What WCAG 1.4.2 Requires
Audio that plays automatically for more than 3 seconds needs a visible way to pause, stop or mute it, since it can drown out screen reader speech.
Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?
Yes. AccessBell's scanner runs axe-core, which includes 1 rule that catch code-level failures of this criterion:
no-autoplay-audio— Ensure <video> or <audio> elements do not autoplay audio for more than 3 seconds without a control mechanism to stop or mute the audio (details (opens in a new tab))
This criterion is included in: WCAG 2.2 AA Checker, WCAG 2.1 AA Checker, ADA Compliance Checker, Section 508 Checker, EN 301 549 Checker.
How to Test It by Hand
Load a page with autoplaying audio and confirm a visible pause or stop control is available immediately.
Common Failures
- A background music or video autoplays with no visible pause button.
Related Criteria in Distinguishable
WCAG 1.4.2 Questions
What does WCAG 1.4.2 require?
Audio that plays automatically for more than 3 seconds needs a visible way to pause, stop or mute it, since it can drown out screen reader speech.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.4.2 automatically?
Yes. AccessBell runs 1 automated rule that can catch failures of this criterion, including in our WCAG 2.2 AA Checker, WCAG 2.1 AA Checker, ADA Compliance Checker, Section 508 Checker, EN 301 549 Checker.
What level is WCAG 1.4.2?
Level A, added in WCAG 2.0.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 1.4.2 Audio Control (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
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