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Stop checking to ensure heading styles do not skip style level

Verified with Microsoft 365/Office 5568.1000 — updated on September 4, 2026

Microsoft 365/Office 5568.1000

Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Path in the GPO console

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Word 2016\File Tab\Check Accessibility

Description

This policy setting prevents the Accessibility Checker from checking to ensure that headings in a document are used in order. If you enable this policy setting, the Accessibility Checker will be prevented from checking to ensure that headings in a document are used in order. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the ordering of headings in a document will be checked and any issues will appear in the Accessibility Checker.

Registry

HKCU software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\accchecker

Value name: headingorder

Enabled: headingorder = 0

Disabled: headingorder = 1

Export Builder

BETA

Configure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.

These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO.

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Stop checking to ensure heading styles do not skip style level
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\accchecker]
"headingorder"=dword:00000000
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Stop checking to ensure heading styles do not skip style level
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.

$path = 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\accchecker'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'headingorder' -Value 0 -Type DWord

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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