WCAG 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Success criterion 1.2.5 makes sure that people who are blind or have low vision can follow recorded videos with sound by hearing what is shown. It is level AA, so it is part of what EN 301 549 and the European Accessibility Act rely on (clause 9.1.2.5).

What the criterion requires

Audio description must be provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media.

Audio description is narration that describes important visual details that the soundtrack does not convey — actions, people, scene changes, on-screen text. In standard audio description it is fitted into existing pauses in the dialogue.

Not required:

• when all important information in the video track is already conveyed in the audio track;
• live video (there is no AA audio-description requirement for live media).

Compared with 1.2.3, the text alternative is no longer an option on its own at AA. Extended audio description, which pauses the video to make room, belongs to level AAA (1.2.7).

Typical failures on an online shop

• tutorial videos where steps are shown silently or with music only;
• product videos with on-screen captions like "Waterproof up to 10 m" that the voice-over never says;
• comparison videos where the presenter points ("this one versus this one") without naming items;
• a descriptive transcript is offered, but no audio-described version.

How to check it

Automated: no automated rule in our checker maps to this criterion. Only a person can decide whether the audio carries all the visual information. This needs a manual check.

By hand: listen to each video with the screen off. Note every point where you lose information. If there are none, the video needs no description. If there are, check that an audio-described version exists (a second audio track, a separate video or a player option) and that it covers those points.

How to fix it

• The cheapest fix is in the script: have the narrator describe the important actions and read on-screen text.
• For existing videos, add a description track or publish an audio-described version beside the original.
• Keep the description short and factual; place it in natural pauses.
• Choose a video player that can switch between audio tracks or link to the described version clearly.

Related criteria

• 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) — the level A version.
• 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) — captions for the same videos.
• WCAG 2.2 checklist — all A and AA criteria.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 1.2.3 and 1.2.5?

1.2.3 (level A) accepts either audio description or a descriptive text alternative. 1.2.5 (level AA) requires audio description, so at AA a text alternative alone is not enough.

Does every video need audio description?

No. If all important visual information is already conveyed in the audio track, no additional audio description is needed. Many talking-head and narrated videos meet this by design.

What is extended audio description?

Description added by pausing the video when the natural pauses are too short. It is a level AAA requirement (1.2.7); 1.2.5 does not require it.