• Success Criterion 2.5.4
  • Conformance level A
  • W3C reference F106

Shake or Tilt Control With No Way to Turn It Off

2.5.4 — Motion Actuation

Scenario

Setting

A streaming music app's search results

What’s wrong

A shake/tilt-controlled feature can't be switched off — users with tremors trigger it accidentally, and users who can't move the device can't use it.

Example 

window.addEventListener('devicemotion', (e) => {
  if (isShakeGesture(e)) shufflePlayback(); // always on, no settings toggle exists
});

Why it matters

Someone who sets their phone down firmly, or has a tremor, triggers a shuffle they never asked for, mid-song.

How to test

Trigger the motion-activated feature (shake, tilt), then check device/app settings for a way to turn it off: if no such setting exists, it fails.

How to fix

Motion-triggered features must ship off by default, or with an easy-to-find toggle that disables them.

if (settings.shakeToShuffle) {
  window.addEventListener('devicemotion', handleShake);
}
<button onclick="settings.shakeToShuffle = false">Turn off shake to shuffle</button>

Outcome

A user with tremor turns the setting off once, and shuffle only happens when they tap it.

Who is affected

People with hand tremor, users who mount phones on treadmills or bike handlebars, and anyone who can't hold a device steady.

Learn more

Related scenarios