Select OK.

Article elements create logical groupings that persist across page breaks or column spans. Screen readers announce the article title when users enter the grouped content, providing helpful context about what they're about to read.

When you export to Adobe PDF with Create Tagged PDF selected (File > Export > Adobe PDF (Print)), InDesign includes all tag and attribute information in the PDF structure. You can verify the tags by opening the exported PDF in Acrobat and viewing the Tags panel (View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > Tags).

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