Set the language of a PDF
A one field change that decides how a screen reader pronounces your document.
A PDF can declare which language it is written in, and screen readers use that to choose a voice and pronunciation. Without it, an English document may be read with the wrong phonetics, and accessibility checkers flag the file. It is a single property, it takes one second to set, and it is the cheapest accessibility improvement available for a document that is otherwise finished.
How to set the language of a PDF
- 1
Open the document
The current language, if it has one, is shown. Most exported PDFs have none.
- 2
Choose the language
Set it to the language the document is actually written in, such as English, Nepali or Hindi.
- 3
Save
Download the document. Nothing else about it changes.
Why an empty language field is common
Almost nothing sets it automatically, so most PDFs in circulation do not declare a language at all. For any document that will be read by the public, a government form, a notice, a report, it is worth the second it takes.
Frequently asked questions
What does this actually do?+
It sets the document language property, which assistive software reads to pick a voice and pronunciation rules, and which accessibility checkers look for.
Does it make my PDF accessible?+
No, it is one requirement among several. A tagged structure, real text rather than a scan, and alternative text on images all matter more. It is still worth doing.
What if the document is in two languages?+
Set the primary language. Per-section language marking requires tagging the content, which is beyond what a metadata editor can do.
Is the file uploaded?+
No, this runs entirely in your browser.