Accessibility: Manual Website Testing with Accessibility Insights
In our last blog post, we explored how to perform a quick (though incomplete) automated accessibility check using Lighthouse and WAVE. This time, we’re focusing on manual testing. We’ll introduce Microsoft’s "Accessibility Insights" tool and show you how to use it for testing websites.
Microsoft Accessibility Insights
Accessibility Insights has proven to be a useful tool for manual website testing. It provides a well-structured checklist based on the WCAG 2.2 AA standards, which also cover the requirements of the European Accessibility Act and the Austrian Accessibility Act. Accessibility Insights guides users step by step through all relevant testing areas. Test results can be documented, saved, and exported directly within the tool. Each test section includes detailed explanations and guidance on how to correctly evaluate each criterion. This makes it easy for inexperienced testers to get started with accessibility testing and conduct a thorough manual review of a website.
Installation and First Steps
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Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge and add Accessibility Insights as an extension.
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Open the website you want to test. We used https://justament-consulting.at for our examples.
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Click on the Accessibility Insights icon in your browser. A menu with multiple options will appear. For this tutorial, select "Assessment."
The "Assessment"-View in detail
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On the left side, there is a menu displaying a list of test categories, highlighted in orange (Section 1). Initially, "Overview" is selected.
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In the main area, highlighted in blue (Section 2), an overview of the different test categories is shown. As you progress through the testing process, this area updates to indicate which items have been tested and which still need to be completed.
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In the top right corner, highlighted in red (Section 3), useful links are available to help you get started.
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Above the main area, a toolbar highlighted in green (Section 4) displays the webpage being tested. It also includes options to export test results, save or load the test progress, and restart the assessment.
General Information on Testing
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To complete a full assessment, go through each item in the menu on the left, review the corresponding subcategories, and document your findings in the provided input fields.
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The first menu option runs an automated check. Unlike Lighthouse and WAVE, this tool only displays failed tests—there are no warnings or details on which aspects were tested successfully.
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If you need to pause or resume testing later, you can save your progress through the options in the Assessment view (Section 4) and reload it when needed.
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Once all tests are completed, you can export your results as HTML or JSON using the export button. We recommend the HTML format for better readability and clarity when sharing the report with your web developer to discuss the next steps.
Detailed Example – Keyboard Navigation
Covering every aspect of an accessibility test in detail would go beyond the scope of this article. Instead, we’ll walk you through an example using the "Keyboard" category and the "2.1 Keyboard Navigation" subcategory. This will give you a solid foundation to tackle the rest of the assessment.
- Once you have opened the Assessment view, click on "Keyboard", then select the first subcategory, "Getting started."
- In the main window, you’ll find an explanation of the test’s purpose. In short, users must be able to interact with elements on the website using only a keyboard. Additionally, there is a link to an explanatory video, which we recommend watching. If the brief description in the main window isn’t sufficient, you can access more details, examples, and additional resources by clicking the small icon next to the heading.
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Once you’re familiar with the topic, click on the "2.1 Keyboard Navigation" subcategory.
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In this section, you’ll find a brief introduction along with the option to access more detailed information. There is also a toggle switch for the Visual Helper and a description of the testing process.
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Turn the Visual Helper switch on. The website will come to the foreground, and Accessibility Insights will prompt you to navigate using the Tab key. The Visual Helper will highlight each element as it receives focus through keyboard navigation.
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Check whether all interactive elements can be accessed and operated using only the keyboard. Make sure to test not just the main content but also elements like menus, overlays, and hidden interactive components. If you can navigate to and interact with all elements using the Tab key without a mouse, mark the test as "pass" in Accessibility Insights. If you find elements that cannot be accessed or controlled via the keyboard, mark the test as "fail".
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Click "+ Add a failure instance" and provide a comment specifying which element was not accessible via the keyboard and where it is located on the website. In our example the text says: The menu item "example" cannot be accessed using the keyboard.
- Clicking the "Add failed instance" button adds the issue to the report, displaying it in the main window.
- You can export your test results at any time using the "Export Result" option, choosing between HTML or JSON formats. For longer test sessions, it may be helpful to create interim exports to address identified issues more quickly. However, in most cases, a single export at the end of the assessment is sufficient. Additionally, you have the option to include a description, which will be displayed at the beginning of the export file. In our example the text says: Testing Report Keyboard Navigation.
Conclusion
Accessibility Insights is a powerful tool for systematically and comprehensively testing a website’s compliance with WCAG guidelines. With its built-in explanations and resources, users can quickly gain the necessary knowledge to conduct accessibility tests thoroughly and accurately. For beginners, Microsoft Accessibility Insights is an excellent starting point for evaluating their website’s accessibility. Experienced users will also appreciate its structured approach and user-friendly design, making manual testing more efficient and effective.