WCAG 2.2 Level AA means a web page satisfies every Level A and every Level AA success criterion of WCAG 2.2: 31 at Level A and 24 at Level AA, 55 in all. W3C published WCAG 2.2 as a Recommendation on 5 October 2023; the current edition of the text is dated 12 December 2024.
This page lists all 55 criteria by principle, marks the six that are new since WCAG 2.1, and explains which version the EU asks for and how to test a page against the list. For what the levels A, AA and AAA mean, see What WCAG compliant means.
What Level AA conformance requires
W3C defines it in one sentence: “For Level AA conformance, the web page satisfies all the Level A and Level AA success criteria” (WCAG 2.2, section 5.2.1). The level is met page by page, and a Level AA claim fails if any single Level A or Level AA criterion fails. Level AAA criteria are not part of it.
The six criteria new since WCAG 2.1
WCAG 2.2 adds nine success criteria, six of them at Level A or AA, and removes 4.1.1 Parsing, which W3C marks as obsolete: “This criterion no longer has utility and is removed” (WCAG 2.2, 4.1.1). W3C states that content conforming to WCAG 2.2 also conforms to WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1.
| New in 2.2 | Level | What W3C asks for |
|---|---|---|
| 3.2.6 Consistent Help | A | Put help in the same place when it is on multiple pages. |
| 3.3.7 Redundant Entry | A | Don’t ask for the same information twice in the same session. |
| 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) | AA | Ensure when an item gets keyboard focus, it is at least partially visible. |
| 2.5.7 Dragging Movements | AA | For any action that involves dragging, provide a simple pointer alternative. |
| 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) | AA | Ensure targets meet a minimum size or have sufficient spacing around them. |
| 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) | AA | Don’t make people solve, recall, or transcribe something to log in. |
Summaries quoted from W3C, What’s New in WCAG 2.2. The three remaining new criteria are Level AAA: 2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced), 2.4.13 Focus Appearance and 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced). They are not part of Level AA.
All 55 Level A and AA success criteria in WCAG 2.2
Listed by principle and guideline, numbered as in the W3C text. Level AAA criteria are left out because Level AA does not include them. The six criteria new in 2.2 are marked. 4.1.1 Parsing is absent because WCAG 2.2 removed it.
Principle 1: Perceivable
| Guideline | Success criterion | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Text Alternatives | 1.1.1 Non-text Content | A |
| 1.2 Time-based Media | 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | A |
| 1.2 Time-based Media | 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) | A |
| 1.2 Time-based Media | 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) | A |
| 1.2 Time-based Media | 1.2.4 Captions (Live) | AA |
| 1.2 Time-based Media | 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) | AA |
| 1.3 Adaptable | 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | A |
| 1.3 Adaptable | 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence | A |
| 1.3 Adaptable | 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics | A |
| 1.3 Adaptable | 1.3.4 Orientation | AA |
| 1.3 Adaptable | 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.1 Use of Color | A |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.2 Audio Control | A |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.4 Resize Text | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.5 Images of Text | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.10 Reflow | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.12 Text Spacing | AA |
| 1.4 Distinguishable | 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus | AA |
Principle 2: Operable
| Guideline | Success criterion | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Keyboard Accessible | 2.1.1 Keyboard | A |
| 2.1 Keyboard Accessible | 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap | A |
| 2.1 Keyboard Accessible | 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts | A |
| 2.2 Enough Time | 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable | A |
| 2.2 Enough Time | 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide | A |
| 2.3 Seizures and Physical Reactions | 2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold | A |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks | A |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.2 Page Titled | A |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.3 Focus Order | A |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) | A |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.5 Multiple Ways | AA |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.6 Headings and Labels | AA |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.7 Focus Visible | AA |
| 2.4 Navigable | 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) new in 2.2 | AA |
| 2.5 Input Modalities | 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures | A |
| 2.5 Input Modalities | 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation | A |
| 2.5 Input Modalities | 2.5.3 Label in Name | A |
| 2.5 Input Modalities | 2.5.4 Motion Actuation | A |
| 2.5 Input Modalities | 2.5.7 Dragging Movements new in 2.2 | AA |
| 2.5 Input Modalities | 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) new in 2.2 | AA |
Principle 3: Understandable
| Guideline | Success criterion | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Readable | 3.1.1 Language of Page | A |
| 3.1 Readable | 3.1.2 Language of Parts | AA |
| 3.2 Predictable | 3.2.1 On Focus | A |
| 3.2 Predictable | 3.2.2 On Input | A |
| 3.2 Predictable | 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation | AA |
| 3.2 Predictable | 3.2.4 Consistent Identification | AA |
| 3.2 Predictable | 3.2.6 Consistent Help new in 2.2 | A |
| 3.3 Input Assistance | 3.3.1 Error Identification | A |
| 3.3 Input Assistance | 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions | A |
| 3.3 Input Assistance | 3.3.3 Error Suggestion | AA |
| 3.3 Input Assistance | 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | AA |
| 3.3 Input Assistance | 3.3.7 Redundant Entry new in 2.2 | A |
| 3.3 Input Assistance | 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) new in 2.2 | AA |
Principle 4: Robust
| Guideline | Success criterion | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Compatible | 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value | A |
| 4.1 Compatible | 4.1.3 Status Messages | AA |
Which version the EU asks for
The European Accessibility Act, Directive (EU) 2019/882, applies since 28 June 2025. It states accessibility requirements in its own words, and each country transposes it into national law: the BFSG in Germany, the BaFG in Austria, zákon č. 424/2023 Sb. in Czechia, the ustawa z 26 kwietnia 2024 in Poland and zákon č. 351/2022 Z. z. in Slovakia.
