Goal
Ensure people who cannot hear audio or see video can access the same information.
Success Criterion · WCAG 1.2.1
Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, an alternative for time-based media is provided that presents equivalent information, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.
Level AWCAG 2.0Perceivable1.2 · Time-based Media
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What to do
Provide a transcript for audio-only content and either a transcript or audio description for video-only content.
Why it matters
People who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision need alternative ways to access time-based media.
Success criterion
What WCAG 1.2.1 requires
Summarized directly from the official Understanding document so teams can quote the requirement accurately.
For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such: (1) Prerecorded Audio-only: An alternative for time-based media is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded audio-only content. (2) Prerecorded Video-only: Either an alternative for time-based media or an audio track is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded video-only content.
Intent
Why WCAG created this requirement
- Transcripts for audio-only content allow deaf and hard of hearing users to read what was spoken, including who is speaking and any meaningful sounds.
- Text alternatives or audio tracks for video-only content allow blind users to understand visual actions, scene changes, and important on-screen information.
- Alternatives benefit people in environments where they cannot use audio (libraries, offices) or video (while driving, bandwidth constraints).
- Text transcripts are searchable, indexable, and can be translated, making content more discoverable and reusable.
Benefits
Who gains when you pass
- People who are deaf or hard of hearing can read transcripts of podcasts, audio recordings, and voice messages.
- People who are blind or have low vision can hear or read descriptions of silent videos, animations, and visual presentations.
- People with cognitive disabilities may find it easier to read at their own pace than to follow real-time audio.
- Non-native speakers can use transcripts to review and understand spoken content more easily.
- Everyone benefits from searchable, indexable text alternatives that allow finding specific content.
Why it matters
User impact when this criterion fails
Summaries drawn from the Understanding document help you socialize impact statements with product stakeholders.
Without a transcript, deaf users cannot access podcast content, audio announcements, or recorded meetings.
Without an audio track or text description, blind users cannot understand silent instructional videos or animations.
Users in quiet environments (libraries, sleeping babies nearby) cannot access audio-only content without transcripts.
Mobile users with limited data may prefer text alternatives over streaming media files.
Exception guidelines
Use the WCAG 1.2.1 exceptions correctly
Document the rationale for each exception and note which alternative support you provide.
Media alternative for text
If the audio or video is itself an alternative for existing text content (like an audio reading of an article), it is exempt from this requirement.
Requirement
The media must be clearly labeled as a media alternative, and the primary text content must be present and accessible nearby.
Overview
Prerecorded audio-only content (like podcasts or voice recordings) must have a text transcript. Prerecorded video-only content (like silent animations or surveillance footage) must have either an audio description track or a text description that explains everything shown visually. This ensures the content is accessible to people who cannot hear the audio or see the video.
- Audio-only: Requires a transcript that includes all spoken words, speaker identification, and descriptions of meaningful sounds.
- Video-only: Requires either an audio description track OR a text description that covers all visual information.
- The alternative must present equivalent information—not just a summary, but all the essential content.
- If the media is already a media alternative for text (like an audio version of an article), it must be clearly labeled as such to be exempt.
Reference: All summaries and highlights originate from Understanding WCAG 1.2.1 and the W3C quick reference.
Fast facts
- Conformance level
- Level A
- WCAG version introduced
- WCAG 2.0
- Principle
- Perceivable
- Guideline
- 1.2 · Time-based Media
Examples
Make success tangible for teams
Share pass/fail snapshots to coach designers, engineers, QA, and content authors.
Podcast episode
Pass
A transcript page is linked directly below the audio player, containing all dialogue, speaker names, and descriptions of sound effects or music.
Fail
Only an audio player is provided with no transcript link, leaving deaf users unable to access the content.
Silent product demo animation
Pass
A text description adjacent to the video explains each step: "Step 1: Click the Settings icon in the top right. Step 2: Select Privacy from the menu..."
Fail
Only a silent video plays with no alternative, leaving blind users unaware of what is being demonstrated.
Audio version of blog post
Pass
An audio recording of a blog post is labeled "Audio version of this article" and placed directly after the full text article.
Fail
An audio recording exists but is not labeled as a media alternative, and no transcript is provided.
Surveillance footage
Pass
Silent security camera footage includes a text description: "Footage shows a delivery driver placing a package on the front porch at 2:34 PM."
Fail
Video is provided without any description of what is shown in the footage.
Evidence to keep
Document conformance decisions
Capture artifacts for VPATs, procurement reviews, and regression testing.
- Create a media inventory spreadsheet tracking all audio-only and video-only files with their alternative locations.
- Document the transcript creation workflow and quality standards (verbatim vs. edited, speaker identification format).
- Establish naming conventions and file organization for transcripts (e.g., podcast-ep42-transcript.html).
- Store screenshots showing the media player with adjacent transcript links as audit evidence.
- Document exceptions with rationale for any media labeled as alternatives for text.
Official resources
Deep dives and supporting material
Keep these links handy when writing acceptance criteria or responding to audits.
Understanding 1.2.1
Official W3C interpretation, techniques, and intent for Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded).
Quick Reference 1.2.1
Filterable list of sufficient techniques and failures for this criterion.
Technique G158
Providing an alternative for time-based media for audio-only content.
Technique G159
Providing an alternative for time-based media for video-only content.
Technique G166
Providing audio that describes the important video content and describing it as such.
Implementation checklist
Capture progress and blockers
- Inventory all audio-only content (podcasts, audio recordings, voice messages, audio announcements).
- Inventory all video-only content (silent animations, slideshows without narration, surveillance footage, silent demonstrations).
- Create verbatim transcripts for audio content including speaker identification and meaningful non-speech sounds.
- For video-only content, create either an audio description track or a detailed text description of all visual information.
- Link transcripts and descriptions directly adjacent to the media player for easy discovery.
- Ensure transcripts are accessible (proper HTML structure, can be read by assistive technologies).
- Label any media that serves as an alternative for existing text content.
Testing ideas
Prove conformance with evidence
- Identify all prerecorded audio-only and video-only content on the page.
- For each audio-only file, verify a transcript is provided that includes all spoken content and meaningful sounds.
- For each video-only file, verify either an audio description or text description is provided.
- Compare the transcript/description against the original media to ensure all essential information is covered.
- Test that transcripts are properly linked and can be found by users who cannot perceive the original media.
- Verify transcripts are accessible: screen reader can read them, proper heading structure, etc.
- Check that any media labeled as "alternative for text" actually has corresponding text content nearby.
Related success criteria
More from Time-based Media (1.2)
WCAG 1.2.2Captions (Prerecorded)Level AWCAG 1.2.3Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)Level AWCAG 1.2.4Captions (Live)Level AAWCAG 1.2.5Audio Description (Prerecorded)Level AAWCAG 1.2.6Sign Language (Prerecorded)Level AAAWCAG 1.2.7Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)Level AAAWCAG 1.2.8Media Alternative (Prerecorded)Level AAAWCAG 1.2.9Audio-only (Live)Level AAA