diff --git a/bin/accessibility-automation/helper.js b/bin/accessibility-automation/helper.js
index e0ec145f..d1383eab 100644
--- a/bin/accessibility-automation/helper.js
+++ b/bin/accessibility-automation/helper.js
@@ -41,6 +41,115 @@ exports.isAccessibilitySupportedCypressVersion = (cypress_config_filename) => {
   return CYPRESS_V10_AND_ABOVE_CONFIG_FILE_EXTENSIONS.includes(extension);
 }
 
+// Strip JS/TS comments so that commented-out plugin imports/calls are ignored
+// by the static scans below. Best-effort: handles block and line comments while
+// avoiding `://` in URLs.
+const stripComments = (src) => {
+  return src
+    .replace(/\/\*[\s\S]*?\*\//g, ' ')        // block comments
+    .replace(/(^|[^:])\/\/[^\n]*/g, '$1');     // line comments (skip URLs like http://)
+};
+
+// Reads the cypress config source (comments stripped). Returns null if it cannot
+// be read.
+const readConfigSource = (user_config) => {
+  const configPath = user_config.run_settings && user_config.run_settings.cypressConfigFilePath;
+  if (!configPath || !fs.existsSync(configPath)) return null;
+  return stripComments(fs.readFileSync(configPath, { encoding: 'utf-8' }));
+};
+
+// Finds the symbol the accessibility plugin is imported as, via require() or
+// import, regardless of path style. Returns the binding name or null.
+const getAccessibilityPluginBinding = (content) => {
+  const requireMatch = content.match(/(?:const|let|var)\s+([A-Za-z0-9_$]+)\s*=\s*require\(\s*['"][^'"]*accessibility-automation\/plugin['"]\s*\)/);
+  const importMatch = content.match(/import\s+([A-Za-z0-9_$]+)\s+from\s+['"][^'"]*accessibility-automation\/plugin['"]/);
+  return (requireMatch && requireMatch[1]) || (importMatch && importMatch[1]) || null;
+};
+
+const isBindingCalled = (content, binding) => {
+  const callRegex = new RegExp('\\b' + binding.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&') + '\\s*\\(');
+  return callRegex.test(content);
+};
+
+// Static check: confirm the (already-imported) accessibility plugin is actually
+// invoked in the config source. Lenient — if the import binding cannot be located
+// via static parsing (unusual syntax) or the source cannot be read, we do NOT
+// veto the require-based detection (return true), to avoid wrongly disabling
+// valid configs.
+const isAccessibilityPluginInvokedInSource = (user_config) => {
+  try {
+    const content = readConfigSource(user_config);
+    if (content === null) return true;
+    const binding = getAccessibilityPluginBinding(content);
+    if (!binding) return true;
+    return isBindingCalled(content, binding);
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.debug(`Unable to verify accessibility plugin invocation: ${error.message || error}`);
+    return true;
+  }
+};
+
+// Pure static fallback: confirm the plugin is BOTH imported AND invoked. Used
+// only when the config could not be required (e.g. a TypeScript config before
+// BrowserStack packages are installed), so such users are still evaluated.
+const isAccessibilityPluginImportedAndCalledInSource = (user_config) => {
+  try {
+    const content = readConfigSource(user_config);
+    if (content === null) return false;
+    const binding = getAccessibilityPluginBinding(content);
+    if (!binding) return false;
+    return isBindingCalled(content, binding);
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.debug(`Unable to scan cypress config for accessibility plugin: ${error.message || error}`);
+    return false;
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Determines whether the BrowserStack accessibility plugin is genuinely wired
+ * into the user's cypress config, i.e. both imported AND invoked.
+ *
+ * Detection combines two signals:
+ *  1) Require-load: reading the cypress config executes its top-level requires;
+ *     the plugin sets BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED on load, which
+ *     readCypressConfigFile propagates back as a definitive 'true'/'false'. This
+ *     tells us whether the plugin is imported (and does not false-positive on a
+ *     commented-out require, since commented code never executes).
+ *  2) Static source scan: confirms the imported plugin binding is actually called
+ *     in the config — so "imported but never called" is treated as not loaded.
+ *
+ * If the config could not be required (env var stays undefined, e.g. a TS config
+ * before packages are installed), we fall back to a pure static scan that checks
+ * for both import and invocation.
+ */
+exports.isAccessibilityPluginLoaded = (user_config) => {
+  try {
+    // Reset before reading so a stale value from a previous run cannot leak in.
+    delete process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED;
+    const { readCypressConfigFile } = require('../helpers/readCypressConfigUtil');
+    readCypressConfigFile(user_config);
+
+    const detection = process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED;
+    if (detection === 'true') {
+      // Imported via require — additionally require that it is actually invoked.
+      const called = isAccessibilityPluginInvokedInSource(user_config);
+      if (!called) {
+        logger.debug('Accessibility plugin is imported but not invoked in the cypress config; treating as not loaded.');
+      }
+      return called;
+    }
+    if (detection === 'false') return false;
+
+    // Inconclusive (config could not be required) — fall back to a static scan
+    // that checks for both import and invocation.
+    logger.debug('Accessibility plugin detection inconclusive from config require; falling back to source scan.');
+    return isAccessibilityPluginImportedAndCalledInSource(user_config);
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.debug(`Unable to determine if accessibility plugin is loaded: ${error.message || error}`);
+    return isAccessibilityPluginImportedAndCalledInSource(user_config);
+  }
+}
+
 exports.createAccessibilityTestRun = async (user_config, framework) => {
 
