How to Set the Title and Language of a PDF
Two of the easiest accessibility requirements to meet are also two of the most commonly missed: setting a meaningful document title and declaring the document language. Neither takes more than a minute, and both directly affect screen reader users.
Why the title matters
By default, many PDFs show their file name in the reader title bar — something like "final_v3_print.pdf". A screen reader announces that title when the document opens, and users rely on it to tell documents apart. A real, descriptive title is required by both PDF/UA and WCAG.
Set the title (and show it)
- 1In Acrobat, open File > Properties > Description and enter a meaningful Title.
- 2Switch to the Initial View tab and set "Show" to "Document Title" so the title, not the file name, is displayed.
- 3In Word or InDesign, set the title in the document info before exporting.
Why the language matters
A screen reader uses the declared language to choose pronunciation rules. Without it, an English document might be read with the wrong rules, and a multilingual document becomes hard to follow. Set the primary language for the whole document, and mark any passages in another language.
- 1In Acrobat, set the language in File > Properties > Advanced > Reading Options > Language.
- 2In the source application, set the document language before export so it carries over.
These two settings are quick wins — clear them first on any document before tackling tags and tables.
A free check on this site flags a missing title or language immediately.