[TechArk Solutions]

On the bbPress forum “Create New Topic” page, when the Visual editor tab is active, the TinyMCE toolbar controls (Bold, Italic, Lists, Link, Image, etc.) cannot be accessed using the Tab key.

Keyboard users are unable to navigate to or interact with the formatting toolbar, which prevents them from using editor formatting features without a mouse.

Steps to Reproduce

Navigate to a bbPress forum page.
Select Create New Topic.
Ensure the Visual editor tab is active.
Place focus in the editor area.
Press the Tab key to navigate through available controls.

Actual Result

Focus skips the TinyMCE toolbar controls.
Toolbar buttons cannot be reached or activated using keyboard navigation.
Users must use a mouse to access formatting options.

Expected Result

All toolbar controls should be reachable via keyboard navigation.
Focus order should move through each toolbar button in a logical sequence.
Users should be able to activate toolbar functions using keyboard controls (Enter/Space).

Accessibility Impact

Affects keyboard-only users.
Affects screen reader users who rely on keyboard navigation.
Prevents equal access to content authoring functionality.

WCAG Success Criteria

2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A)
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap (Level A) (verify during testing)
2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A)
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A) (if toolbar controls lack proper accessibility attributes)

Environment

Platform: WordPress + bbPress
Component: TinyMCE Visual Editor (Create New Topic form)
Browser(s): Chrome, Edge
Assistive Technology: NVDA (if tested)

Screenshot Reference

https://prnt.sc/PJVhxYwNyVvf

[Kayako Saeki]

How can I link pingbacks within forum threads and in external posts together?
Sometimes I post articles to link to forum threads, topic to topic, pingbacks are useful for this, but unfortunately there are hardly any threads discussing this issue.

[Robin W]

I see that you posted this issue before, and it was fixed by the changes above

Profile link broken

so you will need to work out what has changed between when the changes above fixed it and now

[Robin W]

You are using the Divi theme (or a child theme of this theme) which has an issue whereby bbpress Profiles and bbpress search may not work properly

If you have issues with either of these, please change the following Divi theme settings:

1. In Dashboard> Divi> Theme options > Builder > Advanced > Static CSS File Generation > Clear

2. In Dashboard> Divi> > Theme Options > Performance> Dynamic CSS option> set to Disabled

3. THEN critically you need to clear any server side caching AND clear your browser cache.

Server side will depend on your host, and/or any caching plugins you have installed

For your browser – see this helpful article How to clear browser cache

[jgasba]

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to detail all that.

About translations I am trying to contribute to the official community translations for the plugin in French. I found the culprit strings and added translations for them. https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/bbp-style-pack/stable/fr/default/?filters%5Bterm%5D=Moderation+Flag&filters%5Bterm_scope%5D=scope_any&filters%5Bstatus%5D=current_or_waiting_or_fuzzy_or_untranslated&filters%5Buser_login%5D=&filter=Apply+Filters&sort%5Bby%5D=priority&sort%5Bhow%5D=desc
Then of course it will only merge when 90+% is translated (and validated), is that correct?

I struggled to find it in the codebase at first because I thought it was in bbpress, my bad. It was then helpful to use the translation website. For further reference it was at the time of writing at modtools/bbpress.php#L215 (in bbp style pack plugin of course)

The most frustrating thing with plugins like bbpress/Buddypress ecosystem is undocumented features/hooks and config parameters and the difficulty it puts on users wanting to work with it or even contribute to understand everything and how each piece comes together with the rest of wordpress in a 15 year old codebase… but thanks to people like you we can go further is making those better 👍

Thanks again for the quick answers

[UlrikGorm]

Is there a fix when the user profile crashes?

I’m using bbPress on NewOrleansSaints.dk and having trouble when showing a users profile. I have contacted Elegant Themes how has made the theme DIVI. But it’s an issue with “author page template”.

Is there a fix for this?

The forum: https://www.neworleanssaints.dk/forum/saints/
The profile (the problem): https://www.neworleanssaints.dk/bruger/ulrik-jensen/

[BackuPs]

same issue here

deprecated: Function seems_utf8 is deprecated since version 6.9.0! Use wp_is_valid_utf8() instead. in /var/docs/server.tst/public/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6173

\bbpress\bbpress.2.6.14\bbpress\includes\common\formatting.php line 810 !

