Preview of Draft posts returns 404 error

[Robertght]

Quick summary

Similar to these previous cases:

#54107

#57011

Steps to reproduce

In theory, we should be able to replicate by following these steps:

1. Create a draft post.
2. Try to preview it in a separate window

This doesn't happen on my test site, but I found a few that were affected last week.

What you expected to happen

To see the preview without an issue

What actually happened

I got a 404 page instead

Context

4432206-zen
4430152-zen
4418811-zd-woothemes
4429496-zen

Operating System

Windows, macOS

Browser

No response

Simple, Atomic or both?

Simple

Theme-specific issue?

no

Other notes

I can only replicate on their site while SSP'ing.

Reproducibility

Intermittent

Severity

Some (< 50%)

Available workarounds?

Yes, easy to implement

Workaround details

I suggested the users to use the Preview option from the Pages section instead and that worked.

[edwinho89]

I'm seeing a pattern.. I had a few chats having similar issue when they're on Safari 15.0, Mac OS X 10.15.7 (or older)

32601554-hc
32539363-hc

Switching to another web browser like Chrome, or updating to the latest OSX appeared to have fixed it.

[kerrynicl]

Here's another report - ZD- 4439905

Additional info-
User confirmed workaround worked
User Shared info - I’m on OS 11.5.1 on Safari 14.1.2. - Advised user to update browser and OS

[jp-imagines]

Another report in 4438942-zd.

[kerrynicl]

Another report - ZD 4444438. -

Additional info
Uer confirmed workaround stated above worked
The device I’m using is an Ipad, 8th generation, version 14.0, model nb MYLD2NF/A, and I use Safari as browser but I just tried to use Chrome and the issue is the same on that browser too. I’ve also noticed some changes when using certain features. Sometimes, I have to re-do what I was trying to create like for example when using the button call to action. The display wasn’t good so I had to re-do the same steps three times to get the desired outcome. I don’t know what’s happening because the Ipad I use is quite recent. It was released last year in October so the device cannot be outdated. Plus, the updates are made automatically.

[msilbers]

reported in 32669140-hc

Recommended the same workaround to preview from the pages or post list

[kerrynicl]

Also another report here :
4445021 - ZD
4444797 - ZD

[nickpagz]

Noting this happened in this interaction as well:
27140549-hc

In this case the user is on Chrome 96:
https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/XRX1U

Full user agent is Mozilla/5.0 (X11; CrOS x86_64 14268.25.0) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/96.0.4664.33 Safari/537.36

I'm asking the user to test on another browser.

[arinoch]

4445021-zd-woothemesprovided more info. They're on Windows 10 with Chrome 95, they've also tested in Edge. Same issue. Issue also appears to happen on pages. Suggesting they try with Firefox, but I'm leaning towards the workaround isn't in this case.

[AtrumGeost]

The user here: 4441486-zd-woothemes

Pointed out they ran some tests and the issue only happens when trying to preview with the custom domain (ex. custon-domain.com/?p=3964&preview=true), but if they use the free WP.com address it works (ex. custom-domaim.wordpress.com/?p=3964&preview=true)

[rw-ye]

4453017-zd-woothemes

The user tried using Safari 15 and Firefox 94:
https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/1B77J
https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/QXFC4

Suggested the workaround for now.

[jp-imagines]

Another report: 31344553-hc. Chrome 95.0 on Windows 10. Suggested the workaround.

[ccwalburn]

Another report here: 32763305-hc
Only happens with Scheduled posts.
Firefox 94 on Windows 10 - preview doesn't work from the editor (they get an "Oops! That page can’t be found." error), but the workaround works
Chrome - preview works in the editor and with the workaround

[jp-imagines]

Another report in 12785399-hc, Safari 15.0 on Mac OS X 10.15.7.

[annbingle]

Another one reported in this ticket - 4461543-zd

[retnonindya]

4461543-zd-woothemes. Chrome 96 on Windows 10

[galakhyati]

Two instances of the issue where preview isn't working consistently:

#32792353-hc / Follow up: #4464377-zd-woothemes. Safari 14.1 on Mac OS X 10.15.7
#32792307-hc / Follow up: #4464442-zd-woothemes. Firefox 94.0 on Windows 7.0.0

[jp-imagines]

Another in 32800528-hc, Safari 14.1 on Mac OS X 10.15.7. Showed them the workaround. Also suggested trying another browser or enabling third-party cookies, as they have them disabled.

