How do I test my website for WCAG 2.1 AA?
In short: Combine automated and manual testing. Run an automated scan to catch machine-detectable failures such as missing alt text, unlabelled form fields and a missing page language. Then test by hand: use only the keyboard, check colour contrast, zoom to 200% and try a screen reader. Fix issues in code and re-test after every release.
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Step 1: choose representative pages
Test your home page, the key templates (product, article, form, checkout) and your important user journeys end to end. The W3C's WCAG-EM methodology recommends a structured sample rather than a single page.
Step 2: run an automated scan
An automated checker flags code-level failures in seconds and is ideal for catching regressions. NormHarbor checks rules such as image alt text, form labels, page language and title, link and button names, heading structure and duplicate IDs, and maps each finding to its WCAG success criterion.
Step 3: test manually
- Keyboard: can you reach and operate everything with Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter and Space, with a visible focus indicator?
- Contrast: normal text needs at least 4.5:1, large text at least 3:1.
- Zoom and reflow: content should still work at 200% zoom and at a width of 320 CSS pixels without horizontal scrolling.
- Screen reader: check headings, landmarks, form labels and error messages with NVDA, JAWS or VoiceOver.
- Media: captions for video and transcripts for audio.
Step 4: fix, document, monitor
Fix issues in your templates and components, record anything that remains in your accessibility statement, and re-scan after each deployment so regressions are caught early.
Official sources
- W3C — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
- W3C WAI — WCAG-EM evaluation methodology
- W3C WAI — Selecting web accessibility evaluation tools
See where your site stands
Our free automated scan checks your page against machine-testable WCAG 2.1 AA rules in about 20 seconds — no signup, no overlay.
Scan your site free →Is a free automated scan enough?
Which screen readers should I test with?
General information, not legal advice. National transposition laws differ — consult a lawyer for a binding assessment of your business.
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