[Marisa]

When the delete_user action is called I want to delete all the bbPress forum topics and replies for a specified user.

I think the problem is the posts are having their user id set to 1 as part of the deletion process and by the time the delete_user action is called, it is too late.

The code I have so far is given below. I’m not quite sure what the current state of this code is, but I think it deletes topics but not replies.

// Get remaining replies by user (not already removed with topics)
$replies = get_posts(array(
‘author’ => $user_id,
‘post_type’ => bbp_get_reply_post_type(),
‘post_status’ => array(‘publish’, ‘closed’, ‘spam’, ‘pending’, ‘trash’, ‘inherit’),
‘numberposts’ => -1,
‘fields’ => ‘ids’));

// Delete replies
if (!empty($replies))
{
foreach($replies as $reply_id)
{
bbp_delete_reply($reply_id, true);
}
}

// Get all topics by user
$topics = get_posts(array(
‘author’ => $user_id,
‘post_type’ => bbp_get_topic_post_type(),
‘post_status’ => ‘any’,
‘numberposts’ => -1,
‘fields’ => ‘ids’));

// Delete topics (this also deletes their replies)
if (!empty($topics))
{
foreach ($topics as $topic_id)
{
bbp_delete_topic($topic_id, true); // true = force delete
}
}

[wpweaver]

My hosting uses PHP 8.4. I have WP 6.9.4 and latest (which is old) of bbPress.

I’ve getting the deprecated uses_utf8 message (needs to be wp_is_valid_utf8).

I fixed it, but I don’t think users should have to do that just because hosts are using new versions of PHP, and that WP 7 is just around the corner.

Don’t know what other archaic code is in ppbress, but PLEASE fix at least this one.

[fabioplugins]

Hello, I am a veteran WordPress user and old SEO guy, recently turned into a vibe coder. I built a WP plugin that can read BBpress forums, topics and replies, and answer visitors’ questions using AI. It can summarize several informations, and give a summarized answers with a link to the source. The goal is to retain visitors that might feel lost in the large amount of info, and to help finding relevant content right on their arrival in the forum. What do you think, can it be helpfull ?

[lowercase99]

further update… I installed & activated the “Enable bbPress for Block Themes” plugin as suggested by @robin-w and there was no change wrt the subscribe/unsubscribe functionality. Of note, the forums do function normally, and always have, in my configuration. It’s just the subscribe/unsubscribe function that is broken

[Danny89]

I’m actually looking into this as well 👀

I’m planning to convert my existing WordPress site into a full forum using bbPress, and the classic/default theme setup is something I’m trying to understand better.

From what I’ve gathered so far, it seems like the process is:

* install and activate bbPress plugin
* create forums from the dashboard
* then adjust the theme (or use a child theme) to make it look more like a proper forum

I’m still a bit unsure about the best way to properly switch or enforce the “classic” bbPress layout across the site.

Would love to hear how you approached it — especially if you managed to fully convert your site into a forum-style experience rather than just adding forums as a section.

Thanks! 👍

[Robin W]

I suspect you are using a block theme also known as “Full Site Editing” or FSE theme

This is one of the “block themes” – this is the new way that WordPress plans to develop themes. BBpress authors are working on a fix for this, but in the meantime, add this additional plugin

Enable bbPress for Block Themes

Come back if this does not work

[nickydeep]

https://vitaemagazineblog.com/forums/forum/family-tree/

wordpress.com couldn’t resolve my problem and they shorn me over to the bbpress.org website to handle the problem … i want to do a bbPress forum on that website but i can’t get it started and wordpress doesn’t know why we tried a different theme and that didn’t work … i uninstalled all the plugins and that didn’t help … i checked the root directory and made a change to it and broke it and changed it back and got back to square one so i think the root directory is fine … i couldn’t and can’t reset the permalinks because i’m not at that level yet on wordpress … this occurred directly after installation and i created a forum and it went to the white screen when i checked the permalink and then i started a topic and that permalink went to the white screen … i’m just a writer this is already too much code for me to handle

so if anyone knows anything about this let me know …

[craftylion]

Hi there,

I’ve only just started using bbpress and still learning how to use it.

