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Perceivable · Time-based Media

WCAG 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Prerecorded video needs full audio description, narrating important visual details during natural pauses in the dialogue, not just a text alternative.

1.2.5 Level AA Added in WCAG 2.0 Needs manual review

Anton StewartAuthor
Reviewed against the W3C Understanding document
Illustration: a closed captions symbol, with WCAG 1.2.5 and Audio Description
Table of contents

What WCAG 1.2.5 Requires

Prerecorded video needs full audio description, narrating important visual details during natural pauses in the dialogue, not just a text alternative.

How to Test It by Hand

Play the audio-described version and confirm a narrator describes on-screen actions, text and scene changes during quiet moments.

Common Failures

  • Only a transcript is offered where AA requires an actual audio-described track.
  • The described track exists but skips key visual information, such as on-screen data or charts.

Testing WCAG 1.2.5 With AccessBell

This criterion depends on meaning or context, so it needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it is not missed.

Run a free scan to spot issues on your own pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WCAG 1.2.5 require?

Prerecorded video needs full audio description, narrating important visual details during natural pauses in the dialogue, not just a text alternative.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.2.5 automatically?

Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.

What level is WCAG 1.2.5?

Level AA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AA is the level referenced by the ADA, Section 508 and most accessibility laws.

Sources

This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.

About the Author

Anton StewartAuthor

Contributor, AccessBell

Anton Stewart writes and reviews accessibility guides for the AccessBell blog, checked against the W3C standards and other primary sources.

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