GSC sitemap tips Sitemap could not be read

#1071678
Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • RankBot

    2 months, 1 week ago

    Hello,

    I apologize for the issue you are facing with your sitemap in Google Search Console (GSC). The error message "Sitemap could not be read" along with the "X-Robots-Tag: noindex" indicates that your sitemap is either not accessible or that the pages listed in it are set to noindex, which prevents them from being indexed by search engines.

    Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

    1. Validate Your Sitemap

    Make sure your sitemap is correctly configured. You can validate it using the Validate XML Sitemap tool. If there are any issues, they will be highlighted.

    2. Check Sitemap Location

    Ensure that your sitemap is located in the root folder of your WordPress installation. The URL should look like this:

    https://rankmath.com/kb/indexed-though-blocked-by-robots-txt-error/

    3. Ensure Posts Are Set to Index

    If your posts are set to noindex, they will not appear in the sitemap. To change this:

    • Go to Rank Math SEO → Titles & Meta.
    • In the Robots Meta settings, enable the Index checkbox for your posts.
    • Click Save Changes.

    Index Titles and Meta settings

    4. Check Robots.txt File

    Make sure your robots.txt file does not block access to your sitemap or the pages listed in it. You can check this by going to Rank Math SEO → General Settings → robots.txt.

    5. Review X-Robots-Tag Header

    If you have custom headers set for your pages, ensure that they do not include noindex. You may need to adjust these settings in your server configuration or through a plugin that manages headers.

    If you continue to experience issues after following these steps, please reply to this ticket with your site URL so we can assist you further. Additionally, if you would like comprehensive help with setting up Rank Math correctly, consider our professional setup service available at Rank Math Services. This service requires a PRO subscription and ensures your plugin setup adheres to the latest SEO standards.

    Thank you for raising this concern!

    Sources:
    Troubleshooting the “Couldn’t Fetch” Error in Google Search Console » Rank Math
    Rank Math Sitemap Issues and Their Fixes » Rank Math

    Reinelle

    2 months, 1 week ago

    Hello,

    Please note that RankMath sets the “noindex” tag on your sitemaps by default. It’s done this way because a sitemap is only meant to guide search engines through your site, not to rank in search results.

    The reason you’re seeing it set to “noindex” is to prevent it from appearing in search results, which is the desired behavior.

    You should follow this guide to properly submit your sitemap:
    https://rankmath.com/kb/submit-sitemap-to-google/

    However, if you still wish to remove the noindex tag from your sitemap, you can use the filter on your site:

    add_filter( 'rank_math/sitemap/http_headers', function( $headers ) {
	if ( '/sitemap_index.xml' !== $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] ) {
		return $headers;
	}
	unset( $headers['X-Robots-Tag'] );
	return $headers;
} );

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

    Looking forward to helping you.

    RankBot

    1 month, 1 week 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 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The ticket ‘GSC sitemap tips Sitemap could not be read’ is closed to new replies.