   try {
diff --git a/bin/accessibility-automation/plugin/index.js b/bin/accessibility-automation/plugin/index.js
index 5ea42676..5b601240 100644
--- a/bin/accessibility-automation/plugin/index.js
+++ b/bin/accessibility-automation/plugin/index.js
@@ -3,7 +3,18 @@ const { decodeJWTToken } = require("../../helpers/utils");
 const utils = require('../../helpers/utils');
 const http = require('http');
 
+// Marker set as soon as this plugin module is loaded by the user's cypress
+// config (via `require('browserstack-cypress-cli/bin/accessibility-automation/plugin')`).
+// The CLI reads the cypress config (which executes its top-level requires) before
+// sending the build start event, and uses this marker to determine whether the
+// accessibility plugin is actually wired in. Unlike a static text scan of the
+// config file, this does NOT false-positive on commented-out requires.
+process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED = 'true';
+
 const browserstackAccessibility = (on, config) => {
+  // Also set on invocation, so that a runtime read of the plugin reflects that
+  // it was actually called within setupNodeEvents.
+  process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED = 'true';
   let browser_validation = true;
   if (process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_DEBUG === 'true') {
     config.env.BROWSERSTACK_LOGS = 'true';
diff --git a/bin/commands/runs.js b/bin/commands/runs.js
index 4d13d51e..df02954a 100644
--- a/bin/commands/runs.js
+++ b/bin/commands/runs.js
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@ const {
   printBuildLink
 } = require('../testObservability/helper/helper');
 
-const { 
+const {
   createAccessibilityTestRun,
   setAccessibilityEventListeners,
   checkAccessibilityPlatform,
+  isAccessibilityPluginLoaded,
   supportFileCleanup
 } = require('../accessibility-automation/helper');
 const { isTurboScaleSession, getTurboScaleGridDetails, patchCypressConfigFileContent, atsFileCleanup } = require('../helpers/atsHelper');
@@ -42,6 +43,10 @@ const TestHubHandler = require('../testhub/testhubHandler');
 
 module.exports = function run(args, rawArgs) {
   utils.normalizeTestReportingEnvVars();
+  // Tracks the case where accessibility was requested but the plugin is not
+  // wired into the cypress config; surfaced in the end-of-session EDS event so
+  // such builds can be excluded from accessibility stability queries.
+  let accessibilityPluginNotLoaded = false;
   markBlockStart('preBuild');
   // set debug mode (--cli-debug)
   utils.setDebugMode(args);
@@ -69,7 +74,7 @@ module.exports = function run(args, rawArgs) {
     /* Set testObservability & browserstackAutomation flags */
     const [isTestObservabilitySession, isBrowserstackInfra] = setTestObservabilityFlags(bsConfig);
     const checkAccessibility = checkAccessibilityPlatform(bsConfig);
-    const isAccessibilitySession = bsConfig.run_settings.accessibility || checkAccessibility;
+    let isAccessibilitySession = bsConfig.run_settings.accessibility || checkAccessibility;
     const turboScaleSession = isTurboScaleSession(bsConfig);
     Constants.turboScaleObj.enabled = turboScaleSession;
     
@@ -113,6 +118,15 @@ module.exports = function run(args, rawArgs) {
     // set build tag caps
     utils.setBuildTags(bsConfig, args);
 
