Compliance · Standard
WCAG 2.2 Level AA checklist
WCAG 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation on 5 October 2023; the current edition is dated 12 December 2024, and it is also published as ISO/IEC 40500:2025. Conforming at Level AA means meeting all 55 Level A and Level AA success criteria below, 6 of which are new in 2.2. The summaries are plain-language paraphrases; the W3C text is the authority.
What changed from 2.1. Six Level A and AA criteria were added (marked new below), plus three at Level AAA: 2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced), 2.4.13 Focus Appearance and 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced).
4.1.1 Parsing is obsolete. WCAG 2.2 removed it. Organisations whose policy still requires WCAG 2.0 or 2.1, such as Section 508, may need to keep testing it.
Level A: 31 criteria
| Criterion | What it asks | Fix guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1 Non-text Content | Images, icons and controls have a text alternative; decorative ones are hidden. | Guideto fixing 1.1.1 Non-text Content |
| 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | Recorded audio has a transcript; silent video has a text or audio alternative. | |
| 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) | Recorded video with sound has captions. | |
| 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) | Recorded video has audio description or a full text alternative. | |
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | Structure shown visually (headings, lists, tables, labels) is in the code too. | Guideto fixing 1.3.1 Info and Relationships |
| 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence | The reading order in the code makes sense. | |
| 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics | Instructions do not rely only on shape, colour, size, position or sound. | |
| 1.4.1 Use of Color | Colour is not the only way information is shown, such as a red error field. | |
| 1.4.2 Audio Control | Audio that plays automatically for more than 3 seconds can be paused or muted. | |
| 2.1.1 Keyboard | Everything works with a keyboard alone. | |
| 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap | Keyboard focus can always move away from any component. | |
| 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts | Single-key shortcuts can be turned off, remapped, or only work on focus. | |
| 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable | Time limits can be turned off, adjusted or extended. | |
| 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide | Moving, blinking or auto-updating content can be paused, stopped or hidden. | |
| 2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold | Nothing flashes more than three times a second. | |
| 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks | There is a way to skip repeated content such as navigation. | Guideto fixing 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks |
| 2.4.2 Page Titled | Each page has a title that describes it. | |
| 2.4.3 Focus Order | Keyboard focus moves in an order that preserves meaning. | |
| 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) | The purpose of each link is clear from its text or context. | Guideto fixing 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) |
| 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures | Multi-point or path gestures have a single-pointer alternative. | |
| 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation | Actions fire on release, or can be aborted or undone. | |
| 2.5.3 Label in Name | A control's accessible name contains its visible label. | Guideto fixing 2.5.3 Label in Name |
| 2.5.4 Motion Actuation | Features triggered by shaking or tilting have a control alternative and can be disabled. | |
| 3.1.1 Language of Page | The page's language is set in the code. | |
| 3.2.1 On Focus | Focusing an element does not trigger a change of context. | |
| 3.2.2 On Input | Changing a setting does not unexpectedly change context. | |
| 3.2.6 Consistent Help new | Help mechanisms repeated across pages appear in the same relative order. | |
| 3.3.1 Error Identification | Input errors are identified and described in text. | |
| 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions | Fields that need input have labels or instructions. | Guideto fixing 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions |
| 3.3.7 Redundant Entry new | Information already entered in a process is not asked for again, or is prefilled. | |
| 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value | Components expose their name, role and state to assistive technology. | Guideto fixing 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value |
Level AA: 24 criteria
| Criterion | What it asks | Fix guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2.4 Captions (Live) | Live video with sound has captions. | |
| 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) | Recorded video has audio description. | |
| 1.3.4 Orientation | Content works in both portrait and landscape. | |
| 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose | Fields about the user carry the right autocomplete purpose. | |
| 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) | Text contrast is at least 4.5:1, or 3:1 for large text. | Guideto fixing 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) |
| 1.4.4 Resize Text | Text can be zoomed to 200% without losing content or function. | |
| 1.4.5 Images of Text | Real text is used instead of images of text where possible. | |
| 1.4.10 Reflow | Content fits a 320-pixel-wide viewport without scrolling in two directions. | |
| 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast | Control borders, focus indicators and meaningful graphics reach 3:1. | |
| 1.4.12 Text Spacing | Nothing breaks when users increase line, letter and word spacing. | |
| 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus | Tooltips and popovers can be dismissed, hovered and stay visible. | |
| 2.4.5 Multiple Ways | There is more than one way to find a page, such as navigation and search. | |
| 2.4.6 Headings and Labels | Headings and labels describe their topic or purpose. | |
| 2.4.7 Focus Visible | Keyboard focus is visible. | |
| 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) new | A focused element is not entirely hidden by sticky headers or banners. | |
| 2.5.7 Dragging Movements new | Anything done by dragging can be done with single clicks or taps. | |
| 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) new | Pointer targets are at least 24 by 24 pixels or spaced apart. | Guideto fixing 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) |
| 3.1.2 Language of Parts | Passages in another language are marked with their language. | |
| 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation | Repeated navigation appears in the same order on each page. | |
| 3.2.4 Consistent Identification | Components with the same function are labelled consistently. | |
| 3.3.3 Error Suggestion | When an error is detected and a fix is known, it is suggested. | |
| 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | Legal, financial and data submissions can be reviewed, corrected or reversed. | |
| 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) new | Signing in does not require a cognitive test such as remembering or transcribing a code, unless help is available. | |
| 4.1.3 Status Messages | Status messages are announced without moving focus. |
Which of these a scanner can check
Some criteria can be measured on every page, such as contrast, missing names, language and target size. Others need a person, such as whether captions are accurate or a focus order preserves meaning. Accessibility Pro reports which criteria its engines evaluated on each scan and marks the rest as not tested, instead of counting them as passes. See the WCAG fix guides for the failures scans find most often, the compliance reporting overview, and the European standard built on these criteria, EN 301 549.
Sources
Checked on 2026-09-13. The one-line summaries are paraphrases for orientation, not the normative text.