Shopify Accessibility Checker

How to audit a Shopify store for accessibility

Surface accessibility blockers across the storefront and pre-checkout flow.

1. 1

   Audit the homepage and a product page

   Submit both URLs to VertaaUX. Storefronts share templates, so issues found here usually replicate across the catalog.

2. 2

   Walk through add-to-cart with a keyboard

   Tab to the variant picker, select with arrow keys and Space, tab to Add to Cart, and verify focus moves to the cart drawer or page after submission.

3. 3

   Audit the cart and pre-checkout pages

   Run audits on /cart and any account or login pages users hit before checkout. These often regress when apps inject extra fields.

4. 4

   Fix in Theme Editor or Liquid

   Apply the recommended fixes — most are label, role, or contrast adjustments. Use a development theme to test before publishing.

5. 5

   Re-audit on the live store

   Publish the fix and re-run VertaaUX on the same URLs to confirm the regression cleared.

Frequently asked questions

Are Shopify themes accessible by default?

Shopify ships several accessibility-conscious themes (Dawn is the reference), but customizations and apps regularly introduce regressions. Audit the live storefront, not the theme demo, to catch what reaches your customers.

Can I audit Shopify checkout?

Yes for the storefront-checkout pages you can reach as a guest. Shopify's hosted checkout can be audited up to the point where you would submit payment. Use a test product priced at zero or a Bogus Gateway to walk through the full flow on a development store.

Why do variant selectors often fail accessibility?

Variant pickers are commonly built as styled radio inputs or as buttons with role="radio" but without keyboard handlers. Tab-only users get stuck or cannot select. Verify that arrow keys move between options and Space selects the focused option.

Does accessibility actually affect Shopify conversion?

Yes. The same fixes that help screen-reader users — clear labels, large tap targets, visible focus, error messages tied to fields — also reduce bounce on mobile and improve form completion. Accessibility is a conversion lever, not just compliance.

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