Sitemap Not Fetch

Hello,

We apologize for the issue you are facing with your sitemap not showing in Google Search Console and the 404 error. Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

1. Validate Your Sitemap

First, ensure that your sitemap is correctly configured. You can validate your sitemap using the Validate XML Sitemap tool. Enter your sitemap URL (e.g., `https://rankmath.com/kb/exclude-sitemaps-from-caching/) and click VALIDATE SITEMAP.

2. Ensure the Sitemap is Located in the Root Folder

Make sure your sitemap is located in the root folder of your WordPress installation. The correct URL should look like this:

https://rankmath.com/kb/exclude-sitemaps-from-caching/

3. Check Your Posts Are Set to Index

If all your posts are set to noindex, your sitemap may be empty. Go to Rank Math SEO → Titles & Meta and ensure the Index checkbox is enabled for your posts.

4. Add Rewrite Rules to .htaccess File

If the sitemap still returns a 404 error, you may need to add rewrite rules to your .htaccess file. You can learn how to edit your .htaccess file using Rank Math here. Add the following code:

# START of Rank Math Sitemap Rewrite Rules
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^sitemap_index.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=1 [L]
RewriteRule ^([^/]+?)-sitemap([0-9]+)?.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=$1&sitemap_n=$2 [L]
RewriteRule ^([a-z]+)?-?sitemap.xsl$ /index.php?xsl=$1 [L]
# END of Rank Math Sitemap Rewrite Rules

5. Exclude the Sitemap From Caching

If you are using a caching plugin, ensure that the sitemap files generated by Rank Math are excluded from being cached. You can find more information on how to do this here.

6. Flush the Cache

After making these changes, flush your cache by increasing the value of Links Per Sitemap in Rank Math SEO → Sitemap Settings by one and then save changes. Also, go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes.

7. Resubmit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console

Once you have completed these steps, resubmit your sitemap URL in Google Search Console under Indexing → Sitemaps.

If you continue to experience issues after following these steps, we recommend reaching out for more advanced assistance. You can consider our professional setup service available at Rank Math Services, which requires a PRO subscription.

Thank you for raising this concern, and we hope these steps help resolve the issue!

Sources:
Troubleshooting the “Couldn’t Fetch” Error in Google Search Console » Rank Math
Why the Sitemap_Index.xml is Throwing a 404 Error » Rank Math