Improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker (2024)

In this topic

• Use the Accessibility Checker

• Apply recommended actions

• Don't see the Accessibility Checker?

Use the Accessibility Checker

1. Select the Review tab. InOutlook, you'll only see theReview tabwhen writing or replying to messages.

2. Select Check Accessibility to open theAccessibility pane on the right.

   

   Tip:For Word, Excel, and PowerPoint desktop, select the lower half of theCheck Accessibilitybutton for more options.

3. In the Accessibility pane, review and address the findings under Inspection Results.

Apply recommended actions

In the Accessibility pane, you'll see a list of errorsand warnings, with how-to-fix recommendations for each.

To quickly correct the issues, apply one of the recommended actions. For more information on how the findings arecategorized, seeRules for the Accessibility Checker.

1. In the Accessibility pane, select an issue under Warningsor Errors. The list expands and shows the items and objects affected by the issue.

   Tip:Select the item or object to view the exact location of the affected item or object.

2. To address the issue, select the down arrow button next to it and open Recommended Actions list.

   

3. To apply a fix, selectan action from the Recommended Actionslist. To view more options, select the right arrow button next to an action (if available).

4. Go through andresolve each issue under Warnings and Errors.

Don't see the Accessibility Checker?

If you don't see Check Accessibility on the Review tab, you might have an older version of the app. Follow these steps to open the Accessibility Checker:

1. Select Fileand chooseInfo.

2. Select Check for Issues.

   

3. In the Check for Issues drop-down menu, select Check Accessibility.

   

4. The Accessibility Checker task pane appears next to your content and shows the inspection results.

   

5. Select an issue under Inspection Results to see why and how to fix an issue. This info appears under Additional Information.

   

See also

Check accessibility while you work in Office apps

Everything you need to know to write effective alt text

Use a screen reader with the Accessibility Checker

Make your content accessible to everyone

Make your content accessible to everyone with the Accessibility Checker

Use the Accessibility Checker

1. To launch the Accessibility Checker, do one of the following depending on the app you are using:

   • In Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, select Reviewand chooseCheck Accessibility.

     See Also

     Top 10 Most Asked Accessibility Questions - Lake Superior State University

   • In OneNote, select View and chooseCheck Accessibility.

   • In Outlook, while writing or replying to an email message, select Edit on the toolbar and chooseCheck Accessibility.
     If you don't see the button on the toolbar, you need to add it there manually. Select (See more items) and chooseCustomize toolbar. Then drag and drop the Check Accessibilitybutton to the toolbar.

2. The Accessibility pane opens andissues are organized into Warnings, Errors, and Tips under Inspection Results.

   

   For more information on the categorization, go toRules for the Accessibility Checker.

3. Review and select anissue to seeall affected items and objects.

4. Select an item or object to see why you should fix the issue and steps to take to correct it.

See also

Everything you need to know to write effective alt text

Use a screen reader with the Accessibility Checker

Make your content accessible to everyone

Make your content accessible to everyone with the Accessibility Checker

Use the Accessibility Checker

To check your content for accessibility issues, do one of the following depending on the app you're using:

Microsoft 365 for the webappsexcept Outlook on the web

1. Select the Review tab and chooseCheck Accessibility.

   

2. The Accessibility pane opens to the right of the screen. Choose an optionto view Errors, Warnings, Tips, or Intelligent servicesnear the top of the pane.

   

   For more information on how the findings are categorized, seeRules for the Accessibility Checker.

3. In the chosen category, select the chevron >to expand an accessibility issueto see all items and objects affected by the issue.

4. Select an item or object in the list to highlight the corresponding element,and then fix the issue. Address all issues in the errors and warnings categories.

   

5. When you're done, select Recheck to make sure you didn't miss anything.

Outlook on the web

1. Whenwriting or replying to a message, selectOptions on the toolbar and choose Check accessibility. The Accessibility Checker pane opens.

2. Select Fix this to address an issue. For example, if the Accessibility Checker reportedmissing alt text, selectFix thisto openthe Add alternative text dialog box where you can type the alt text.

   

3. Address all issues andwhen you're done, select Check again to make sure you didn't miss anything.

   

See also

Everything you need to know to write effective alt text

Use a screen reader with the Accessibility Checker

Make your content accessible to everyone

Make your content accessible to everyone with the Accessibility Checker

Make your content accessible in the Microsoft 365 apps