How to fix aria prohibited attr on Squarespace

Steps for Squarespace

1. In the Squarespace Pages panel, navigate to the page containing the flagged element.
2. If the element is inside a Code Block or a custom HTML injection (Settings → Advanced → Code Injection), open that block and search for the prohibited ARIA attribute, then correct it.
3. If the attribute is on a native Squarespace component (e.g. a navigation or gallery widget), you may need to override it via Custom CSS or a JavaScript snippet injected through Settings → Advanced → Code Injection — add JavaScript that removes/corrects the attribute after page load.
4. Save and preview, then validate with the axe browser extension.

What is aria prohibited attr?

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a set of special HTML attributes like `aria-label`, `aria-checked`, or `aria-expanded` that tell screen readers and other assistive technologies what an element is and how it behaves. However, every ARIA role — and every native HTML element that maps to a role — has a defined list of attributes it is allowed to use. Putting a prohibited ARIA attribute on an element is like giving a screen reader contradictory instructions: for example, adding `aria-checked` to a plain `<div role="heading">` makes no sense and causes confusion. The WCAG 4.1.2 success criterion requires that all user interface components have names, roles, and values that can be programmatically determined, which means the attributes must be valid for the element's role.

Screen readers (used by millions of people who are blind or have low vision) rely on ARIA attributes to announce what a control does and its current state. When a prohibited attribute is present, screen readers may announce garbled, incorrect, or completely missing information — making the element unusable for those shoppers. Beyond accessibility, WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance (Success Criterion 4.1.2) is increasingly required by law in the EU (European Accessibility Act 2025), the US (ADA, Section 508), and other jurisdictions — non-compliance carries real legal risk for online retailers. Automated scanners such as Lighthouse and axe flag this rule and it directly affects your accessibility audit score, which is a growing signal for brand trust and, in some markets, a procurement requirement.

See the complete Aria prohibited attr guide for every platform and the full background.