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WCAG 1.4.10 Reflow

Content must reflow to a single column and remain fully usable at a 320px-wide viewport (equivalent to 400% zoom on a standard desktop) without needing to scroll in two directions.

1.4.10 Level AA Added in WCAG 2.1 Needs manual review

Anton StewartAuthor
Reviewed against the W3C Understanding document
Illustration: a high contrast symbol, with WCAG 1.4.10 and Reflow
Table of contents

What WCAG 1.4.10 Requires

Content must reflow to a single column and remain fully usable at a 320px-wide viewport (equivalent to 400% zoom on a standard desktop) without needing to scroll in two directions.

How to Test It by Hand

Resize the browser to 320px wide, or zoom to 400%, and confirm nothing requires horizontal scrolling and all content and functionality remain available.

Common Failures

  • A fixed-width table or layout element forces horizontal scrolling of the entire page at narrow widths.
  • A sidebar and main content sit side by side with no responsive stacking.

Testing WCAG 1.4.10 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 1.4.10 require?

Content must reflow to a single column and remain fully usable at a 320px-wide viewport (equivalent to 400% zoom on a standard desktop) without needing to scroll in two directions.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.4.10 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 1.4.10?

Level AA, added in WCAG 2.1. 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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