Why is "skipping levels" an issue?

Screen readers use heading levels for navigation. A skip from H2 to H4 means the screen-reader user gets confused about whether they are still in a section or have entered a new subsection.

PDF Heading Structure Audit

Walk a tagged PDF's structure tree, list every heading (H1–H6) in document order, and flag broken hierarchy (skipped levels, multiple H1s, missing H1).

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1. Upload your file

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How does the PDF Heading Structure Audit work?

Walk a tagged PDF's structure tree (/StructTreeRoot → /K) and produce a Markdown report of every heading (H1–H6) in document order, plus issues against WCAG 2.2 SC 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and PDF/UA-1 §7.1 (Headings). Issues flagged: no H1, multiple H1s, first heading not at H1, skipped levels (e.g. H2 → H4). Useful before publishing accessibility-mandated documents (government, education, healthcare) — gives you a deterministic check the structure tree itself supports the implied outline.

🔒 Security & Privacy

All processing happens on your device. Your files never leave your browser, never touch our servers, and are not stored anywhere. Close the tab and the file is gone.

📱 Use it on any device

Works in any modern browser — Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, and tablets. No installation, no app to download. Just open the page and start.

⚡ Quick & easy

Drag, drop, click. Most files process in seconds, not minutes. No watermarks added to your output, no per-day limits, and the tool always shows the result before asking you to download.

🎁 Always free, no signup

Free to use, every time. No account creation, no email required, no “trial” that converts to a paid plan. We make money from ads so you don’t have to pay.

Frequently asked

Check that the document's style mapping during export targeted PDF heading tags (H1, H2, …) rather than just visual style. Some PDF generators use Span tags for visual headings without semantic role; this tool only reports proper /H1–/H6 elements.