WCAG 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

Success criterion 1.2.1 covers recordings that have only one channel: audio with no picture (a podcast, a voice message, a recorded talk) or video with no sound (an animation, a silent product demo). People who are deaf cannot get the audio, and people who are blind cannot get the video, so each needs an alternative. It is level A and part of EN 301 549 (clause 9.1.2.1).

What the criterion requires

For prerecorded media:

• Audio-only: provide an alternative for time-based media — a text version that presents equivalent information. Usually that is a transcript of what is said, who says it and the meaningful sounds.
• Video-only: provide either an alternative for time-based media (a text description of what happens, in order) or an audio track that presents equivalent information.

Exception: the audio or video is itself a media alternative for text — for example a recording of an article that is already on the page — and is clearly labelled as such.

Video with both sound and picture is not covered here; that is 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and 1.2.5.

Typical failures on an online shop

• a podcast or "listen to the founder" audio clip with no transcript;
• a silent 360° or "how to fold it" video that shows information found nowhere in the text;
• an animated GIF or video with steps of an assembly guide, with no text version;
• a transcript that exists but is behind a login or only available on request.

How to check it

Automated: no automated rule in our checker maps to this criterion. A tool can find audio and video elements, but it cannot know whether they have sound or picture, or whether a transcript says the same thing. This needs a manual check.

By hand: list every audio and video file on the site. For audio-only files, find the transcript and compare it with the recording. For silent videos, read the text description or listen to the audio track and check that nothing shown in the video is missing. Check that the alternative is easy to find next to the media.

How to fix it

• Publish a transcript directly below the player or link to it from the same place.
• Use automatic transcription as a first draft, then correct names, numbers and product terms by hand.
• For silent videos, write the steps as a numbered list next to the video; that also helps SEO and people who skim.
• If a recording only repeats text that is on the page, label it clearly, for example "Audio version of this article".

Related criteria

• 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) — captions for video with sound.
• 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) — the visual part of video with sound.
• 1.1.1 Non-text Content — text alternatives for all non-text content.

Frequently asked questions

Does a podcast on my site need a transcript?

Yes. Prerecorded audio-only content needs a text alternative that presents the same information — in practice a transcript that includes who is speaking and any meaningful sounds.

What about a silent product video?

Prerecorded video-only content needs either a text alternative or an audio track that presents the same information, for example a short text describing what the video shows step by step.

Is a muted background video in the hero covered?

If it carries information, yes. If it is pure decoration, 1.1.1 only asks that it can be ignored by assistive technology; 2.2.2 may still require a way to pause it if it moves for more than 5 seconds.