Blocks in synced patterns with 'overrides enabled' can no longer be hyperlinked as of WP 6.9

[laurelfulford]

• I've read and understood the contribution guidelines.
• I've searched for any related issues and avoided creating a duplicate issue.

Please give us a description of what happened

This is an extremely specific issue, but if you're running Yoast and WordPress 6.9, blocks like paragraphs and headings will no longer let you add links when they're part of synced patterns with overrides. This used to work in WP 6.8.3, and still works when you deactivate Yoast.

To Reproduce

Step-by-step reproduction instructions

1. Start on a test site with no plugins installed, and using the Twenty Twenty Five theme.
2. Create a couple synced patterns: one with a Heading block, one with a Paragraph block, and one with a Buttons block with one button. You can also combine more than one of these blocks in the same pattern.
3. Click each pattern and click Edit Original.
4. In the pattern editor, click on each block, then under the Advanced panel, click Enable Overrides, and give the block a name. Click Save.
5. Repeat the above for each of your patterns, then return to the original page.
6. Click on the Heading, Paragraph, and Button block in turn as if you're going to edit them; note the options you have in the block toolbar: Bold, Italic, and Link.
7. Install and activate the Yoast plugin.
8. Refresh the editor, and repeat step 6.

Expected results

1. That you would have the same block options in the block toolbar.

Actual results

1. Both the Heading and Paragraph block lose the 'Link' button; only the Button block still has it.

Screenshots, screen recording, code snippet

With just Twenty Twenty Five, no plugins:

With Yoast active and Twenty Twenty Five:

Technical info

• If relevant, which editor is affected (or editors):

• Block Editor
• Gutenberg Editor
• Elementor Editor
• Classic Editor
• Other:

Note: I'm not sure what the difference is between the Block and Gutenberg editor in this context, but it happens for posts and pages with and without the Gutenberg plugin installed. It does NOT happen in the Site Editor.

• Which browser is affected (or browsers):

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Other:

Used versions

• Device you are using: MacBook Pro
• Operating system: OSX 26.1
• PHP version: PHP 8.4
• WordPress version: 6.9
• WordPress Theme: Twenty Twenty Five
• Yoast SEO version: 26.5
• Gutenberg plugin version: 22.2.0 (reproduced with and without without)
• Relevant plugins in case of a bug: N/A

[josevarghese]

Hi @laurelfulford

Thanks for creating the issue. I am able to replicate the issue where the hyperlink does not show on my lab site when the pattern is edited, and the "Enable overrides" option is enabled.

What's next?
Our product team will assess the severity of this problem in relation to other open reports and new features. Based on their assessment, the report will be given a priority level. Our developers work on the highest priority issues first. Unfortunately, this means we cannot give you an estimate of when they'll start working on your report.

[josevarghese]

Internal conversation: https://yoast.slack.com/archives/C01NCRHHN30/p1765778832863619