Classic Widgets is broken in WordPress 6.0

Hello @restorm,

The Classic Widgets plugin is 2 lines of code to disable the block editor from managing the widgets. The UI itself is managed within WordPress Core but is extensible by plugins and themes.

I was curious if the problem is coming directly from WordPress Core itself. In testing WP 6.0, I wasn’t able to reproduce the problem. Here’s how I tested it:

Test 1:
Theme: Twenty Twenty-One
Plugins: only the Classic Widgets plugin activated (no other plugins)
Result: widgets UI (Appearance > Widgets) works without error

Test 2:
Theme: Twenty Twenty
Plugins: only the Classic Widgets plugin activated (no other plugins)
Result: widgets UI (Appearance > Widgets) works without error

Test 3:
Theme: Twenty Twenty-One
Plugins: Gutenberg v 13.3.0 and Classic Widgets plugin activated
Result: widgets UI (Appearance > Widgets) works without error

Test 4:
Theme: Twenty Twenty
Plugins: Gutenberg v 13.3.0 and Classic Widgets plugin activated
Result: widgets UI (Appearance > Widgets) works without error

In this testing, it does not appear the issue is coming from the Classic Widgets plugin. In a default setup, it works.

What are the next steps to help resolve whatever is going on?

I’m wondering: Is there a plugin or theme on your site that is causing a conflict or possibly a JS error?

To find out, I’d suggest starting with the 6.0 Troubleshooting guide found here https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/read-this-first-wordpress-6-0/.

It’ll walk you through troubleshooting steps including flushing caches (caching plugins, server caching, and browser caching), deactivating all the plugins (except for the Classic Widgets plugin), troubleshooting for JS errors within your browser, and switching to the Twenty Twenty-One theme.

Why?

These steps help to identify where the problem exists on your site to direct you to where to report the issue for resolution. For example, if a plugin is causing the issue, then that plugin could be disabled for now until its author fixes whatever the issue is.

Thanks for the quick and thorough reply, Tonya. I’ll forward your message to our developer (who won’t be able to work on it until Saturday).

One point: the only thing that changed was the installation of WordPress 6.0. No other plugins were updated at that time, so there’s definitely a link between the problem and the new version of WordPress.

If I can’t get Classic Widgets to work, do you know how I can access and edit my sidebar widgets? How do people who don’t use Classic Widgets access their widgets?

One point: the only thing that changed was the installation of WordPress 6.0. No other plugins were updated at that time, so there’s definitely a link between the problem and the new version of WordPress.

Thanks a fair question and line of thinking @restorm. Each major release brings bug fixes and new features. It’s possible that a plugin or the activated theme has something within it that needs to be fixed to be compatible with the new WordPress version. It’s also possible that one (or more) of your site’s plugins and/or the theme is exposing a problem within WordPress itself.

In order to fix it, first step is to narrow down the possibilities to hopefully identify one (or a small set) of plugins or maybe a theme that when activated cause the error you’re experiencing. Then developers can dive in with that information to isolate the root cause.

Does that make sense?

Question: Do the widgets display properly on the frontend of your website? Or is the issue isolated to the backend Appearance > Widgets screen for editing widgets?

You’re right, Tonya. WordPress 6.0 broke a plugin called Visual Form Builder, which I don’t think we were even using on the site. I deactivated that plugin, and it fixed the widgets problem. To answer your question, the problem was just on the back end. Thanks very much for your kind help!

WooHoo, I’m glad you found the plugin and now the widgets screen is working again for you.

The next step could be reaching out to the plugin author(s) to alert them to the issue you were having by reporting it here https://www.ads-software.com/support/plugin/visual-form-builder/.

I’ll go ahead and mark this issue as resolved as it’s not due to Classic Widgets plugin.

Thanks for working with me on figuring out the problem. Cheers.