WCAG 2.2.5 Re-authenticating
AAA only: if a session expires, the visitor can re-authenticate and continue without losing the data they had entered.
Table of contents
What WCAG 2.2.5 Requires
AAA only: if a session expires, the visitor can re-authenticate and continue without losing the data they had entered.
How to Test It by Hand
Let a session expire mid-form and check whether logging back in restores the in-progress data.
Common Failures
- A long checkout form is entirely cleared after a session timeout, forcing the visitor to start over.
Testing WCAG 2.2.5 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.
Related Criteria in Enough Time
- 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A, WCAG 2.0)
- 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A, WCAG 2.0)
- 2.2.3 No Timing (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 2.2.4 Interruptions (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 2.2.6 Timeouts (Level AAA, WCAG 2.1)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WCAG 2.2.5 require?
AAA only: if a session expires, the visitor can re-authenticate and continue without losing the data they had entered.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 2.2.5 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 2.2.5?
Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 2.2.5 Re-authenticating (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.