paragraph block stops working after 5 - 30 minutes of editing

[c-merrick]

Description

I'm reporting a bug on behalf of a client. I'm unable to reproduce it locally but I've been on two zooms with her looking at it and checking the inspector (which at least once showed no errors when the bug was triggered).

What happens:

• she starts a post or edits a post, using paragraph and image blocks. Text may be typed or may be copied from a Google Doc

• after about 5 minutes, or up to 30 minutes, all paragraph blocks stop being editable. She can't place the cursor in a specific location. She can't add or delete text. From the zoom, it looks like when she tries, the entire paragraph gets selected.

• she can still edit the post title or replace a photo

• she can Save as a Draft, and reloading the page sometimes causes the bug to stop, until it's triggered again a few minutes later.

• logging out entirely and logging in again seem to reliably stop the bug until it's triggered again

• it is frequent but irregular

What we have tried that does NOT stop the bug:

• disabling all plugins and reverting to a default theme

• clearing the cache and cookies and restarting the browser

• different browsers (Chrome, Edge, and Firefox)

• editing a cloned copy of the site on a different host

• using a different computer while in her home (both PC laptops, one borrowed from a coworker)

• taking her laptop to Starbucks and working there

• disabling Norton antivirus

• sitting directly next to her modem

What HAS worked:

• working on her laptop (the same one that has the bug when she's at home or at Starbucks) while visiting her daughter in another town

She has a 2018 or 2019 PC laptop running Windows 11, and uses Xfinity internet. Her site is on InMotion, with all the plugins and the core updated, PHP version 8.3. The site is WP v 6.8.1 and we've updated all plugins.

I am unable to reproduce the bug on my machine (2023 MacBook Pro, on AT&T internet). She lives four hours away so I have not yet attempted taking my machine to her house.

I'm filing this as a Gutenberg bug because it isn't plugin dependent and it seems to be specific to the paragraph block, though I cannot rule out the possibility it might affect other blocks as well.

Step-by-step reproduction instructions

1. Write/edit a post using paragraph blocks and image blocks (I don't know if the image blocks matter).
2. After 5 to 30 minutes the paragraph blocks become uneditable.
3. As far as I can tell to only common factors are doing this while working in Chico, California, and/or while using Xfinity internet.

Screenshots, screen recording, code snippet

No response

Environment info

• WP 6.8.1, using a child theme of Twenty Sixteen, bug still present under other default themes
• See on Chrome, Edge, Firefox
• Windows 11 PC laptop, circa 2018, using Xfinity internet

Please confirm that you have searched existing issues in the repo.

• Yes

Please confirm that you have tested with all plugins deactivated except Gutenberg.

• Yes

Please confirm which theme type you used for testing.

• Block
• Classic
• Hybrid (e.g. classic with theme.json)
• Not sure

[c-merrick]

New test: I had my client try a completely brand new WP installation with nothing at all added, no content, no plugins, hosted on WP Engine. Same problem.

[Mamaduka]

I know I’m asking too much, but if you have access to that site can you record and share performance from DevTools?

Cc @ellatrix, @tyxla

[ellatrix]

New test: I had my client try a completely brand new WP installation with nothing at all added, no content, no plugins, hosted on WP Engine. Same problem.

@c-merrick Also Windows?

[c-merrick]

Yes, she was still on her PC laptop for that test.

I just heard from her again, last night she borrowed a Mac and worked on a post for 45 minutes, and did not have the problem. That's not long enough to definitively say it's a PC only problem, but it seems promising, since it's usually only 5 or 10 minutes before it breaks. I've asked her if she can borrow the Mac again and do a second test.

[c-merrick]

I know I’m asking too much, but if you have access to that site can you record and share performance from DevTools?

Cc @ellatrix, @tyxla

I might be able to do this, I'll ask my client if she's comfortable sharing a recording from her PC. I did have her run the Chrome inspector and looked at the Console tab earlier, but no errors came up (just a few deprecation warnings). Do you want the Performance tab specifically? Does it need to be already running when she triggers the bug? I'm a WP designer, not a developer and I'm mostly only savvy with the Elements part of the Inspector, so you'll need to be really specific about what you want to see. Thank you!