+    // If accessibility is requested but the BrowserStack accessibility plugin is
+    // not loaded in the cypress config, explicitly disable accessibility before
+    // the build start event so the build is not treated as an accessibility build.
+    if (isAccessibilitySession && isBrowserstackInfra && !isAccessibilityPluginLoaded(bsConfig)) {
+      logger.warn(Constants.userMessages.ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_NOT_LOADED);
+      accessibilityPluginNotLoaded = true;
+      isAccessibilitySession = false;
+    }
+
     checkAndSetAccessibility(bsConfig, isAccessibilitySession);
 
     const preferredPort = 5348;
@@ -422,6 +436,7 @@ module.exports = function run(args, rawArgs) {
                   unique_id: utils.generateUniqueHash(),
                   package_error: utils.checkError(packageData),
                   checkmd5_error: utils.checkError(md5data),
+                  accessibility_plugin_not_loaded: accessibilityPluginNotLoaded,
                   build_id: data.build_id,
                   test_zip_size: test_zip_size,
                   npm_zip_size: npm_zip_size,
diff --git a/bin/helpers/config.js b/bin/helpers/config.js
index e689a61c..991f8201 100644
--- a/bin/helpers/config.js
+++ b/bin/helpers/config.js
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ config.retries = 5;
 config.networkErrorExitCode = 2;
 config.compiledConfigJsDirName = 'tmpBstackCompiledJs';
 config.configJsonFileName = 'tmpCypressConfig.json';
+// Temp file used to surface, from the child process that requires the cypress
+// config, whether the BrowserStack accessibility plugin was loaded by it.
+config.accessibilityPluginFlagFileName = 'tmpA11yPluginLoaded.json';
 
 // turboScale
 config.turboScaleMd5Sum = `${config.turboScaleUrl}/md5sumcheck`;
diff --git a/bin/helpers/constants.js b/bin/helpers/constants.js
index d55dc988..c0bdd495 100644
--- a/bin/helpers/constants.js
+++ b/bin/helpers/constants.js
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ const syncCLI = {
 };
 
 const userMessages = {
+  ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_NOT_LOADED:
+    "BrowserStack Accessibility Automation plugin is not loaded in your cypress config file. Disabling accessibility for this build. Please follow https://www.browserstack.com/docs/accessibility/automated-tests/get-started/cypress to enable accessibility testing.",
   BUILD_FAILED: "Build creation failed.",
   BUILD_GENERATE_REPORT_FAILED:
     "Generating report for the build <build-id> failed.",
diff --git a/bin/helpers/readCypressConfigUtil.js b/bin/helpers/readCypressConfigUtil.js
index 735d2000..52d17bda 100644
--- a/bin/helpers/readCypressConfigUtil.js
+++ b/bin/helpers/readCypressConfigUtil.js
@@ -233,6 +233,21 @@ exports.loadJsFile =  (cypress_config_filepath, bstack_node_modules_path) => {
     if (fs.existsSync(config.configJsonFileName)) {
         fs.unlinkSync(config.configJsonFileName)
     }
+
+    // Propagate accessibility-plugin detection (written by requireModule.js in the
+    // child process) back into the parent process via an env var. We set it
+    // explicitly to 'true'/'false' only when the config was actually required, so
+    // callers can distinguish a definitive result from "could not read".
+    try {
+        if (fs.existsSync(config.accessibilityPluginFlagFileName)) {
+            const flag = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(config.accessibilityPluginFlagFileName).toString());
+            process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED = (flag && flag.accessibilityPluginLoaded) ? 'true' : 'false';
+            fs.unlinkSync(config.accessibilityPluginFlagFileName);
+        }
+    } catch (err) {
+        logger.debug(`Unable to read accessibility plugin detection flag: ${err.message}`);
+    }
+
     return cypress_config
 }
 
diff --git a/bin/helpers/requireModule.js b/bin/helpers/requireModule.js
index 90abd0e0..283ffd8f 100644
--- a/bin/helpers/requireModule.js
+++ b/bin/helpers/requireModule.js
@@ -12,3 +12,17 @@ if (fs.existsSync(config.configJsonFileName)) {
 
 // write module in temporary json file
 fs.writeFileSync(config.configJsonFileName, JSON.stringify(mod))
+
+// Requiring the cypress config above executes its top-level requires, which
+// includes the BrowserStack accessibility plugin when the user has wired it in.
+// The plugin sets BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED on load; surface that
+// back to the parent CLI process via a temp flag file.
+try {
+    const accessibilityPluginLoaded = process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESSIBILITY_PLUGIN_LOADED === 'true';
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+        config.accessibilityPluginFlagFileName,
+        JSON.stringify({ accessibilityPluginLoaded })
+    );
+} catch (err) {
+    // best-effort: detection falls back to "not loaded" if this fails
+}