- Success Criterion 1.4.2
- Conformance level A
- W3C reference F93
Autoplaying Video or Audio With No Way to Pause It
1.4.2 — Audio Control
Scenario
Setting
A video streaming service's show detail page
What’s wrong
An HTML5 video/audio autoplays and the page gives no way to pause or stop it.
Example
<audio src="intro.mp3" autoplay></audio>Why it matters
Screen-reader users competing with page audio, and people with auditory sensitivity.
How to test
Load a page with an HTML5 audio/video element that autoplays: check whether native or custom controls let you pause it immediately.
How to fix
Do not autoplay media with sound, or render controls / a pause button the user can reach immediately.
<audio src="intro.mp3" autoplay controls></audio>Autoplaying audio past 3 seconds needs a visible, reachable way to pause, stop, or lower its volume.
Outcome
On a video streaming service's show detail page, this barrier is gone for screen-reader users competing with page audio — they get the same result as anyone else here.
Who is affected
Screen-reader users competing with page audio, and people with auditory sensitivity.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
- Technique Related technique (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Page Audio That Autoplays Past 3 Seconds With No Control
- Background Music That Autostarts With No Visible Player
- Autoplaying Hero Video With Sound and No Pause Button
- Embedded Ad or Carousel iframe That Starts Playing Audio
- Audio That Starts on a Single-Page-App Route Change
- Looping Notification Sound With No Way to Turn It Off