What to change
Ask your supplier to distinguish sound being muted from its volume level, with clear feedback and predictable keyboard operation.
A worked example
Illustrative example
A visitor mutes a clip to read the page, then unmutes and returns to the previous chosen level with an accurate control label.
Why this matters to your practice
Mute and volume answer different questions: whether sound is off and how loud it will be when available. Ask your supplier to demonstrate both controls and their feedback using a keyboard. A person should not have to guess whether silence comes from the player, the device or an unlabelled mute state. Review the return from mute carefully, so its behaviour is predictable. The practice should favour clear controls over an attractive but unexplained speaker icon.
A practical review example
A visitor may mute a video briefly and then restore sound. Ask your supplier to demonstrate that sequence and explain the resulting level. The control should identify its state rather than leave someone guessing whether silence comes from the player or the device. Try ordinary keyboard adjustment and spoken feedback, then compare the visible icons. A familiar speaker symbol can support the design, but the practical review should establish what each action changes and how the person recognises the current result.
How to check the result
Accept when users can adjust, silence and restore audio deliberately and the controls accurately represent the resulting sound state.
A mistake to avoid
Changing the icon to a crossed speaker without updating its accessible name can leave the announced action opposite to the actual state.
Turn reading into a next step
Your action checklist
Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.
Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.
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Further reading
These sources provide background for the topic. The practice examples and checklist are illustrative planning suggestions from Kay & Co.
Related guides
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