[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #64305: Regression: Hidden async-upload input marked required in WP 6.9 RC3 prevents post publish

[WordPress Trac]

#64305: Regression: Hidden async-upload input marked required in WP 6.9 RC3
prevents post publish
--------------------------+------------------------------------------------
 Reporter:                |       Owner:  (none)
  yagniksangani           |
     Type:  defect (bug)  |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal        |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Posts, Post   |     Version:
  Types                   |
 Severity:  major         |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  needs-patch   |     Focuses:  ui, accessibility, administration
--------------------------+------------------------------------------------
Description changed by sabernhardt:

Old description:

> ### Issue Summary
> In WordPress 6.9 RC3, the hidden file input field used for media uploads
> (`<input type="file" name="async-upload" id="async-upload">`)
> now contains a `required` attribute. Since this input is hidden in the
> post
> editor UI, browsers block form submission and display an error:
>
> **"An invalid form control with name='async-upload' is not focusable."**
>
> This prevents publishing or updating posts, pages, and custom post types.
>
> ### Steps to Reproduce
> 1. Install WordPress 6.9 RC3 (clean installation or update from previous
> version)
> 2. Edit or create a new post or custom post type
> 3. Attempt to click Publish
> 4. Observe browser console and publish failure
>
> ### Expected Behavior
> Publish should work normally, as in WP 6.8.x, where the `async-upload`
> input
> does **not** have a `required` attribute.
>
> ### Actual Behavior
> The `async-upload` input is hidden but marked required → HTML5 validation
> blocks publish.
>
> ### Comparison
> | Version | `async-upload` required attribute | Publish status |
> |---------|----------------------------------|----------------|
> | WP 6.8.3 | No `required` | Works |
> | WP 6.9 RC3 | `required="required"` | ❌ Publish fails |
>
> ### Environment
> - WP 6.9 RC3
> - Tested with default theme (Twenty Twenty-Five) and no plugins
> - Chrome / Firefox both affected
>
> ### Console Error

New description:

 ==== Issue Summary
 In WordPress 6.9 RC3, the hidden file input field used for media uploads
 (`<input type="file" name="async-upload" id="async-upload">`)
 now contains a `required` attribute. Since this input is hidden in the
 post
 editor UI, browsers block form submission and display an error:

 **"An invalid form control with name='async-upload' is not focusable."**

 This prevents publishing or updating posts, pages, and custom post types.

 ==== Steps to Reproduce
 1. Install WordPress 6.9 RC3 (clean installation or update from previous
 version)
 2. Edit or create a new post or custom post type
 3. Attempt to click Publish
 4. Observe browser console and publish failure

 ==== Expected Behavior
 Publish should work normally, as in WP 6.8.x, where the `async-upload`
 input
 does **not** have a `required` attribute.

 ==== Actual Behavior
 The `async-upload` input is hidden but marked required → HTML5 validation
 blocks publish.

 ==== Comparison
 ||= Version  =||= `async-upload` required attribute =||= Publish status
 =||
 || WP 6.8.3   ||   No `required`                     || Works
 ||
 || WP 6.9 RC3 ||  `required="required"`             || ❌ Publish fails ||

 ==== Environment
 - WP 6.9 RC3
 - Tested with default theme (Twenty Twenty-Five) and no plugins
 - Chrome / Firefox both affected

 ==== Console Error
 [[Image(https://core.trac.wordpress.org/raw-attachment/ticket/64305
 /console-error-ss.png,alt="browser console screenshot",title="")]]

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64305#comment:1>
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