Issue with Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word not flagging contrast error

Chulumanco Makeleni 0 Reputation points
2026-09-12T18:53:09.2366667+00:00

I am working on a document in Microsoft Word and using the Accessibility Checker to ensure it is accessible to all learners. However, the tool does not seem to flag issues related to color contrast between text and background.

Steps I’ve tried:

Ran the Accessibility Checker multiple times.

Adjusted text colors manually.

Verified that High Contrast Mode works correctly in Windows.

Expected outcome: The Accessibility Checker should identify contrast issues so I can correct them.

Actual outcome: No contrast errors are flagged, even when text is clearly hard to read.

Question: How can I ensure that the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word properly detects color contrast issues, or is there another Microsoft tool I should use for this purpose? Moderator moved from Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For education | Other

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For education | Other
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  1. Ryan-N 15,905 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-12T19:27:38.8533333+00:00

    Hi Chulumanco,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    Based on your description, the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word does not detect color contrast issues.

    According to Microsoft documentation, Accessibility Checker can identify certain issues related to color and contrast to help improve the accessibility of documents.

    However, in some cases, this tool may not detect all instances of low color contrast. Therefore, Microsoft recommends that you manually review your document to identify any issues that may have been overlooked by the Accessibility Checker.

    User's image

    You can refer to the following documentation: Rules for the Accessibility Checker | Microsoft Support

    Additionally, you may share this experience through the Feedback feature in Word. Doing so will help the product team better understand customer needs and may lead to future improvements that enhance the overall user experience.

     User's image

    If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.

    I look forward to continuing the conversation.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes" and kindly upvote it.

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