Many Wix users building e-commerce stores are realizing that simply having a beautiful website isn't enough. In 2026, legal risk and the desire to reach a wider audience are driving a significant push for accessibility. Failing to make your Wix checkout process accessible can expose you to legal action under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Equality Act (EAA) 2026, and significantly limit your potential customer base. This article identifies eight common accessibility issues in Wix checkouts and provides practical, actionable solutions specifically for Wix users.
Understanding the Landscape: Wix, Ecommerce Accessibility, and Legal Risk
Wix provides a user-friendly platform, but accessibility isn't always built-in. While Wix has made some improvements, relying solely on Wix’s default settings isn’t sufficient to meet WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards, which form the basis for most accessibility legislation. A poorly accessible checkout can frustrate users with disabilities, leading to abandoned carts and negative brand perception.
According to a 2024 survey by the National Disability Rights Network, 61% of users with disabilities have abandoned an online purchase due to accessibility barriers. This represents a substantial loss of potential revenue.
The rise of class-action lawsuits against businesses with inaccessible websites, including e-commerce sites, has made accessibility a critical legal concern. These lawsuits often target areas like form labels, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility – all vital components of a checkout process.
The 8 Most Common Wix Checkout Accessibility Issues & Solutions
Let's dive into the specific problems and how to fix them within the Wix environment.
1. Missing or Incorrect Form Labels
The Problem: Many Wix users unknowingly create checkout forms (shipping address, payment details) where the relationship between form fields and their labels is unclear or missing entirely. Screen reader users rely heavily on labels to understand the purpose of each field.
Wix Solution: When editing a Wix form (including checkout forms), always ensure that each field has a clear, concise, and descriptive label. Use the “Label” field in the form element’s settings. Avoid relying solely on placeholder text, as this is often invisible once a user starts typing. For complex fields, provide more detailed instructions within the field's description.
2. Poor Keyboard Navigation
The Problem: Users who cannot use a mouse – those with motor impairments or who rely on assistive technologies – must be able to navigate and interact with the checkout process using the keyboard alone. Often, Wix checkouts have illogical or missing keyboard focus indicators.
Wix Solution: Test your checkout using only the Tab key and arrow keys. Ensure that focus moves logically through the form fields and buttons. Wix’s “Keyboard Navigation” settings within the “Accessibility” section of your site's settings (accessible via the Wix Editor) allow you to customize the visual focus indicator. Make it high-contrast and easily identifiable. Custom CSS can be used for more advanced modifications, but proceed with caution as Wix updates can sometimes break custom code.
3. Lack of ARIA Attributes
The Problem: ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes provide semantic information to assistive technologies, describing the role and state of interactive elements. Wix’s default implementation often lacks sufficient ARIA attributes, particularly for dynamic elements like accordions or progress indicators.
Wix Solution: While Wix automatically adds some ARIA attributes, you may need to add custom attributes using Wix Corvid (Wix’s code editor). For example, if you’ve used a third-party accordion app, ensure it has appropriate ARIA roles (role="tablist", role="tab", aria-selected="true"). If you're building custom elements with Corvid, consult the ARIA specification for proper attribute usage.
4. Insufficient Color Contrast
The Problem: Low color contrast between text and background makes it difficult for users with low vision or color blindness to read. This is especially problematic in checkout forms and error messages.
Wix Solution: Use Wix’s built-in color contrast checker (available in the design tools) to verify that your color combinations meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text). Choose accessible color palettes or adjust colors as needed. Pay particular attention to error messages and call-to-action buttons.
5. Missing Alt Text for Images
The Problem: Images used in the checkout process, such as logos or payment icons, should have descriptive alt text for screen reader users. Missing or generic alt text provides no context for these images.
Wix Solution: When inserting images into your Wix editor, always provide meaningful alt text in the image's settings. Describe the image’s purpose and content. For decorative images, use an empty alt attribute (alt="") to signal to screen readers that they should be ignored.
6. Dynamic Content Updates Without Proper Notification
The Problem: Dynamic content updates, such as order summaries or shipping cost calculations, can disorient screen reader users if they are not announced properly.
Wix Solution: Use Wix Corvid’s wix-dom API to announce dynamic content updates to screen readers using the liveRegion method. For example, when the shipping cost changes, you can use wixDom.liveRegion("shippingCostAnnounce", "The shipping cost is now $X.XX");. This will alert screen reader users to the update.
7. Issues with Third-Party Apps
The Problem: Many Wix users rely on third-party apps to extend the functionality of their checkouts. These apps can introduce accessibility issues if they are not developed with accessibility in mind.
Wix Solution: Carefully evaluate the accessibility of any third-party apps before installing them. Contact the app developer to inquire about their accessibility testing practices. If an app is inaccessible, consider finding an alternative or contacting Wix support to request accessibility improvements. Sometimes, a simple app like Accessio.ai can help identify and even automatically fix many of these issues at the source code level, reducing the need for manual audits and fixes.
8. Inconsistent Error Handling
The Problem: Error messages during checkout should be clear, concise, and easily identifiable. Inconsistent error handling – for example, displaying errors only visually or using vague language – can confuse users.
Wix Solution: Ensure that error messages are associated with the relevant form fields using ARIA attributes (aria-describedby). Use clear and understandable language. Provide suggestions for correcting errors. Display error messages both visually and programmatically (e.g., using wix-dom to announce errors to screen readers).
Key Takeaways
- Accessibility is a legal imperative: Ignoring accessibility exposes your business to significant legal risk.
- Wix requires proactive effort: While Wix offers some accessibility features, they are not sufficient on their own.
- ARIA attributes are crucial: Learn how to use ARIA attributes effectively to enhance the accessibility of dynamic content.
- Third-party apps require scrutiny: Thoroughly evaluate the accessibility of any third-party apps before installation.
- Automated tools can help: Consider utilizing AI-powered accessibility solutions like Accessio.ai to streamline the accessibility remediation process. These tools can often identify and fix issues faster and more accurately than manual methods.
Next Steps
- Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Use Wix’s built-in accessibility checker and external tools to identify accessibility issues.
- Prioritize Remediation: Focus on fixing the most critical issues first, such as those impacting keyboard navigation and form labels.
- Educate Your Team: Ensure that everyone involved in website development and maintenance understands accessibility best practices.
- Explore AI-Powered Accessibility Tools: Evaluate solutions like Accessio.ai to automate accessibility testing and remediation.
- Stay Updated: Keep abreast of changes to WCAG guidelines and Wix's accessibility features. WCAG 2.2 represents the current standard, but ongoing evolution requires continuous vigilance.