Accessibility Conformance Report for GitHub Desktop

Report Date

This report was last updated on November 13, 2025.

Product Description

GitHub Desktop is a free, open source application that helps you to work with files hosted on GitHub or other Git hosting services.

desktop.github.com is a website that contains information about the GitHub Desktop product. The content includes download links, release notes, and access to product documentation.

Contact Information

Please share questions or comments on the accessibility community discussion page.

Scope

The scope of this report includes content on the GitHub Desktop site and the following user scenarios in the GitHub Desktop app:

  • Welcome and tutorial flow
  • Sign in to Github.com and GitHub Enterprise
  • Manual configurations
  • Global main menu items
  • Text editor installation
  • Creating and managing repositories, branches, files, commits, pull requests

Evaluation Methods Used

Scenarios were tested using:

  • Keyboard-only interactions
  • JAWS and NVDA with Google Chrome
  • axe
  • Colour Contrast Analyzer
  • Platform features such as high contrast and zoom

Applicable Standards/Guidelines

This report reflects outstanding issues found by an audit based on the level A and AA criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 (WCAG 2.2 AA).

Terms

  • Supports: The functionality of the product has at least one method that meets the criterion without known defects or meets with equivalent facilitation.
  • Partially Supports: Some functionality of the product does not meet the criterion.
  • Does Not Support: The majority of product functionality does not meet the criterion.
  • Not Applicable: The criterion is not relevant to the product.
  • Not Evaluated: The product has not been evaluated against the criterion.

WCAG 2.2

Level A Success Criteria

Success Criteria Conformance Level Remarks and Explanations
1.1.1 Non-text Content

Supports
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

Supports
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)

Supports
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative

Supports
1.3.1 Info and Relationships

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GHDsktAncillary4.11] Screen reader does not announce the total count and position information for list items
  • [GHDsktAncillary3.8] Text -'Enhancements' is not programmatically defined as heading
  • [GHDesktpHstry1.1] Screen reader is not announcing the associative information
  • [GHDesktpHstry1.10] Screen Reader does not announce the selected information
  • [GHDsktpdiffaudit1.17] [GitHub Desktop Diff-Diff interactions] The screen reader does not announce the highlighted search result information on providing valid/invalid input in the search edit field
  • [GH-changeslist1.4] Screen Reader does not announce the selected information upon selecting multiple controls present in left pane using Shift+arrow keys.
  • [GHDsktAncillary2.2] Screen reader does not announce any information for the side menu that appears upon activating the 'show error dialog' control
  • [GithubDeskt1.9] [GitHub Desktop Repository List- URL] Disabled "Clone" button
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GHDesktpHstry2.2] In browse mode, screen reader navigation is not in a logical sequence
  • [GH-Diff InteractionsMac5.2][GitHub Desktop changes - Diff header and warnings] In browse mode, voice over navigation does not move to diff content table
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics

Supports
1.4.1 Use of Color

Supports
1.4.2 Audio Control

Supports
2.1.1 Keyboard

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GHDsktpdiffaudit1.34] [GitHub Desktop Diff-Unable to commit a submodule change] The warning tooltip of 'repo_the_first' checkbox present at the left pane is not accessible via keyboard.
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap

Supports
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts

Supports
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

Supports
2.2.2 Pause Stop Hide

Supports
2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold

Supports
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

Supports
2.4.2 Page Titled

Supports
2.4.3 Focus Order

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GHDsktAncillary5.4] Keyboard focus lands on the hidden control in make changes dialog
  • [Stashedchanges4.1] On pressing the shortcut key 'Ctrl+Shift+S' to activate 'Stash all changes' control the keyboard focus does not move to the newly added control
  • [GH-Diff Interactions5.8] [GITHUB Desktop Changes-Hunk Expansion Controls] Focus order is not correct after invoking 'Expand up' control
  • [GHDskt(Win32)Branch&HistoryUpdat1.1] [GHDskt(Win32)Branch&HistoryUpdat - Merge to Main Branch] Keyboard focus does not retained on the last interacted control element when a control has been selected within the drop-up options.
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

Supports
2.5.1 Pointer Gestures

Supports
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation

Supports
2.5.3 Label in Name

Supports
2.5.4 Motion Actuation

Supports
3.1.1 Language of Page

Supports
3.2.1 On Focus

Supports
3.2.2 On Input

Supports
3.2.6 Consistent Help

Supports
3.3.1 Error Identification

Supports
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GHDesktpHstry2.21] visual Asterisk indicator is not provided for the edit field
3.3.7 Redundant Entry

Supports
4.1.2 Name Role Value

Supports

Level AA Success Criteria

Success Criteria Conformance Level Remarks and Explanations
1.2.4 Captions (Live)

Supports
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Supports
1.3.4 Orientation

Supports
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose

Supports
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

Supports
1.4.4 Resize text

Supports
1.4.5 Images of Text

Supports
1.4.10 Reflow

Supports
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GithubDeskt1.3] [GitHub desktop- File-Appearance Themes (light/dark)]: The Luminosity contrast ratio of focus indicator over the menu item that appears upon pressing (fn + right ctrl) or right mouse click is less than 3:1..
1.4.12 Text-spacing

Supports
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GHDsktAncillary2.14] Hovercards can't be hovered with mouse/pointer
  • [GHDsktAncillary2.1] Hovercards can't be hovered with mouse/pointer
2.4.5 Multiple Ways

Supports
2.4.6 Headings and Labels

Supports
2.4.7 Focus Visible

Supports
2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum)

Supports
2.5.7 Dragging Movements

Supports
2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum)

Supports
3.1.2 Language of Parts

Supports
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation

Supports
3.2.4 Consistent Identification

Supports
3.3.3 Error Suggestion

Supports
3.3.4 Error Prevention (LFD)

Supports
3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum)

Supports
4.1.3 Status Messages

Partially Supports

Exceptions include:

  • [GH-Committing2.17] Screen reader does not announce the warning message automatically

Disclaimer

©2025 GitHub Inc. All rights reserved. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. The information contained in this document represents the current view of GitHub Inc. on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. GitHub cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.

GitHub’s WCAG 2.2 conformance reports provide the information included in ITI’s “VPAT® 2.5 WCAG (November 2023)” template. “Voluntary Product Accessibility Template” and “VPAT” are registered service marks of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). This document includes material copied from or derived from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2). Copyright © 2017-2018 W3C® (MIT, ERCIM, Keio, Beihang). This document is not the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and should not be used as a substitute for it. Excerpts of WCAG are referenced solely for purposes of detailing GitHub’s conformance with the relevant provisions. A full and complete copy of the Guidelines is available from the W3C WAI.

GitHub regularly updates its websites and provides new information about the accessibility of products as that information becomes available. Customization of the product voids this conformance statement from GitHub. Customers may make independent conformance statements if they have conducted due diligence to meet all relevant requirements for their customization. Please consult with Assistive Technology (AT) vendors for compatibility specifications of specific AT products. This document is for informational purposes only. GitHub MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.

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