Incorrect Sitemap URL Showing in robots.txt on Staging Site

#1047694
  • Resolved Valerie Burns

    2 months ago

    Rank Math free

    We’ve been using RankMath for several years and recently noticed an issue with the sitemap URL shown in the robots.txt editor.

    On our staging site, the sitemap URL shown in RankMath > General Settings > Edit robots.txt still points to an old domain (archframing.com) that we stopped using 5–6 years ago — well before we began using RankMath.

    We manually corrected the robots.txt file using FileZilla, and the correct sitemap URL (https://arch-design.com/sitemap_index.xml) now appears on our live site. However, the staging site still shows the outdated URL (http://archframing.com/sitemap_index.xml) in the robots.txt editor, even after clearing all caches.

    We’ll attach screenshots of the robots.txt screen from both environments (live and staging) for reference.

    Can you advise:

    Why the staging site is still showing the outdated sitemap URL?

    How we can update or reset it within RankMath so it reflects the correct URL (arch-design.com) on staging as well?

    A screenshot of the robots.txt file from the RankMath view on our staging site is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mpxSOCBGYlJAfzLFhOcbrujUJIZbWbNu/view?usp=sharing

    A screenshot of the robots.txt file from the RankMath view on our live environment is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oYN3LiTOHnMPrP4uJDF521uZDBWxDtsg/view?usp=sharing

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)
  • RankBot

    3 months ago

    Hello,

    We apologize for the issue you are facing with the outdated sitemap URL showing in the robots.txt editor on your staging site. Thank you for providing detailed information about the problem.

    The reason your staging site is still showing the old sitemap URL could be due to a few factors:

    1. Caching Issues: Even after clearing caches, sometimes server-level caching or CDN caching can still serve outdated content. Ensure that all caches are cleared, including any server-side caches.
    2. Database Entries: The sitemap URL might be stored in the database. If the staging site was created from a backup of the old site, it may still have references to the old domain.
    3. Rank Math Settings: Sometimes, settings may not sync properly between environments, especially if they were set manually.

    To update or reset the sitemap URL within Rank Math so it reflects the correct URL on your staging site, you can follow these steps:

    1. Navigate to Rank Math Settings: Go to WordPress Dashboard → Rank Math SEO → General Settings → Edit robots.txt.
    2. Edit the Sitemap URL: In the editor, manually change the sitemap URL to https://example.com/sitemap_index.xml.
    3. Save Changes: After making the changes, ensure you click on the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.
    4. Check Database: If the issue persists, consider checking your database for any entries that might still reference the old domain and update them accordingly.
    5. Recheck Caching: After making these changes, clear all caches again to ensure that the new settings are reflected.

    If you continue to experience issues, it may be beneficial to reach out for a more comprehensive review of your settings. You can also consider using our professional setup service to ensure everything is configured correctly according to the latest SEO standards. More information about this service can be found here.

    If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to reply to this ticket, and a human agent will assist you further.

    Thank you for your understanding!

    RankBot

    2 months ago

    Hello,

    Since we did not hear back from you for 15 days, we are assuming that you found the solution. We are closing this support ticket.

    If you still need assistance or any other help, please feel free to open a new support ticket, and we will be more than happy to assist.

    Thank you.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

The ticket ‘Incorrect Sitemap URL Showing in robots.txt on Staging Site’ is closed to new replies.