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 a mechanism is available to control audio volume independently from the overall system volume level. (Level A)
Requirements
- Audio content does not start playing automatically, or stops after 3 seconds or less.
- Audio that plays automatically and lasts for more than three seconds, can be easily paused and/or stopped.
Why is it important?
- This ensures that people who listen to content with a screen reader can do so without it being drowned out by the audio.
- Unexpected audio may also distress users with cognitive or sensory sensitivity.
Summary
- If any audio content plays automatically for more than three seconds, give people a way to stop it.
- When audio plays automatically on a page, it should last for less than three seconds or there must be a easy way to pause/stop it.
Common Mistakes
Audio or video plays automatically for more than three seconds, but cannot be paused or stopped by the user.
Design Guide
- Ideally, avoid audio or video content that plays automatically
- If you need to play audio or video content automatically, make sure that it lasts less than 3 seconds
- If you can’t do any of the above, provide a keyboard accessible and clearly-labelled ‘Pause’ button (e.g. ‘Pause video’) at the very beginning of the page/screen.
References
- Providing a control near the beginning of the Web page that turns off sounds that play automatically technique in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- Accessibility Guidelines- Github.io