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Critical Issues in WordPress 6.6
After just one week with the problematic version 6.6, WordPress has now released version 6.6.1 to address several critical bugs.
Among these are two severe issues that led to website crashes. Another bug triggered false alarms in security plugins, and some caused unwanted changes in the user interface. Various media outlets, including the Search Engine Journal, have already reported on these problems.
Page Builders and Themes like Divi Affected
The update to 6.6 caused all links on a staging site using the Divi theme to become underlined immediately.
A particularly noticeable issue affected users of page builders and themes like Divi. This bug caused all links on the affected websites to be underlined.
Some users joked on social media that this was an improvement rather than a bug. While it is generally good practice to underline links, it is not necessary in all cases, such as in the main navigation.
Experienced WordPress users, like jasko40, described a CSS workaround that initially fixed the issue but were unsure about the root cause:
:root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))) {text-decoration: none;}
Following this, Divi provided an emergency solution for their users, even though the problem originated from WordPress. WordPress later acknowledged the bug and announced that it would be fixed in version 6.6.1.
Other Issues Fixed in Version 6.6.1
utf8_charset Fatal Error
is_utf8_charset() undefined when called by code in compat.php
This error prevented the normal functioning of websites. WP Super Cache users developed a temporary workaround that entirely disabled website caching. A user statement on Github:
“Disabling the cache removes the error but is far from ideal.”
PHP Fatal Error
Uncaught Error: Object of class WP_Comment could not be converted to string.
This problem was first noticed by a user of the Divi website builder and is related to the commenter's names. The code was supposed to receive a number (the comment ID) but sometimes got a more complex object (a WP_Comment object), leading to a PHP error. It's like trying to fit the wrong key into a lock – it will never work.
Other fixed issues did not cause crashes but were still annoying:
- A bug caused security plugins to falsely report hacker files.
- A display error in the admin toolbar was fixed.
- Invalid CSS caused unwanted horizontal scrolling on websites.
- An issue in the post editor caused the category selection field to be too long instead of displaying a scroll UI within a fixed size.
WordPress Bugs and Fixes in Version 6.6.1
| Bug | Description | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fatal Error | is_utf8_charset() undefined when called by compat.php |
Updated code section in 6.6.1 to fix the issue |
| PHP Fatal Error | Object of class WP_Comment could not be converted to string |
Updated comment function to use the correct data format |
| Security Plugin False Alarm | Security plugins falsely reporting potential hacker files | Corrected security check to avoid false alarms |
| Admin Toolbar Display Error | Display error in the admin toolbar | Adjusted CSS for correct display |
| Invalid CSS | Caused unwanted horizontal scrolling on a website | Corrected CSS to prevent horizontal scrolling |
| Post Editor Error | Category selection field becoming too long instead of showing a scroll UI within a fixed size | Adjusted UI to provide a scroll function within a fixed size |
WordPress 6.6.1: More Information on the Release
The newly released WordPress 6.6.1 addresses a total of 7 core issues and 9 block editor issues. You can find a complete overview of the maintenance updates in this version in the release candidate announcement.
WordPress 6.6.1 is a short-term release. The next major version will be WordPress 6.7, scheduled for November 2024.
Tip: If your website supports automatic background updates, the update process will start automatically.
You can also download WordPress 6.6.1 directly from WordPress.org or click on “Updates” in the WordPress dashboard and then select “Update Now.”
For more useful information on this release, visit the Helphub website.
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