The technical standard referenced in practice is EN 301 549. Version 3.2.1 incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA for web content, which is why WCAG 2.1 AA is the usual yardstick. Version 3.2.1 is cited in the Official Journal under the Web Accessibility Directive for public sector bodies, Directive (EU) 2016/2102, through Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339. No version of EN 301 549 is cited in the Official Journal under the EAA. ETSI published version 4.1.1, which tracks WCAG 2.2, in September 2026; it is not cited under the EAA either.
In short: WCAG 2.1 AA is the level sites are usually tested against today. Building to WCAG 2.2 AA meets it too, because 2.2 content also conforms to 2.1.
How to test a page against WCAG 2.2 Level AA
- Run an automated check. Our free website accessibility checker tests a page against WCAG 2.1 A and AA with axe-core and adds one WCAG 2.2 rule, target size. No signup, no card.
- Test the other five new criteria by hand. Focus not obscured, dragging movements, consistent help, redundant entry and accessible authentication need a person at a keyboard and a pointer: tab through the page and watch whether focus disappears behind a sticky header, try each drag action with clicks alone, check that help links sit in the same place on every page, go through a multi-step form and see whether it asks for the same detail twice, and check that logging in does not depend on remembering or retyping something with no alternative.
- Review the rest by hand. Automated testing catches roughly 30 to 40 percent of WCAG success criteria. The rest needs a human: keyboard use, whether alt text describes the image, reading order, captions, form errors.
- Record what you tested and publish an accessibility statement. The accessibility statement generator drafts one from the facts you enter. Review it before you publish, and re-test after every change.
FAQ
What is WCAG 2.2 Level AA?
A web page meets WCAG 2.2 Level AA when it satisfies all 31 Level A and all 24 Level AA success criteria of WCAG 2.2, 55 in all. Compared with WCAG 2.1 Level AA it adds six criteria, two at Level A and four at Level AA, and drops 4.1.1 Parsing.
How many success criteria does WCAG 2.2 Level AA have?
55: 31 at Level A and 24 at Level AA. WCAG 2.2 has 86 success criteria in total; the other 31 are Level AAA and are not part of Level AA conformance.
What is new in WCAG 2.2 at Level AA?
Four criteria at Level AA: 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum), 2.5.7 Dragging Movements, 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) and 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum). Two more at Level A also count towards Level AA: 3.2.6 Consistent Help and 3.3.7 Redundant Entry.
Does the EU require WCAG 2.2 Level AA?
The European Accessibility Act states its own accessibility requirements and the national acts transpose them. The technical yardstick used in practice is EN 301 549; version 3.2.1 incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA for web content. Version 4.1.1, which tracks WCAG 2.2, was published by ETSI in September 2026. No version of EN 301 549 is cited in the Official Journal under the EAA. A page that meets WCAG 2.2 AA also meets WCAG 2.1 AA.
Can an automated tool test a page against WCAG 2.2 Level AA?
Only in part. Our free website accessibility checker tests a page against WCAG 2.1 A and AA with axe-core and adds one WCAG 2.2 rule, target size. Automated testing catches roughly 30 to 40 percent of WCAG success criteria. The other five new criteria, and much of the rest of the list, need a human.
Sources
- W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, W3C Recommendation, edition of 12 December 2024: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ (conformance levels: section 5.2.1; 4.1.1 Parsing note: section 4.1)
- W3C, What’s New in WCAG 2.2: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/new-in-22/
- Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/1339/oj
- European Commission, harmonised standards index (checked 21 October 2026): https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/european-standards/harmonised-standards_en
See where your site stands
The free check tests one page against WCAG 2.1 AA, plus the WCAG 2.2 target size rule, and shows the first findings with the matching reference.
This article is informational and does not constitute legal advice. An Inkluso report is a dated record of an automated scan, not a certification and not legal advice. Automated testing catches roughly 30 to 40 percent of WCAG success criteria. The rest needs a human. Legal references and deadlines are mapped from primary sources and dated. They are simplified for guidance and are not a substitute for the official text. Verify the current position before acting.