Visual testing
Test Reduced Motion Preferences
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
Purpose and preparation
Review how a site responds to a user's reduced-motion preference. Inventory movement before testing, including transitions, smooth scrolling and effects triggered by interaction. Document which movement is essential and how nonessential motion is reduced.
A practical example
A dashboard normally animates cards into place and scrolls smoothly between sections. With reduced motion enabled, the same information appears without a large sweeping transition.
How to check it
- Enable reduced motion in the operating system or a documented browser emulation, then reload the page and inspect initial animations.
- Trigger menus, route changes, accordions and scrolling actions. Check whether nonessential movement is removed or replaced while focus and state changes remain clear.
- Test pause or stop controls for automatically moving content separately. Record the preference, motion trigger and alternative behavior for each issue.
What can be missed
Honoring reduced motion alone does not satisfy every timing, flashing or moving-content requirement. Essential movement and nonessential decoration need different decisions.
Record your test
Use this worksheet to record what you actually checked. Notes stay on this device when you choose Save; they are not sent to us. Avoid personal or confidential information on shared devices.
These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.
Primary sources and scope
This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.