User requested an email follow-up when this is fixed.

[kerrynicl]

Another report - ZD- 4530198

[sharonlaker19]

+1 at 4551202-zen
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; CPU OS 14_7 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) CriOS/96.0.4664.53 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1
Suggested workaround for now.

[manuelrebollo-a11y]

+1 at 4554141-zen
Suggesting workaround found above.

[metabreakr]

25548990-hc
Safari 14.1 on Mac OS X 10.15.7

[dolgelukkig]

One more: 32870674-hc

Safari version 14.1.2 (15611.3.10.1.5, 15611), Mac OS Catalina version 10.15.7

[metabreakr]

4560496-zen might be another instance, though am asking user for additional details such as browser information.

[chiape]

4564283-zen

Safari version 14.1.2, Firefox version 94.0.2, Mac OS Big Sur 11.6

[filipanoscampos]

Another case, here: 36311000-hc

Please follow up, here:

• 5448353-zd-woothemes

[jp-imagines]

Another in 36314195-hc

• follow-up: 5449183-zd-woothemes

[Babylon1999]

5445983-zd

[tanjoymor]

27167061-hc (happens in Firefox but not Chrome with a draft post)

[csabarakasz]

• 5441292-zd-woothemes

Similar case. Requesting OS and browser version.

[jeyip]

Hey team -- we just released a bug fix for this issue in #66046. I tested the draft preview 404 third party cookie issue in production and it should be solved for simple sites.

One thing to note is that in testing, #cylon noticed that browser caches and cookies could be finicky, even with the fix. This means that existing users with the problem might not see things resolved until they either:

1. Follow the workaround instructions that @JoshuaGoode suggested here ( This workaround is no longer behaving as expected )
2. Clear browser cache and cookies and log back into WordPress

I'd suggest option number 1. That being said, once fixed, our users should no longer need to do any other finagling and should not see this problem on simple sites moving forward.

[jeyip]

Closing this for now as the problem appears to have been solved

[syedshaon]

5472157-zd

[cometgrrl]

@jeyip Can you follow up with @syedshaon on 5472157-zen and see if this needs to be re-opened or if we need to file a new bug?

[jeyip]

@cometgrrl Sure 👍 I'll reach out to @syedshaon

[jeyip]

Talked to @syedshaon and I pointed him to workarounds for potential problems with browser caches and cookies here. Also noted that, once handled, the problem should not reoccur. It seems like this issue doesn't need to be reopened, but I'll keep an eye on things.

[rickmgithub]

5473741-zd User reported the workaround here doesn't work for them.

[jeyip]

@rickmgithub Is the user led to a blank screen? @syedshaon had a similar problem, and we're waiting to see what happens when the user clears their cookies.

I'll open up a new Github issue if this is the case.

[jorpdesigns]

@jeyip The user in the case reported by @rickmgithub (5473741-zen) confirmed they see a blank screen.

We have also asked them to clear their browser cache and they confirmed this did not work either.

I have now asked them to clear their browser cookies and let us know if that works.

[jeyip]

@jeyip The user in the case reported by @rickmgithub (5473741-zen) confirmed they see a blank screen.

I'll see if I can reproduce this in a bit. If so, I'll create a second issue that can be prioritized and handled by a separate team, because the blank screen seems unrelated to the cookie problems we addressed here.

[jeyip]

@syedshaon @jorpdesigns @rickmgithub @cometgrrl @JoshuaGoode I can consistently reproduce the login problem described by others. I'm creating a separate issue now. I've also amended my suggested browser cache invalidation techniques to no longer include Joshua's suggested workaround.

[metabreakr]

36508625-hc
Firefox 103.0 on Windows 10.0.0

[wiesenhauss]

Another one - using Baskerville 2

• 5527101-zen

[druesome]

36585851-hc

Firefox user is unable to view scheduled post while logged in.

[brinbliss]

Another with Firefox 104 and the Maxwell theme. Copying the draft into a new draft fixed it, for this user.

• 32647624-hc

[csabarakasz]

• 36356258-hc
  Another one. suggested the Preview option from the Pages section instead.

I couldn't replicate it btw.

[cuemarie]

Decision was made here: p1683245378229639-slack-C0160HSMDQV that batch replies for users impacted by this issue will not be sent out.