no-autoplay-audio
Web validation
Audio that starts on its own can drown out screen reader speech and distract many people, especially those who are blind, have low vision, or process information slowly. Keep any autoplaying sound under three seconds, or provide a clear control to pause, stop, or mute it. Then people can perceive the page and hear assistive technology without hunting for a volume control.
Pass Patterns
Audio that waits for the user
The track plays only when the user activates the control, so nothing competes with assistive technology.
<audio controls>
<source src="intro.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
Your browser does not support the audio element.
</audio>Muted, short autoplay clip
The clip is muted and ends in under three seconds, so it does not add competing sound.
<video autoplay muted playsinline>
<source src="logo-sting.webm" type="video/webm">
</video>Fail Patterns
Hidden autoplay with no control
The audio autoplays with sound and offers no way to stop or mute it.
<audio autoplay src="background-music.mp3"></audio>Looping video with sound
The video autoplays, loops with sound, and provides no control to stop it.
<video autoplay loop>
<source src="demo.mp4" type="video/mp4">
</video>WCAG techniques
Sufficient techniques
- G60: Playing a sound that turns off automatically within three seconds
- G170: Providing a control near the beginning of the web page that turns off sounds that play automatically
- G171: Playing sounds only on user request
Failure techniques
- F23: Failure of 1.4.2 due to playing a sound longer than 3 seconds where there is no mechanism to turn it off
- F93: Failure of Success Criterion 1.4.2 for absence of a way to pause or stop an HTML5 media element that autoplays
ACT Rules
Try It Yourself
Using a screen reader
New to screen reader testing, or need a refresher?
Review this article first: Practical guides for using screen readers
- Turn on your screen reader.
- Load the page.
- Try to navigate to the first heading.
Expected results: The screen reader speech is clear, or you can immediately silence the audio.
Actual results: The autoplaying track overpowers the screen reader, making navigation difficult.
Inspecting the browser dev-tools
- Open the Elements panel in your browser's dev tools.
- Search for
<audio>or<video>elements with theautoplayattribute. - Check whether they are muted or include a
controlsattribute or a scripted control.
Expected results: Autoplay is absent or muted, or a visible control is present.
Actual results: Autoplay is set with sound and no accompanying control.
FAQ
How does this issue relate to 1.4.2 Audio Control?
SC 1.4.2 requires a way to pause, stop, or adjust the volume when sound plays automatically for more than three seconds. This validation checks that such a control exists, or that autoplay stays under three seconds, so users can still hear on-screen content and assistive technology.
Why is this issue marked as Moderate?
Autoplaying audio rarely blocks access entirely, but it can badly disrupt people who use screen readers or who process auditory information slowly. The barrier is situational yet broadly impactful and usually simple to fix, so it is rated moderate.
Standards and Regulations
| Standard | Success Criterion | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.2 | 1.4.2 Audio Control (A) | If any audio on a web page plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, either a mechanism is available to pause or stop the audio, or to control its volume independently from the overall system volume. |
| EN 301 549 | 9.1.4.2 Audio Control | Same as the WCAG text. |
| 508 Trusted Tester | 1.4.2-audio-control, 2.A | The user can pause, stop, or control the volume of audio content that plays automatically. |