How to Fix “Primary Language Not Specified” in PDF Metadata

If Adobe Acrobat’s Accessibility Checker reports “Primary language not specified,” the PDF does not have a document-level language defined. The fix is usually straightforward: open the PDF’s Document Properties, go to Advanced > Reading Options, select the correct primary language, and save the file. For PDFs created from Word, InDesign, or other authoring software, it is also important to set the source document’s language before exporting and then verify the resulting PDF.

This issue matters because assistive technologies such as screen readers use the document language to determine how text should be pronounced and interpreted. A properly tagged PDF can still have accessibility problems if its primary language is missing.

Direct answer: To fix “Primary language not specified” in a PDF, open the document in Adobe Acrobat, select File > Properties > Advanced, find Reading Options, choose the appropriate language from the Language field, and save the PDF. Then rerun Acrobat’s Accessibility Checker to confirm that the error has been resolved.

Definition Box: What Does “Primary Language” Mean in a PDF?

Primary language is the language assigned to the PDF document as a whole. In the PDF structure, this information is associated with the document catalog’s language setting and can be used by assistive technologies to interpret the document correctly.

For example, an English PDF should normally have its document language set to English, while a Spanish document should use Spanish. A document can also contain passages in other languages, which may require additional language information at the appropriate text or structure level.

Why Does Adobe Acrobat Say “Primary Language Not Specified”?

The warning appears when Acrobat’s accessibility checking process cannot find a language definition for the PDF document.

This does not necessarily mean that the PDF’s visible text has a language problem. The content may be entirely written in English while the PDF itself simply lacks the document-level language setting.

The distinction is important:

• Document language: The default language for the PDF.
• Text language: The language of particular content or passages.
• Metadata: Information such as title, author, subject, keywords, creator, and dates.
• Accessibility tags: Structural information that helps assistive technologies understand headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and other content.

The “Primary language not specified” warning is primarily about the document-level language setting, rather than the PDF’s ordinary title or keyword metadata.

How to Fix “Primary Language Not Specified” in Adobe Acrobat

The quickest solution is to set the document language directly in Acrobat.

Step 1: Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat

Open the affected PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro or the Acrobat application that provides document properties and accessibility tools.

If the PDF is already open, you do not need to recreate it.

Step 2: Open Document Properties

From the menu, select:

File → Properties

Depending on your Acrobat version or interface, the exact location of Document Properties may vary slightly.

Step 3: Open the Advanced Tab

In the Document Properties window, select:

Advanced

Look for the Reading Options section.

Step 4: Select the Document Language

Find the Language dropdown field.

Choose the appropriate language for the document, such as:

• English
• English (United States)
• English (United Kingdom)
• Spanish
• French
• German
• Arabic
• Other available language options

Select the language that represents the PDF’s primary content.

Step 5: Save the PDF

Click OK, then save the document.

Use Save As if you want to preserve an original copy before making accessibility changes.

Step 6: Run the Accessibility Checker Again

Open Acrobat’s Accessibility tools and run the accessibility check again.

If the document language was the only problem, the Primary language check should now pass.

What Should the Language Setting Look Like?

A simplified workflow looks like this:

PDF → File → Properties → Advanced → Reading Options → Language → Select Language → Save → Accessibility Check

The important point is that changing the PDF’s visible text is not required simply to fix this warning. You are defining the language of the document so accessibility software knows which language to expect

How to Fix the Error When the PDF Was Created in Microsoft Word

If the PDF repeatedly loses its language information after being exported, fixing the PDF manually may only address the symptom.

The better approach is to check the source Word document.

In Microsoft Word:

1. Open the original document.
2. Select the content or the entire document.
3. Open the Review tab.
4. Find the language settings.
5. Select Language → Set Proofing Language.
6. Choose the correct language.
7. Save the Word document.
8. Export it to PDF using an accessibility-friendly workflow.
9. Open the resulting PDF in Acrobat.
10. Check the document language and run an accessibility test.

The exact Word interface can vary between Microsoft 365 and desktop versions.

Important distinction

Setting the proofing language in Word and setting the PDF’s document language are related but are not always equivalent.

A source document can have the correct language while the exported PDF still requires verification. Always inspect the final PDF rather than assuming the export preserved every accessibility property.

Can You Fix the Error in Acrobat Without Recreating the PDF?

Yes. If the PDF’s content and tagging are otherwise correct, you can normally set the document language directly in Acrobat’s Document Properties.

You do not need to rebuild the entire PDF simply because the primary language was omitted.

However, if you are producing PDFs at scale, fixing the source workflow is preferable. Otherwise, every exported document may require the same manual correction.

Primary Language vs. Text Language: What’s the Difference?

A PDF may contain multiple languages, so document-level language settings should not be confused with language changes within the content.

Setting	Purpose	Example
Primary document language	Defines the default language	English
Passage/text language	Identifies content in another language	French quotation
PDF tags	Defines document structure	Heading, paragraph, list
Document metadata	Describes the file	Title, author, subject
Reading order	Determines how content is presented	Heading → paragraph → image

For example, an English report may contain a French quotation. The PDF can have English as its primary language while the French quotation is identified separately where appropriate.

Why Is the Primary Language Important for PDF Accessibility?

