Timing Adjustable
Tier 1 · The normative floor
Baseline compliance
What the normative text of WCAG 2.2 requires, and nothing more. Only a failure of this tier is a WCAG failure.
The bare minimum
For each time limit the content sets, at least one is true: the user can turn it off before reaching it; adjust it to at least ten times the default; or is warned before it expires and given at least 20 seconds to extend it with a simple action, at least ten times. The limit is exempt if it's a required part of a real-time event with no possible alternative, if it's essential and extending it would invalidate the activity, or if it's longer than 20 hours.
Normative text
Verbatim from WCAG 2.2, W3C Recommendation 12 December 2024. Underlined terms are defined below.
For each time limit that is set by the content, at least one of the following is true:
- Turn off
- The user is allowed to turn off the time limit before encountering it; or
- Adjust
- The user is allowed to adjust the time limit before encountering it over a wide range that is at least ten times the length of the default setting; or
- Extend
- The user is warned before time expires and given at least 20 seconds to extend the time limit with a simple action (for example, "press the space bar"), and the user is allowed to extend the time limit at least ten times; or
- Real-time Exception
- The time limit is a required part of a real-time event (for example, an auction), and no alternative to the time limit is possible; or
- Essential Exception
- The time limit is essential and extending it would invalidate the activity; or
- 20 Hour Exception
- The time limit is longer than 20 hours.
Not required by the normative text
Common claims that this criterion does not support. Don't log these as WCAG failures.
- Removing time limits. That's 2.2.3, Level AAA.
- All the options. Any one of them satisfies the criterion.
Definitions used (2)
Glossary definitions are normative. Their notes are informative.
- real-time event
-
event that a) occurs at the same time as the viewing and b) is not completely generated by the content
- essential
-
if removed, would fundamentally change the information or functionality of the content, and information and functionality cannot be achieved in another way that would conform
Notes in the criterion Informative
WCAG 2.2 lists notes among its informative material, which "does not create requirements that impact a conformance claim." They help interpret the criterion but are not part of the floor.
This success criterion helps ensure that users can complete tasks without unexpected changes in content or context that are a result of a time limit. This success criterion should be considered in conjunction with Success Criterion 3.2.1, which puts limits on changes of content or context as a result of user action.
Tier 2 · The gap
Usability & user impact
Where content can meet this criterion and still make things harder for people with disabilities. These are not failures of SC 2.2.1, so raise them as usability defects. Known failures, including failures of related criteria, are listed in Tier 1.
Twenty seconds to respond to a warning is short for people using screen readers, switch access or speech input, especially if the warning doesn't take focus or isn't announced.
Tier 3 · The golden path
Recommended best practice
The pattern that meets the floor, closes the gap, and avoids audit disputes. A recommendation, not a requirement.
Warn well before expiry, in an accessible dialog. Allow generous extensions, and save progress so a timeout doesn't lose work.
W3C's Understanding document and techniques for SC 2.2.1 ↗ are informative: sufficient techniques show ways to pass, and documented failures show common ways to fail, but neither changes what the criterion requires.
How SC 2.2.1 maps to the WCAG 3 draft
From this site's reviewed map to the WCAG 3 editor's draft. It's an interpretation: W3C has not published a mapping.
Successor provisions
From WCAG 2.2, section 5.1: “The main content of WCAG 2.2 is normative and defines requirements that impact conformance claims. Introductory material, appendices, sections marked as "non-normative", diagrams, examples, and notes are informative (non-normative). Non-normative material provides advisory information to help interpret the guidelines but does not create requirements that impact a conformance claim.”