Why is reading order wrong in the first place?

PDFs store text in drawing order, which can differ from reading order, especially in multi-column layouts, text boxes, sidebars and documents from design tools.

Can I see the reading order without Acrobat?

Yes. PAC (free, Windows) shows a screen-reader preview of the tag structure, and NVDA in Acrobat Reader reads the document in tag order.

Guides › How to

How to fix PDF reading order without Adobe Acrobat

Short answer: The most reliable way is to fix the source document (for example in Word, by putting content in the right order and avoiding floating text boxes) and export it again with accessibility tags. If you only have the PDF, re-tag it with an automated remediation tool that rebuilds reading order from the layout, then check the order with PAC's structure preview or by listening with the free NVDA screen reader.

Option 1: Fix the source (best)

In Word:

Put content in the order it should be read; avoid floating text boxes and shapes for text.
Use real columns (Layout › Columns) instead of side-by-side text boxes.
Use heading styles for headings.
Export with File › Save As › PDF, Options › “Document structure tags for accessibility”.

Option 2: Re-tag the PDF automatically

Automated remediation tools analyze the page layout (columns, headings, tables) and rebuild the tag tree in reading order. This works well for documents with standard layouts, including two- and three-column text. Designed layouts with many overlapping boxes are harder; check them.

Option 3: Edit tags with other software

Other PDF editors and accessibility tools can edit tags; they are generally paid. Open-source libraries can edit tag trees, but that requires programming.

How to check the result for free

Open the PDF in PAC and use the screen reader preview to see the tag order.
Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader with NVDA running and press Down Arrow to read line by line.
In a multi-column document, confirm the first column is read completely before the second.
Confirm sidebars and captions are read near the content they belong to, not in the middle of a sentence.

Check a PDF for free to see whether it is tagged at all.

Frequently asked questions

Why is reading order wrong in the first place?: PDFs store text in drawing order, which can differ from reading order, especially in multi-column layouts, text boxes, sidebars and documents from design tools.
Can I see the reading order without Acrobat?: Yes. PAC (free, Windows) shows a screen-reader preview of the tag structure, and NVDA in Acrobat Reader reads the document in tag order.