What is WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page?

The page language must be programmatically set. It is a Level A success criterion under WCAG 2.2.

Why does WCAG 3.1.1 matter on WordPress?

Level A criteria appear in most ADA web-accessibility lawsuits. Failing this criterion on a WordPress site exposes you to demand letters and settlements typically in the $5k-$30k range.

How do I verify the fix?

Re-run a free WCAG 2.2 AA scan on a11yping.com/scan. The issue should clear and your lawsuit-risk score should drop.

Fix guides·WordPress·WCAG 2.2 Level A

Fix WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page on WordPress

The page language must be programmatically set.

How to fix it

01
Open your active theme files (or use the Customizer / block editor).
02
Apply the WCAG 3.1.1 fix: Add <html lang="en"> (or correct ISO code) to your root layout.
03
Some issues require plugin updates. Avoid accessibility "overlay" plugins — they tend to make things worse.

Why it matters

WCAG 3.1.1 is a Level A success criterion. Level A failures appear in most ADA web-accessibility lawsuits — over 5,000 were filed in 2025. Typical settlements run $5,000–$30,000 plus remediation cost.

Verify the fix

Run a free scan after deploying. Issue should clear and your risk score should drop.

Run free scan

Same fix on other platforms: Shopify · Webflow · Next.js · Squarespace