2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

Time limits can prevent people from completing tasks. Screen reader users, users with cognitive disabilities, and users with motor impairments typically need more time than average to read and interact with content.

For any time limit that is set by the content, users must be able to: turn off the time limit before they encounter it, adjust it to at least ten times the default length before encountering it, or be warned before time expires and given at least 20 seconds to extend it (with the option to do this at least ten times).

Exceptions include real-time events (such as an auction), where time limits are essential to the activity, and sessions where extending the time would invalidate the activity.

Session timeouts are the most common example. Warn users at least two minutes before a session expires. Give them a simple way to extend it (click a button or press a key). Allow them to do this multiple times.

Automatically advancing carousels or slideshows must have pause controls.

Where possible, remove time limits entirely rather than adding controls for them.

• Form session that expires without warning and clears all entered data
• Checkout process with a timer that cannot be extended
• Quiz with a countdown that cannot be adjusted