A sitemap plays a vital role in search engine
optimization (SEO) by helping platforms like Google efficiently crawl and index
your website. But when you submit your sitemap in Google Search Console
and see the dreaded "Couldn't Fetch Sitemap" error, it can
feel like a major roadblock.
This error can stop your pages from being indexed properly,
hurting your search visibility, rankings, and organic traffic.
The good news? It’s fixable—and this guide will show you how.
We’ll walk you through clear, step-by-step fixes tailored to
popular platforms like Blogger, WordPress, GoDaddy, Wix, and Shopify.
✅
Common Reasons Behind the "Couldn't Fetch Sitemap" Error
Before jumping into platform-specific solutions, it's
helpful to understand what typically causes this issue:
- Incorrect
Sitemap URLs – Typing mistakes or outdated
links.
- Blocked
by robots.txt – Search bots are denied access.
- Server
Errors – Includes 5XX, 403, and 404
issues.
- Delayed
Sitemap Updates – Dynamic sitemaps may lag.
- Broken
Sitemap Format – Invalid XML structure.
- SSL
or DNS Configuration Issues – Improper
HTTPS or domain setup.
- Search
Console Lag – Google may take time to reflect
status changes.
🛠
How to Fix the Sitemap Error on Blogger
🔹
Step 1: Use the Correct Sitemap URL
Try these variations:
- https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml
- https://yourblog.blogspot.com/robots.txt
(to verify inclusion)
For blogs with many posts:
- https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml?page=1
- https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml?page=2
🔹
Step 2: Check Your Robots.txt File
Visit: https://yourblog.blogspot.com/robots.txt
Ensure it contains:
makefile
CopyEdit
User-agent:
*
Disallow:
/search
Allow:
/
Sitemap:
https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml
🔹
Step 3: Resubmit the Sitemap
- Open
Google Search Console.
- Navigate
to Sitemaps.
- Enter
sitemap.xml
and click Submit.
- Wait
a few hours, then refresh.
✅ Still not working? Try
submitting sitemap.xml?page=1 instead.
🛠
Fixing the Error on WordPress
🔹
Step 1: Use the Correct Sitemap Format
- Default
WordPress: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
- Yoast
SEO: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
- Rank
Math: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
🔹
Step 2: Verify Robots.txt File
Go to: https://yourdomain.com/robots.txt
Look for this:
makefile
CopyEdit
User-agent:
*
Disallow:
/wp-admin/
Allow:
/
Sitemap:
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
🔹
Step 3: Clear Cache and Resubmit
- Use
a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket) to flush the cache.
- Temporarily
disable any CDN.
- Re-submit
your sitemap in Google Search Console.
✅ If the issue continues: Temporarily disable
security plugins like Wordfence and try again.
🛠
Resolving the Error on GoDaddy
🔹
Step 1: Verify DNS and SSL Settings
- Log
into GoDaddy Dashboard →
My Products →
DNS Settings.
- Confirm
your A Record and CNAME are correctly set.
- Ensure
SSL/HTTPS is fully active.
🔹
Step 2: Manually Generate a Sitemap
- Use
xml-sitemaps.com to create one.
- Upload
it to /public_html/sitemap.xml via GoDaddy’s
File Manager.
- Submit
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
in Search Console.
✅ Still not working? Consider switching
from the GoDaddy builder to WordPress for more sitemap flexibility.
🛠
Fixing the Issue on Wix
🔹
Step 1: Use Wix's Auto-Generated Sitemap
- Default:
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
- Check
inclusion: https://yourdomain.com/robots.txt
🔹
Step 2: Make Sure SEO Settings Are Enabled
Go to Wix Dashboard → SEO Tools
Ensure “Let search engines index my site” is turned on.
🔹
Step 3: Resubmit in Google Search Console
- Delete
any previously submitted sitemap.
- Submit
the new one.
- Use
the URL Inspection Tool to manually request indexing.
✅ Still seeing errors? Disable
third-party protections like Cloudflare bot filtering.
🛠
Solving the Problem on Shopify
🔹
Step 1: Locate the Correct Sitemap
- Default:
https://yourstorename.myshopify.com/sitemap.xml
- Custom
domain: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
🔹
Step 2: Enable Search Engine Indexing
Go to Online Store → Preferences
Ensure “Enable search engine indexing” is toggled ON.
🔹
Step 3: Verify Robots.txt and Resubmit
Check: https://yourdomain.com/robots.txt
It should read:
makefile
CopyEdit
User-agent:
*
Disallow:
/admin
Allow:
/
Sitemap:
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
✅ Still stuck? Reach out to Shopify
Support and request an indexing refresh.
🎯
Final Tips to Prevent Sitemap Errors
- ✅
Use valid XML sitemap formats
- ✅
Double-check your robots.txt file
- ✅
Ensure correct HTTPS and domain settings
- ✅
Clear website cache and CDN conflicts
- ✅
Re-submit your sitemap after making changes
- ✅
Regularly monitor Google Search Console for crawl issues
📈
Boost Your SEO by Fixing Sitemap Errors Today
Resolving the "Couldn't Fetch Sitemap" issue is a
simple yet powerful way to improve your site's SEO. A clean sitemap ensures
that Google can find and index your content—leading to better rankings and
increased organic traffic.
If you’re still facing issues, drop your platform and
sitemap URL in the comments. We’ll help you troubleshoot! 💬
No comments:
Post a Comment