Is My Shopify Store ADA Compliant? A Plain-English Checklist
Shopify stores are the most common target of ADA website lawsuits. This plain-English checklist covers the 10 barriers I find most often, and how to check each one yourself in a few minutes.
Why Shopify stores need to pay attention
Online stores are the most common target of ADA website lawsuits. In 2025, about 70% of digital accessibility lawsuits named e-commerce and retail businesses, according to UsableNet's year-end report, and Shopify was the platform identified most often in the first quarter of 2026. That isn't because Shopify is badly built. It's because there are millions of Shopify stores, and most are customized with themes, apps and content that were never tested for accessibility.
The good news: most barriers on Shopify stores are well known and fixable. This checklist covers the ones I find most often, and how you can check each one yourself in a few minutes.
Before you start: two simple tools
- Your keyboard. Put your mouse aside and use Tab to move forward, Shift+Tab to move back, Enter to activate links and buttons, and the arrow keys and Space for menus and options.
- A screen reader. On a Mac, press Cmd+F5 to turn on VoiceOver. On Windows, NVDA is free. You don't need to be an expert; just listen to what gets announced.
The checklist
1. Can you see where you are when you press Tab?
Every link and button should show a clear outline (a "focus indicator") when you tab to it. Many themes remove it for visual reasons. Without it, keyboard users are lost on the page.
Check: Tab through your homepage. If the outline disappears at any point, that's a barrier. (WCAG 2.4.7)
2. Can you open the main menu and every dropdown with a keyboard?
Mega menus that only open on mouse hover are one of the most common problems. If a keyboard user can't reach your collections, they can't shop.
Check: Tab to your menu and try to open each dropdown with Enter or Space. (WCAG 2.1.1)
3. Do icon buttons say what they do?
Search, cart, account, wishlist and close buttons are often just icons. If they have no text label behind the scenes, a screen reader announces only "button", which tells people using screen readers nothing.
Check: With VoiceOver on, tab to each icon. You should hear something like "Cart, 2 items, button". (WCAG 4.1.2)
4. Do your product images have useful alt text?
Product photos need a short description, such as "Linen shirt in sage green, front view". Decorative images should be skipped by screen readers. In Shopify, you can edit alt text for each product image in the admin.
Check: In your Shopify admin, open a product, click an image and look for "Add alt text". (WCAG 1.1.1)
5. Can you choose a size, color and quantity with a keyboard?
Variant pickers built as styled boxes or swatches often can't be selected without a mouse, or don't announce which option is selected. This stops purchases entirely.
Check: On a product page, tab to the size and color options and try to select one. With a screen reader on, the selected option should be announced. (WCAG 2.1.1, 4.1.2)
6. Is "Added to cart" announced?
When someone adds a product, many themes show a small pop-up or update the cart count visually. If nothing is announced, people using screen readers don't know it worked, and may add the item several times or give up.
Check: With VoiceOver on, add something to the cart and listen for a confirmation. (WCAG 4.1.3)
7. Can pop-ups be closed with a keyboard?
Email signup and discount pop-ups are a frequent problem. If the close button can't be reached, or focus doesn't move into the pop-up, keyboard and screen reader users can get stuck.
Check: When a pop-up appears, press Tab and then Escape. You should be able to close it and continue. (WCAG 2.1.2)
8. Is your text readable against its background?
Light gray text, text over images, and pale sale badges often fail contrast requirements, making them hard to read for people with low vision.
Check: Use a free contrast checker. Normal text needs a ratio of at least 4.5 to 1. (WCAG 1.4.3)
9. Do form fields have labels and clear errors?
Newsletter, contact and checkout fields need visible labels, not just placeholder text that disappears. Error messages should say what went wrong and be announced.
Check: Submit a form with an empty required field. Is the error clear, and is it announced? (WCAG 1.3.1, 3.3.1)
10. Does the page still work when zoomed?
At 200% zoom, text shouldn't overlap or get cut off, and at 400% the page should reflow into one column without sideways scrolling.
Check: Press Cmd or Ctrl and the + key a few times and scroll through your pages. (WCAG 1.4.4, 1.4.10)
What about Shopify checkout?
Shopify manages its own checkout pages, and Shopify works on their accessibility. But everything before checkout (your theme, product pages, cart drawer and apps) is your responsibility, and that's where most barriers are.
Apps are a hidden risk
Reviews widgets, upsell pop-ups, chat bubbles, loyalty programs and size charts all add code to your store. Each one can introduce new barriers. When you test, include the pages where these apps appear.
Will an accessibility app make me compliant?
No app or widget can fix the underlying code of your theme and apps. About 20% of companies sued in the first half of 2026 were already using an accessibility widget, according to UsableNet. Here's why widgets don't protect you.
What to do next
If you found problems with this checklist, you're not alone; most stores have several. The quickest path is a manual audit of your key templates (home, collection, product, cart, and the pages where apps appear), followed by fixes in your theme. See how audits are priced, or start with a free check below.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your legal obligations or a claim you have received, talk to an attorney.