1.4.2 Audio Control
A mechanism is available to pause, stop, or control the volume of audio that plays automatically for more than 3 seconds.
Last reviewed: September 9, 2026
Understanding 1.4.2
Automatically playing audio can interfere with screen reader users' ability to hear synthesized speech output, since the two audio streams compete for the same channel. It also disorients people with cognitive disabilities and is broadly disruptive in shared or quiet environments. Giving users control prevents autoplaying sound from blocking access to the rest of the page.
How to Meet It
Code Examples
<audio src="background-music.mp3" autoplay loop></audio>
<!-- No way for the user to pause, stop, or mute this --><audio id="bg-audio" src="background-music.mp3" autoplay loop></audio>
<button id="audio-toggle" aria-pressed="false">Pause background audio</button>Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to audio that only plays after the user clicks a play button?
No. This criterion only applies to audio that starts automatically without a user action. If the user has to click "play" first, they already triggered it and typically have access to a native player's pause control.
What counts toward the "3 seconds" threshold?
If autoplaying audio lasts 3 seconds or less, no control is required, since it ends before it can meaningfully interfere with assistive technology. Anything longer, including a short clip that loops continuously, needs a pause/stop/volume mechanism.
Related Success Criteria
Quick Facts
- Criterion1.4.2
- LevelA
- IntroducedWCAG 2.0
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