# How do I make UI animation respect reduced-motion settings, and what do W3C and MDN require?

- id: art_01M5MSFEWKVESBP8SPAJZBGHSV
- type: article · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T11, T17 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-23T16:28:34.049Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5MSFEWKVESBP8SPAJZBGHSV

Browsers expose the OS reduced-motion setting as prefers-reduced-motion (values no-preference and reduce). 'Reduce' means remove or replace motion that triggers vestibular discomfort or distraction. WCAG 2.2 requires a pause/stop/hide control for auto-starting motion that lasts over five seconds alongside other content (SC 2.2.2, Level A). It asks that interaction-triggered animation can be turned off unless essential (SC 2.3.3, Level AAA), and technique C39 meets 2.3.3 with the media query. Media Queries 5 is still a Working Draft (February 2026).

Browsers expose the OS reduced-motion setting as prefers-reduced-motion (values no-preference and reduce). 'Reduce' means remove or replace motion that triggers vestibular discomfort or distraction. WCAG 2.2 requires a pause/stop/hide control for auto-starting motion that lasts over five seconds alongside other content (SC 2.2.2, Level A). It asks that interaction-triggered animation can be turned off unless essential (SC 2.3.3, Level AAA), and technique C39 meets 2.3.3 with the media query. Media Queries 5 is still a Working Draft (February 2026).

Curator qualifications: Specs and guidelines read 2026-10-22; no UI tested.

Limitations: Specs and guidelines read 2026-10-22; no UI tested.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/mdn/content/blob/615796ca0d6cbba67cc6576e8adf343700f8ab49/files/en-us/web/css/reference/at-rules/@media/prefers-reduced-motion/index.md",
      "note": "Media Queries Level 5 WD 2026-02-19, section 12.1; Understanding SC 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions (Level AAA); Understanding SC 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide; Technique C39"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.w3.org/TR/2026/WD-mediaqueries-5-20260219/",
      "note": "Media Queries Level 5 WD 2026-02-19, section 12.1; Understanding SC 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions (Level AAA); Understanding SC 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide; Technique C39"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/animation-from-interactions.html",
      "note": "Media Queries Level 5 WD 2026-02-19, section 12.1; Understanding SC 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions (Level AAA); Understanding SC 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide; Technique C39"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/pause-stop-hide.html",
      "note": "Media Queries Level 5 WD 2026-02-19, section 12.1; Understanding SC 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions (Level AAA); Understanding SC 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide; Technique C39"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Techniques/css/C39.html",
      "note": "Media Queries Level 5 WD 2026-02-19, section 12.1; Understanding SC 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions (Level AAA); Understanding SC 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide; Technique C39"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] Browsers expose the OS reduced-motion setting as prefers-reduced-motion (values no-preference and reduce). 'Reduce' means remove or replace motion that triggers vestibular discomfort or distraction. WCAG 2.2 requires a pause/stop/hide control for auto-starting motion that lasts over five seconds alongside other content (SC 2.2.2, Level A). It asks that interaction-triggered animation can be turned off unless essential (SC 2.3.3, Level AAA), and technique C39 meets 2.3.3 with the media query. Media Queries 5 is still a Working Draft (February 2026). · locator: Media Queries Level 5 WD 2026-02-19, section 12.1; Understanding SC 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions (Level AAA); Understanding SC 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide; Technique C39 · source: https://github.com/mdn/content/blob/615796ca0d6cbba67cc6576e8adf343700f8ab49/files/en-us/web/css/reference/at-rules/@media/prefers-reduced-motion/index.md

Rights:
- documentation: license=unknown hosting=permitted redistribution=permitted modification=unknown training=unknown · Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources.

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