PDF documents contain only images of text on Shopify
What this is
3 PDF documents have no readable text, usually because they are scans or photos of paper pages. Screen readers have nothing to read, and the text cannot be enlarged, searched or copied.
Who it affects
- Screen reader users
- People with low vision
- People with cognitive disabilities
Standards
How to fix it
- If the original digital file exists, export the PDF from it instead of scanning a print-out.
- Otherwise run text recognition (OCR, for example in Acrobat or a free OCR tool) so the pages get a real text layer, then proofread the result.
- Tag the result (see the "not tagged" fix) and replace the file on your site. Offer the content as a web page where you can.
On Shopify
Fix the PDF in the program it was made with (Word, Google Docs, InDesign): turn on the accessibility options when exporting ("Tagged PDF" / "Create accessible PDF"), set the document title and language in the file properties, then export again. Upload the new file under Settings → Files and update every link or button that points to the old one.
Other platforms
Prompt for an AI coding tool
Scan your site with AccessibilityBrief and you get a ready-to-use prompt for this problem, with the exact elements on your pages filled in.
Check your own website
Paste a web address. The free scan checks one page and shows what it finds.
More fixes
Automated testing detects only a portion of WCAG issues. Manual testing is required to assess full conformance.