Hello,
We apologize for the issue you are facing with your sitemap not working in Google Search Console. It sounds like there may be a configuration issue that needs to be addressed. Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot and fix the sitemap issue:
1. Validate Your Sitemap
First, confirm that your sitemap is correctly configured. You can use the Validate XML Sitemap tool. Enter your sitemap URL and click VALIDATE SITEMAP. If your sitemap is correctly configured, you should see a success message.
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 format should be:
https://rankmath.com/kb/connect-your-google-account/
3. Check Your Sitemap Settings in Rank Math
Ensure that the Sitemap module is enabled in Rank Math. You can check this by going to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
4. Ensure Your Posts Are Set to Index
If all your posts are set to noindex, your sitemap will be empty. To set your posts to index, go to Rank Math SEO > Titles & Meta and enable the Index checkbox in the Robots Meta settings. Don’t forget to save changes afterward.
5. Manually Add the Sitemap to Google Search Console
If you still need to submit your sitemap manually, navigate to Indexing → Sitemaps in Google Search Console and enter sitemap_index.xml in the Add a new sitemap field, then click SUBMIT.
If you continue to experience issues after following these steps, please reply to this ticket with your site URL so that a human agent from our support team can assist you further. Thank you for raising this concern, and we’re here to help!
Sources:
Troubleshooting the “Couldn’t Fetch” Error in Google Search Console » Rank Math
Rank Math Sitemap Issues and Their Fixes » Rank Math
in Validate XML Sitemap tool shows error but all other setps are followed and set correctly eventhough console error shows like Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page. Please use a supported sitemap format instead.
Hello,
Thank you for your query and we are so sorry about the trouble this must have caused.
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. Remove all your sitemaps from your Google Search Console and re-submit only the index sitemap (https://website.com/sitemap_index.xml)
Let us know how that goes. Looking forward to helping you.
Sorry to disturb u again,if it possible to connect through anydesk and help me to solve the problem through online, I have tried all the instructions but no use i think I have hidden the sitemap link from public visibility..kindly consider my request and do the needful
Hello,
Unfortunately, our scope of support does not extend to chats, phone calls, or remote applications like AnyDesk or Zoom apps.
Please share your sitemap URL so we can check it. Also, take a screenshot of your Google Search Console sitemap section.
You can upload screenshots using this tool and add the link here.
Looking forward to helping you.
my site map url : https://greenishaura.in/sitemap_index.xml
Google Search Console sitemap section :
Sitemap can be read, but has errors
Sitemap is HTML
1 instance
Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page. Please use a supported sitemap format instead.
Sitemap Type Submitted Last read Status Discovered pages Discovered videos
/sitemap_index.xml Unknown Sep 3, 2025 Sep 4, 2025 1 error 0 0
kindly do the needful
my site map url : https://greenishaura.in/sitemap_index.xml
Google Search Console sitemap section :
Sitemap can be read, but has errors
Sitemap is HTML
1 instance
Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page. Please use a supported sitemap format instead.
Sitemap Type Submitted Last read Status Discovered pages Discovered videos
/sitemap_index.xml Unknown Sep 3, 2025 Sep 4, 2025 1 error 0 0
kindly do the needful
Hello,
We might need to take a closer look at your website to investigate this further. Please edit the first post on this ticket and include your WordPress & FTP logins in the designated Sensitive Data section.
Please do take a complete backup of your website before sharing the information with us.
It is completely secure and only our support staff has access to that section. If you want, you can use the plugin below to generate a temporary login URL to your website and share that with us instead:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/temporary-login-without-password/
You can use the above plugin in conjunction with the WP Security Audit Log to monitor what changes our staff might make on your website (if any):
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-security-audit-log/
We really look forward to helping you.
Hello,
I have updated the sensitive data as requested. Can you please check further?
Thank you.
Hello,
We can see your sitemap is currently getting redirected to your homepage, which indicates why you’re facing the error on Google Search Console.
However, we tried to check your website, but neither /wp-admin nor /wp-login.php is working. We also tried the login page of your website, but the credentials didn’t work there:
In this case, please share your website login URL and update the logins in the sensitive data section so that we can check the issue further for you.
Looking forward to helping you.
Thank you.
Hello,
I have updated the sensitive data as requested. Can you please check further?
Thank you.
Hello,
The issue is related to the incorrect compatibility code YayMail has added for our plugin. The code can be found in the wp-content/plugins/yaymail/src/Integrations/RankMath.php file.
The filter they have used to exclude their post type from the sitemap is removing all post types from it. That’s why the sitemap is empty and returns a 404 error. The filter should have two parameters and return a Boolean value.
They already have a patch that they can apply to your site to fix the issue. Please get in touch with their support and ask them to help you with it.
Let us know how that goes. Looking forward to your update.
Dear team,
Thankyou so so much,my problem has been resolved as per your guidance…I loved your support…
Hello,
We’re delighted to hear that this issue has been resolved. We appreciate your feedback.
This ticket will be closed now, but if you ever have another question or need any help in the future, please don’t hesitate to create a new forum topic. We’ll be more than happy to assist you again.
Thank you.