Is there a way to restrict a certain user role to one forum only? In other words, they can only view topics and replies in that forum.

Thanks in advance.

[craftylion]

I’ve just installed the latest version of bbPress and I’m having a little trouble solving this. I’m running a test site and would like to edit my profile frontend. The only problem is, I can’t see the text to know what I’m typing (the text is white on white background).

Any thoughts?

[Robin W]

If you are using the Divi theme (or a child theme of this theme) and have an issue whereby bbpress Profiles and bbpress search may not work properly

If you have issues with either of these, please change the following Divi theme settings:

1. In Dashboard> Divi> Theme options > Builder > Advanced > Static CSS File Generation > Clear

2. In Dashboard> Divi> > Theme Options > Performance> Dynamic CSS option> set to Disabled

3. THEN critically you need to clear any server side caching AND clear your browser cache.

Server side will depend on your host, and/or any caching plugins you have installed

For your browser – see this helpful article How to clear browser cache

[gielvankuijk]

I disabled the search functionality for now, but the link in my post still showcases what’s happening with the upper part of the page. only the result is not the bbpress forum result annymore.

[gielvankuijk]

Hi,

I’m running the latest bbPress with Divi 5 as parent theme and a basic child theme.

My forum root page (/forums/) renders correctly using a Divi Theme Builder layout.
However, the following bbPress routes break the layout:

/forums/search/
/forums/users/username/

They load, but the page structure is incorrect. I get a large white space and weird styling of the logo and menu in sidebar. The forum is for users only but you can see an example here: https://beterbeleggendandebank.nl/forums/search/test/

I tried serveral fixes but nothing seems to work. Does annyone have experience with this or a similar issue and has a solution?

Thank you in advance!

[Robin W]

some great fault finding carried out there, many thanks for that.

To start at the end, twenty twenty five is a FSE theme and pending the next release of bbpress you need to add

wordpress.org/plugins/enable-bbp-block-theme/

It looks like you have an issue between Highend Theme 1.0.2 and buddypress, which might be difficult to get resolved.

As highend is a paid theme, I cannot check it out, but I would start by asking them, as you can show it working with a wordpress default theme, but not with highend#

[didier59450]

Hi,

WP-optimize suggets BBPress could be concerned.
So I change page with BBPress shortcode into a comment and I’ve desactivated BBPress. Today at same time I can read this in php-errors.log:

[28-Feb-2026 13:08:58 UTC] PHP Deprecated: La fonction seems_utf8 est obsolète depuis la version 6.9.0 ! Utilisez wp_is_valid_utf8() à la place. in /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
[28-Feb-2026 13:09:50 UTC] PHP Warning: Undefined array key “edit-page” in /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/ionos-essentials/ionos-essentials/inc/dashboard/blocks/next-best-actions/class-nba.php on line 110
[28-Feb-2026 15:46:51 UTC] PHP Notice: Function is_search was called incorrectly. Conditional query tags do not work before the query is run. Before then, they always return false. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 3.1.0.) in /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
[28-Feb-2026 15:46:51 UTC] PHP Notice: Function is_404 was called incorrectly. Conditional query tags do not work before the query is run. Before then, they always return false. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 3.1.0.) in /homepages/22/d4298730425/htdocs/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
[28-Feb-2026 15:46:51 UTC] PHP Notice: Function is_feed was called incorrectly. Conditional query tags do not work before the query is run. Before then, they always return false. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 3.1.0.) in /homepages/22/d4298730425/htdocs/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
[28-Feb-2026 15:46:51 UTC] Erreur d’événement de déplanification de tâche pour le crochet extendify_fetch_partner_data. Code d’erreur : could_not_set. Message d’erreur : La liste des évènements planifiés n’a pas pu être sauvegardée.. Données : {“schedule”:false,”args”:[]}

No fatal error with BBPress desactivated.
A surprise with cron task extendify not listed in cron task.
The only paused one is userfeedback_usage_tracking_cron, but no userfeedback plugin install, maybe linked jetpack (desinstalled) or MonsterInsights.
Or linked with Ionos Hosting as he is mentionned in first warning with Ionos-essentials.

