WCAG 1.2.2: Captions (Prerecorded)
Level AQuick answer: Recorded videos with speech need synchronized captions so shoppers can follow demos, reviews, and ads without hearing audio.
What This Means
On ecommerce sites, Captions (Prerecorded) usually shows up in repeating storefront components such as product cards, PDP media, search results, cart drawers, checkout forms, and support content. If the live experience depends on patterns like product demo videos explain sizing and materials only through spoken narration. or ugc testimonial reels embedded on pdps have no captions., disabled shoppers can lose context or get blocked before purchase.
This criterion matters because D2C teams often fix the homepage but miss reusable app blocks, campaign pages, and mobile-specific UI. The practical standard is simple: build the same outcome for keyboard users, screen-reader users, low-vision users, and anyone relying on captions, labels, structure, or predictable behavior.
For Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom storefronts, the fastest remediation path is usually template-level work. Fix the repeated component once, then retest every place it appears across browse, buy, and post-purchase journeys.
Common Violations on Ecommerce Sites
- Product demo videos explain sizing and materials only through spoken narration.
- UGC testimonial reels embedded on PDPs have no captions.
- How-to videos for assembly or setup rely on voiceover alone.
- Brand story videos use auto-generated captions full of product-name errors.
How to Fix It
Start with the live customer journey, not isolated components in Storybook or Figma. Audit the problem on category pages, product detail pages, quick views, cart, checkout, account, and help templates.
- Add accurate closed captions for all prerecorded speech, not just major campaigns.
- Review auto-caption output for SKU names, colors, and shipping terms.
- Burning captions into video is fine for visibility, but keep them readable and synchronized.
- Include speaker changes and key non-speech audio when it affects understanding.
On Shopify, fix the theme section or app block that repeats the defect. On WooCommerce and WordPress, update the template override or plugin output. In custom React or headless storefronts, move the fix into shared components so merchandisers cannot reintroduce the issue with every campaign.
Code Example
<!-- Before -->
<video controls src="demo.mp4"></video>
<!-- After -->
<video controls src="demo.mp4">
<track kind="captions" src="demo.en.vtt" srclang="en" label="English" default>
</video>FAQ
What is WCAG 1.2.2?
Recorded videos with speech need synchronized captions so shoppers can follow demos, reviews, and ads without hearing audio.
How does WCAG 1.2.2 affect ecommerce sites?
It affects ecommerce anywhere shoppers interact with product demo videos explain sizing and materials only through spoken narration. and ugc testimonial reels embedded on pdps have no captions. If those patterns are inaccessible, customers can miss product information, fail forms, or abandon checkout.
How to fix WCAG 1.2.2 violations?
Start by auditing the live storefront, then Add accurate closed captions for all prerecorded speech, not just major campaigns.; Review auto-caption output for SKU names, colors, and shipping terms.; Burning captions into video is fine for visibility, but keep them readable and synchronized.. Prioritize templates and apps that repeat the issue across product, cart, checkout, and account pages.
Check if your store passes WCAG 1.2.2 → Free ADA Compliance Scan