How to fix label title only on Shopify

Steps for Shopify

1. In your Shopify admin go to Online Store → Themes → (your active theme) → Actions → Edit code.
2. Common problem files: sections/header.liquid (search input), sections/main-cart-items.liquid (quantity input), templates/customers/login.liquid, and any newsletter section.
3. Open the relevant .liquid file, find the <input> element, and check whether a <label for='...'> with matching id exists above it.
4. If missing, add a <label for='search'>Search</label> immediately before the <input id='search' ...>. For visually-hidden labels you still want read aloud, wrap the label text in a <span class='visually-hidden'> using Shopify's built-in utility class instead of relying on title.
5. For search bars where a visible label is unwanted by the design, replace the title attribute with aria-label='Search' directly on the <input> element.
6. Save and preview. Use the axe browser extension to verify no label-title-only violations remain.

What is label title only?

Every input field on a web form — search boxes, email fields, quantity selectors, checkout fields — needs a visible label that sighted users can read and that assistive technologies like screen readers can announce. The `title` attribute (which appears as a browser tooltip on hover) and `aria-describedby` (which provides supplementary description) are not substitutes for a proper label. When a field relies only on these mechanisms, many users — including those using screen readers, voice-control software, or who simply have low vision — cannot tell what the field is for. This WCAG rule (label-title-only) flags any form field that lacks a proper visible label and depends solely on hidden or supplementary labeling methods.

Accessibility failures on checkout and search forms directly reduce conversions: if a customer cannot understand what to type into a field, they abandon the form. Legally, WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance is required or strongly recommended in many jurisdictions (ADA in the US, EN 301 549 in the EU, AODA in Canada), and failing it exposes your store to complaints, audits, and litigation. Search engines also parse form labels to understand page content and site usability — a well-labeled search or newsletter form sends better signals than one Google's crawler cannot interpret. Fixing this issue improves usability for everyone, including mobile users who cannot hover to see tooltip text.

See the complete Label title only guide for every platform and the full background.