The language setting can affect how assistive technologies process and pronounce text.

Screen readers may use language information to select appropriate pronunciation rules. Without a document language, the software may have less information about how the content should be interpreted.

This is especially important for:

• Government documents
• Legal PDFs
• Healthcare documents
• Educational materials
• Financial reports
• Corporate policies
• Public-facing forms
• Accessible ebooks and publications

Setting the primary language is therefore more than simply making an accessibility checker turn green. It contributes to a more predictable experience for users of assistive technology.

Is “Primary Language Not Specified” an ADA Violation?

The warning itself should not automatically be described as an ADA violation.

Accessibility obligations depend on the organization, jurisdiction, applicable law, contract requirements, and the type of document or service involved.

However, language identification is an established accessibility requirement. WCAG Success Criterion 3.1.1, Language of Page, requires the human language of a Web page to be programmatically determinable. PDF accessibility standards and techniques also address language identification for PDF documents.

If a PDF is being prepared for a formal accessibility compliance program, evaluate the complete document rather than fixing one checker warning in isolation.

How Does PDF/UA Relate to Document Language?

PDF/UA is an accessibility standard for PDF documents. It establishes requirements intended to make PDF files usable with assistive technologies.

Document language is one component of a broader accessible-PDF workflow.

A PDF/UA-oriented review should consider:

• Document language
• Logical structure
• Tags
• Heading hierarchy
• Reading order
• Alternative text
• Table structure
• Form fields
• Keyboard accessibility
• Navigation
• Unicode mapping
• Appropriate metadata

A PDF can pass one accessibility check while still containing other accessibility problems.

What If Acrobat Still Reports the Error After Setting the Language?

If the warning remains after selecting a language, check the following.

1. Make sure the PDF was actually saved

Changing a document property without saving the file will not permanently update the document.

2. Reopen the PDF

Close the document and reopen the saved copy. Then inspect Document Properties again.

3. Run the checker on the saved version

Make sure Acrobat is checking the final file rather than an earlier copy.

4. Check whether the PDF was regenerated

Some document-management systems, printers, converters, or automated workflows may create a new PDF and remove properties from the original.

5. Inspect the source file

If the PDF is generated automatically, fix the source or conversion process rather than repeatedly editing individual PDFs.

6. Check for other accessibility problems

A language error may disappear while other failures remain. Review the complete accessibility report.

How to Prevent the Error in Future PDFs

The most efficient solution is to build language identification into the document-production workflow.

Use this checklist before publishing:

Set the source document’s language.

Use an accessibility-aware PDF export process.

Open the final PDF in Acrobat.

Confirm the document language.

Verify PDF tags.

Check heading structure.

Review reading order.

Add meaningful alternative text to informative images.

Check tables and form fields.

Run Acrobat Accessibility Checker.

Manually review important accessibility features.

For organizations producing hundreds or thousands of PDFs, automated accessibility testing can help identify recurring problems before publication.

Does Changing PDF Metadata Fix the Language Error?

Not necessarily.

This is a common source of confusion because PDF metadata and the document language setting are different concepts.

Standard document metadata can include fields such as:

• Title
• Author
• Subject
• Keywords
• Creator
• Producer
• Creation date
• Modification date

The document’s language is associated with the PDF’s language information and accessibility structure rather than simply being another ordinary keyword or title field.

Therefore, adding “English” to the Keywords field does not reliably fix a “Primary language not specified” accessibility error.

A Practical PDF Accessibility Repair Workflow

If you are fixing a PDF for accessibility compliance, use this sequence rather than addressing errors randomly.

Phase 1: Identify

Run an accessibility check and record all failures.

Phase 2: Fix document-level properties

Correct:

• Primary language
• Document title
• Metadata
• Security settings where applicable

Phase 3: Fix structural accessibility

Review:

• Tags
• Headings
• Paragraphs
• Lists
• Tables
• Reading order

Phase 4: Fix non-text content

Review:

• Alternative text
• Decorative images
• Charts
• Logos
• Complex graphics

Phase 5: Validate

Run the accessibility checker again and manually inspect the document with accessibility considerations in mind.

This workflow is more reliable than repeatedly fixing individual checker warnings without understanding the underlying PDF structure.

Common Mistakes When Fixing PDF Language

Mistake 1: Adding the language to Keywords

Writing “English” in the Keywords metadata field does not establish the document’s primary language.

Mistake 2: Assuming Word’s language is always preserved

Exporting from Word does not guarantee that every accessibility property will appear correctly in the final PDF.

Mistake 3: Fixing only the first checker error

A passing language check does not mean the PDF is fully accessible.

Mistake 4: Using the wrong language

If the document is primarily written in British English, American English, Arabic, or another language, select the appropriate language rather than choosing a generic option without consideration.

Mistake 5: Forgetting mixed-language content

A document can have one primary language while containing passages that use another language. Those passages may require separate language identification.

Quick Before-and-After Checklist

Before Fix	After Fix
Primary language unspecified	Correct document language selected
Accessibility checker reports language issue	Language check can pass
Screen reader has less language information	Assistive technology receives language information
“English” added only to keywords	Actual document language property configured
Source workflow may repeatedly create the issue	Source and PDF workflow verified

Frequently Asked Questions