How to Add Alternate Text to Images in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Today’s post walks through three ways to add alt text in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and introduces DocAcess – a tool that can automate the process for large volumes of documents.

Video Guide

Method 1: Via the All tools menu

Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and open the PDF that contains images. Make sure you have the correct permissions to edit the file.

To begin:

1. Click on “All Tools” from the main menu.
2. Select “Prepare for Accessibility.”
3. Click “Add Alternate Text.”

Acrobat will scan the document for images and display those that need alternate text. Enter alt text in the dialog box. Mark images as decorative if they do not convey meaningful information, as screen readers will skip them.

If your document shows no tags, run the Adobe Acrobat auto-tagger. Tags help Acrobat recognize structure, such as headings, paragraphs, lists, and images.

This step adds a basic structure to your PDF that allows Adobe Acrobat to identify images.

Method 2: Via the Tags Panel

You can manually add or edit alt text for greater precision.

To do this:

1. Open the Tags Panel.
2. Expand the tag tree to locate a <Figure> tag.
3. Right-click the figure and select “Properties.”
4. Enter or edit the alternate text in the properties dialog box.

Method 3: Preload Alt Text from Source File

If you add alternate text in a source file like Microsoft Word before converting it to PDF, Adobe Acrobat often retains this information. This approach saves time and helps maintain consistent accessibility across documents.

Bonus: Automate Accessibility with Doc Access

If you need to handle a large number of files, manual editing may not be practical. Doc Access provides a cloud-based platform for automating PDF accessibility. DocAccess automatically generates alt text for images in your PDF files!

Doc Access also allows you to:

• Preview documents in PDF or fully accessible HTML formats
• Fill out, sign, and check forms in the browser
• Ask questions and get instant AI-generated summaries
• Translate content into over 150 languages
• Access free live support via AIRA visual interpreters
• Download files as PDF or HTML for easy sharing or storage

Doc Access is ideal for teams or organizations that work with large batches of content.

Making PDFs accessible helps you meet legal requirements and promotes inclusivity. Whether you prefer using Adobe Acrobat manually or streamlining the process with Doc Access, both tools empower you to create content that serves all users.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!