Code Fix Guide

How to Add Captions to Videos for Accessibility

Videos without captions exclude approximately 15% of adults who have some degree of hearing loss, plus anyone watching in a noisy environment or with the sound off. Captions are required for all prerecorded video content under WCAG.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Video with no captions track

Problem

<video src="demo.mp4" controls></video>

Fix

<video src="demo.mp4" controls>
  <track kind="captions" src="demo.vtt"
    srclang="en" label="English" default>
</video>

YouTube embed — enable captions

Problem

<iframe src="https://youtube.com/embed/xyz"></iframe>

Fix

<iframe src="https://youtube.com/embed/xyz?cc_load_policy=1"
  title="Product demo video with captions"></iframe>

Why This Matters

Missing captions violate WCAG 1.2.2 (Captions - Prerecorded) for pre-recorded content and 1.2.4 (Captions - Live) for live content. Auto-generated captions (like YouTube's auto-captions) should be reviewed for accuracy — they often mangle technical terms, proper names, and accented speech.

Related WCAG Criteria

1.2.2Captions (Prerecorded)

Level A — Perceivable

1.2.4Captions (Live)

Level AA — Perceivable

Find All Your Accessibility Issues Automatically

ADA CodeFix scans your website for WCAG 2.1 AA violations and generates AI-powered code fixes — not vague descriptions, actual code you can copy-paste.

Scan Your Site Free

No credit card required AI-generated code fixes

More Code Fix Guides

How to Fix Missing Alt Text on Images

Missing alt text is the #1 accessibility violation. Learn how to add proper alt attributes to images with code examples and an automated scanner.

How to Fix Low Color Contrast in CSS

Low color contrast is found on 80%+ of websites. Learn the WCAG contrast ratios, test your colors, and fix CSS contrast issues with code examples.

How to Fix Missing Form Input Labels

Form fields without labels are inaccessible to screen reader users. Learn how to properly label inputs with HTML label elements and ARIA attributes.

How to Fix Empty Links and Buttons

Empty links and buttons with no accessible text are a top accessibility violation. Learn how to add descriptive text and ARIA labels with code examples.

How to Fix HTML Heading Structure

Skipped heading levels and missing H1 tags hurt both SEO and accessibility. Learn how to create a proper H1-H6 hierarchy with code examples.

How to Fix Keyboard Navigation and Focus Issues

If your website can't be navigated with a keyboard, it's inaccessible. Learn how to fix tab order, focus styles, keyboard traps, and custom components.