Link to the code that reproduces this issue
https://github.com/mdj-uk/static-export-prefetch-bug
To Reproduce
Current vs. Expected behavior
Current behavior:
- When the page loads, it makes a GET request to http://localhost:3000/page1?_rsc=... which returns HTML instead of RSC payload.
- Clicking the link to page1 in this state results in no action, and no error messages are displayed in the console.
Expected behavior:
- Prefetch works and the Link function correctly as if the prefetch prop were not set or was set to "auto".
- When
prefetch="auto", it seems the correct behavior is that GET requests to __next._tree.txt, __next._head.txt, __next._index.txt, __next.page1.txt, __next.page1.__PAGE__.txt are made.
- Alternatively, fetch
/page1.txt which is also a RSC payload?
Provide environment information
Operating System:
Platform: darwin
Arch: arm64
Version: Darwin Kernel Version 25.3.0: Wed Jan 28 20:53:01 PST 2026; root:xnu-12377.81.4~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8103
Available memory (MB): 16384
Available CPU cores: 8
Binaries:
Node: 22.16.0
npm: 10.9.2
Yarn: N/A
pnpm: 10.28.1
Relevant Packages:
next: 16.2.2 // Latest available version is detected (16.2.2).
eslint-config-next: N/A
react: 19.2.4
react-dom: 19.2.4
typescript: 5.9.3
Next.js Config:
output: export
Which area(s) are affected? (Select all that apply)
Output
Which stage(s) are affected? (Select all that apply)
next build (local)
Additional context
- Next.js 16.1.0 and later versions, including latest stable 16.2.2 and latest canary, has the behavior described in the issue.
- Next.js 16.0.0 - 16.0.11 also fail to prefetch, fetching the HTML for
/page1 during page load. However, clicking a link causes /page1.txt to be fetched again, and the link at least works.
- In Next.js 15, it prefetches
/page1.txt when page loads and the link works.
This issue was originally posted as #92213
Link to the code that reproduces this issue
https://github.com/mdj-uk/static-export-prefetch-bug
To Reproduce
pnpm install,pnpm buildpnpm dlx serve outCurrent vs. Expected behavior
Current behavior:
Expected behavior:
prefetch="auto", it seems the correct behavior is that GET requests to__next._tree.txt,__next._head.txt,__next._index.txt,__next.page1.txt,__next.page1.__PAGE__.txtare made./page1.txtwhich is also a RSC payload?Provide environment information
Which area(s) are affected? (Select all that apply)
Output
Which stage(s) are affected? (Select all that apply)
next build (local)
Additional context
/page1during page load. However, clicking a link causes/page1.txtto be fetched again, and the link at least works./page1.txtwhen page loads and the link works.This issue was originally posted as #92213