WordPress Releases Version 6.6.1 to Fix Fatal Errors in 6.6

WordPress releases version 6.6.1, a vital update designed to address significant issues discovered in the recent 6.6 release. This update is crucial for maintaining the functionality and security of WordPress sites, making it imperative for users to update their systems immediately.

Key Features of WordPress 6.6.1

WordPress 6.6.1 is a maintenance release that corrects seven major issues found in version 6.6, including two that caused fatal errors, leading to website crashes. This update is essential for restoring the stability and security of websites impacted by these bugs. For anyone managing a WordPress site, understanding and implementing these updates is crucial to ensure seamless operation and protection against potential vulnerabilities.

Fatal Errors Addressed in WordPress 6.6.1

One of the most significant issues resolved by this update was the “Underlined Links” bug, which notably affected users of page builders and themes such as Divi. This bug caused all links to appear underlined, drastically altering the appearance of websites. Despite underlined links being a general best practice, they are not always necessary, especially in top-level navigation.

A user highlighted this issue on the WordPress.org support forums: “Updating to 6.6 caused all links to be immediately underlined on a staging Divi-themed site.”

Although Divi issued an emergency fix, the root cause stemmed from WordPress. Version 6.6.1 includes a permanent fix for this issue.

Resolution of Other Major Issues

• is_utf8_charset() Undefined in compat.php: This caused a fatal error for users of WP Super Cache, temporarily disabling website caching. The issue has now been resolved.
• PHP Fatal Error with WP_Comment: This problem occurred when the code attempted to convert a WP_Comment object to a string, leading to a fatal error. This issue, reported by a Divi user, has been fixed in the new update.

Additional Bug Fixes in 6.6.1

While the following bugs did not cause website crashes, they were significant enough to warrant fixes in the 6.6.1 update:

• False Positive Security Warnings: A bug causing security plugins to issue incorrect alerts about possible hacker files has been fixed.
• Admin Toolbar Display: An issue affecting the display of the admin toolbar has been addressed.
• Invalid CSS: A bug causing unwanted horizontal scrolling on web pages has been resolved.
• Category Chooser Box in Post Editor: The issue where the category chooser box became excessively long instead of showing a scroll UI within a set size has been fixed.

Conclusion

WordPress 6.6.1 is an essential update that addresses significant issues from the previous version, ensuring that websites run smoothly and securely. It is crucial for all WordPress users to update to this version to avoid potential disruptions and security risks.

Ensure your WordPress site is running the latest version by updating to 6.6.1. For more latest WordPress updates, stay tuned with us!