Couldn’t fetch / Sitemap could not be read in Google Search Console

  • Resolved gartaud

    (@gartaud)


    2 years, 6 months ago

    Hello. I used to rely on the WordPress built-in sitemap /wp-sitemap.xml that Google would happily fetch.

    I have decided to give Rank Math SEO a try in order to add metadata to my pages/posts.

    However, Google Search Console will not fetch the Rank Math SEO sitemap /index.php/sitemap_index.xml (“Sitemap could not be read”).

    I speculate that the issue might have to do with sitemap_index.xml being created under /index.php rather than the root of my site?

    How can I successfully submit sitemap_index.xml? Thanks!

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Plugin Support Rank Math Support

    (@rankmathteam)

    2 years, 6 months ago

    Hello @gartaud,

    Thank you for your query and we are so sorry about the trouble this must have caused.

    It seems that you are currently using another SEO tool to generate your sitemap. Can you please enable Rank Math instead so we can check the issue?

    Meanwhile, Please follow the steps below:

    1. Flush the Sitemap cache by following this video screencast:
    https://i.rankmath.com/pipRDp

    2. Exclude the Sitemap files of the Rank Math plugin in your caching plugin. The cache could be via a plugin or from the server. For plugins or Cloudflare, please follow this article:
    https://rankmath.com/kb/exclude-sitemaps-from-caching/

    3. Apply the following filter code to your site.
    add_filter( 'rank_math/sitemap/enable_caching', '__return_false');

    Here’s how you can add filter to your WordPress site:https://rankmath.com/kb/wordpress-hooks-actions-filters/

    4. After that, remove all your sitemaps from your Google Search Console and resubmit only the primary one which is “sitemap_index.xml”.

    Looking forward to helping you.

    Thread Starter gartaud

    (@gartaud)

    2 years, 6 months ago

    Thank you for your reply. I have indeed (temporarily) switched to another SEO.

    But in which directory should I expect Rank Math’s sitemap sitemap_index.xml to end up? in the root /, or under /index.php/ ?

    Thanks!

    Plugin Support Rank Math Support

    (@rankmathteam)

    2 years, 6 months ago

    Hello @gartaud,

    Our plugin doesn’t create physical sitemap files in your website directory because our plugin is virtually generating those sitemaps.

    Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any other questions.

    Thread Starter gartaud

    (@gartaud)

    2 years, 6 months ago

    Thanks!

    Plugin Support Rank Math Support

    (@rankmathteam)

    2 years, 6 months ago

    Hello @gartaud

    Happy to help!

    If it isn’t too much to ask for – would you mind leaving us a review here?
    https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/seo-by-rank-math/reviews/#new-post

    It only takes a couple of minutes but helps us tremendously.

    It would mean so much to us and would go a really long way.

    Thank you.​​

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Couldn’t fetch / Sitemap could not be read in Google Search Console’ is closed to new replies.