PowerPoint Accessibility Report: How to Fix Reading Order Issues

When you run the Accessibility Checker in PowerPoint, it may flag a slide with a reading order issue. This warning means a screen reader will not read the slide content in the logical sequence you intended. The problem occurs because PowerPoint reads objects in the order they were added to the slide, not by their visual position. This article explains why the reading order breaks and shows you how to fix it using the Selection Pane and the Accessibility Checker.

Why PowerPoint Flags Reading Order Issues

PowerPoint does not store slide content in a visual left-to-right or top-to-bottom sequence. Instead, the program stores each object — text boxes, images, shapes, charts, and tables — in a stack based on when you inserted it. The first object you place on a slide is at the bottom of the stack. The most recent object sits at the top. Screen readers and other assistive technologies read this stack from bottom to top. If you added a title after an image, the title will be read after the image. This reversal confuses users who rely on screen readers.

The Accessibility Checker scans each slide and compares the visual layout to the object stack. When the stack order does not match the logical reading sequence, the checker flags it as a reading order issue. The fix is straightforward: you must reorder the objects so that the stack reads from top to bottom in the same order a sighted user would scan the slide.

Steps to Fix Reading Order in the Selection Pane

1. Open the Selection Pane
   Go to the Home tab. In the Editing group, click Select and then click Selection Pane. The pane opens on the right side of the PowerPoint window. It lists every object on the current slide in the order they were added. The object at the top of the list is the last object added and will be read last by a screen reader.
2. Identify the correct reading order
   Look at the slide and decide the logical sequence. For most slides, the order should be: title, subtitle, body text, then images or shapes. If your slide has a table or chart, place it after any text that explains it.
3. Drag objects to reorder them
   In the Selection Pane, click an object and drag it up or down. The object at the bottom of the list is read first. The object at the top is read last. So if you want the title to be read first, drag it to the bottom of the list. Drag the image to the top of the list if it should be read last.
4. Repeat for each slide with issues
   Click each slide in the thumbnail pane on the left. The Selection Pane updates to show objects on that slide. Reorder them as needed.
5. Re-run the Accessibility Checker
   Go to File > Info. Click Check for Issues and then Check Accessibility. The report will update. If no reading order issues remain, the warning disappears.

Using the Reading Order Pane Instead

PowerPoint 365 and PowerPoint 2021 include a dedicated Reading Order Pane. Go to the Review tab. Click Check Accessibility. In the pane that opens, click Reading Order Pane at the bottom. This pane works like the Selection Pane but shows only objects that affect accessibility. It also displays a visual indicator of each object’s reading position. Drag objects here in the same way.

When the Accessibility Checker Still Reports Reading Order Problems

PowerPoint Shows a Reading Order Warning After Reordering

If you reordered objects in the Selection Pane but the warning persists, check for hidden or overlapping objects. A hidden object — one with its visibility toggled off in the Selection Pane — can still break reading order. Click the eye icon next to each object in the Selection Pane to reveal hidden items. Delete any invisible text boxes or shapes that are not needed.

Screen Reader Reads Content in the Wrong Order Despite Fixing the Pane

Some objects, such as grouped shapes or SmartArt, contain multiple sub-elements. The Selection Pane shows the group as one object, but the screen reader may read the sub-elements in their own internal order. Ungroup the object by selecting it and pressing Ctrl+Shift+G. Then reorder the individual pieces in the Selection Pane.

Reading Order Is Correct but the Accessibility Checker Flags It as a Warning

If the logical order is correct but the checker still reports a warning, the issue may be a decorative element. Images marked as decorative do not need to be in the reading order. Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, click Alt Text, and check the box that says Mark as decorative. The Accessibility Checker will ignore that object.

PowerPoint Selection Pane vs Reading Order Pane: Accessibility Fix Methods

Item	Selection Pane	Reading Order Pane
Location	Home > Select > Selection Pane	Review > Check Accessibility > Reading Order Pane
Shows hidden objects	Yes, with visibility toggle	No, only visible objects
Drag reorder	Yes, drag up or down	Yes, drag up or down
Shows object type	Generic name (Rectangle 3)	Descriptive name (Title 1, Picture 2)
Best for	Finding and removing hidden objects	Quickly fixing reading order violations reported by the checker

You can now fix reading order issues in any PowerPoint presentation using the Selection Pane or the Reading Order Pane. Run the Accessibility Checker after each change to confirm the warning clears. For slides with complex layouts, ungroup SmartArt and tables before reordering. Use the Mark as decorative option for images that do not convey meaning. This workflow keeps your presentations accessible to all users.