Can't read any PDF files in Acrobat using VoiceOver on Mac OS

[eric_9578]

Any PDF I open, I navigate to the Document Pane and keep getting the notice "In Document Pane. Content is empty."

When I open the PDFs, I sometimes get the prompt to prepare the file for screen reader and sometimes don't. Neither case makes reading the PDF possible.

Using Acrobat version: Continuous Release | Version 2025.001.20529 | Unified App

Mac OS version: Sequoia 15.5 on a 2024 Macbook Pro

Any ideas? I have to review page proofs for my forthcoming book and the deadline is tight. I usually use Preview, but they insist on Acrobat. So far I am not having fun.

[Tariq Ahmad Dar]

Hi @eric_9578

Thank you for sharing the issue you’re experiencing with Voice-over not reading PDF files in Acrobat on macOS. I understand how important accessibility support is, and I’d like to help troubleshoot this with you.

Behavior Overview

Acrobat on macOS does support macOS’s built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, but certain conditions can impact whether content is read properly, including:

• PDF accessibility structure

• System permissions

• Acrobat and VoiceOver compatibility on the latest macOS versions (especially macOS 14 or later)

Suggested Steps to Resolve:

1. Verify PDF Accessibility Tags

   Open the file in Acrobat and go to:

   • View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > Tags

   • If the document lacks tags, VoiceOver may not be able to interpret the content correctly.

   • You can try running Accessibility > Autotag Document.

2. Check VoiceOver Settings & Permissions

   • Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility

     Ensure Adobe Acrobat is granted permission to control your computer (required for VoiceOver interaction).

   • Also, check that VoiceOver is enabled (Cmd + F5) and functioning with other apps to rule out system-wide issues.

3. Test with Another PDF

   Try opening a known accessible PDF to see if VoiceOver reads it correctly.

   If yes, the issue may be file-specific.

4. Run Accessibility Checker

   In Acrobat Pro:

   Tools > Accessibility > Full Check

   Review any failed checks that could affect screen reader behavior.

If the Issue Persists:

• Please share the following for a deeper investigation:

  • macOS version (e.g., macOS 15.5)

  • Acrobat version (Help > About Adobe Acrobat)

  • Whether the issue occurs with all PDFs or just specific files

~Tariq

[eric_9578]

Thanks, Tariq. I am still having the problem. I allowed Adobe to control the computer in "System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility."This did not fix the problem, although I can now access the "quick Tools" in the Document Pane, so it is no longer completely empty.

I tried with multiple PDFs and had the same problem. I used "Autotag document" on each of them but was still unable to read the documents.

Mac OS version 15.5.

Adobe Acrobat versionContinuous Release | Version 2025.001.20529 | Unified App

Any further ideas?

[S. S]

Hi @eric_9578,

Thanks for the response and the details.

As Tariq mentioned about Accessibility tags, have you checked the Reading Order of the documents, or if they are in place?

Such issues can occur with a missing Reader Order or if you are working more with scanned files, or files involving multiple vector and layer files.

Would you mind sharing one such file with us to test in-house?

This will help us investigate the issue better and get back to you with a concrete resolution.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Souvik.