WCAG 1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded): What It Means and How to Test It

Anton StewartAuthor Reviewed September 28, 2026 against the W3C Understanding document

What WCAG 1.2.7 Requires

AAA only: when standard audio description cannot fit in the natural pauses of a video, an extended version pauses the video to fit longer descriptions.

Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?

Not fully. Like most WCAG criteria that depend on meaning or context, this one needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it never gets missed.

How to Test It by Hand

For dialogue-dense video, check whether an extended audio-described version is offered.

Common Failures

A fast-paced video only has standard audio description that talks over dialogue or cuts descriptions short.

WCAG 1.2.7 Questions

What does WCAG 1.2.7 require?

AAA only: when standard audio description cannot fit in the natural pauses of a video, an extended version pauses the video to fit longer descriptions.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.2.7 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 1.2.7?

Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.

Sources

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

1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)