[lowercase99]

I have an issue where Forums subscribe/unsubscribe does not work

The page just reloads when clicking on “subscribe”

There seems to be an incompatibility between BuddyPress or my Theme

I am looking for suggestions

WP 6.9.1
Highend Theme 1.0.2
bbPress 2.6.14
BuddyPress 14.4.0

Here are some troubleshooting steps I took

Using the Highend theme: (the normal theme)
bbPress Activated
BuddyPress Activated
Forums work however subscribe/unsubscribe does not function

Using the Highend theme: (the normal theme)
bbPress Activated
BuddyPress Deactivated
Forums work and subscribe/unsubscribe functions correctly

————————————-
Using the Twenty Twenty-Eleven theme:
bbPress Activated
BuddyPress Activated
Forums work and subscribe/unsubscribe functions correctly

Using the Twenty Twenty-Eleven theme:
bbPress Activated
BuddyPress Deactivated
Forums work and subscribe/unsubscribe functions correctly

————————————-
Using the Twenty Twenty-Five theme:
bbPress Activated
BuddyPress Activated
Forums do not work (they don’t even appear in the Navigation Menu)

Using the Twenty Twenty-Five theme:
bbPress Activated
BuddyPress Deactivated
Forums do not work (they don’t even appear in the Navigation Menu)

[didier59450]

Hi,

Every day at same time, I can read PHP fatal error, concerned with 2 plugins:

BBPress for a forum with very few articles and comments,

WP-Optimize, for page cache and image compression.

No idea where it comes from. No cron at that time….

Every thing is up to date: WP6.9.1 PHP 8.3.30, all plugins with automatic update.

Thank in advance for helping

Didier

[26-Feb-2026 15:46:52 UTC] PHP Notice: Function is_search was called incorrectly. Conditional query tags do not work before the query is run. Before then, they always return false. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 3.1.0.) in /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
[26-Feb-2026 15:46:52 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to a member function get() on null in /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/query.php:29
Stack trace:

0 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bbpress/includes/common/template.php(2204): get_query_var()

1 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bbpress/includes/common/template.php(2193): bbp_get_query_name()

2 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bbpress/includes/common/template.php(891): bbp_is_query_name()

3 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/wp-optimize/cache/file-based-page-cache-functions.php(376): bbp_is_search()

4 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/wp-optimize/cache/file-based-page-cache-functions.php(1003): wpo_restricted_cache_page_type()

5 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/wp-optimize/cache/class-wpo-page-cache.php(206): wpo_can_serve_from_cache()

6 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/wp-optimize/includes/class-wpo-page-optimizer.php(54): WPO_Page_Cache->should_cache_page()

7 /xxx/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/wp-optimize/includes/class-wpo-page-optimizer.php(39): WPO_Page_Optimizer->maybe_cache_page()

8 [internal function]: WPO_Page_Optimizer->optimize()

9 /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php(5481): ob_end_flush()

10 /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/class-wp-hook.php(341): wp_ob_end_flush_all()

11 /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/class-wp-hook.php(365): WP_Hook->apply_filters()

12 /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/plugin.php(522): WP_Hook->do_action()

13 /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/load.php(1308): do_action()

14 [internal function]: shutdown_action_hook()

15 {main}

thrown in /xxx/wordpress/wp-includes/query.php on line 29

[Ricsca2]

I wrote this thread, maybe it might be useful to you.
Hi

SEO Index Forum

[davidqutta]

If you’ve already unchecked “Allow topics to have tags” and the tags field is still appearing, it’s usually caused by one of the following:

First, clear all caching (plugin cache, server cache, and browser cache) and then refresh the page. Sometimes the old form layout is being cached.

If that doesn’t fix it, temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme. Some themes override bbPress templates and manually include the tag field, which makes it appear even when disabled in settings.

Also try disabling other plugins briefly—especially SEO, forum add-ons, or customization plugins—to check for a conflict.

If the setting still doesn’t apply, go back to Settings → Forums, enable the option, save, then disable it again and save once more. Occasionally the option doesn’t update properly until it’s re-saved.

If none of that works, it’s most likely a theme template override forcing the tag field to display.