Local sitemap showing 404 error

#601033
  • Resolved Anonymous
    Rank Math free

    Hi,

    My local sitemap is showing a 404 error. (please see url in sensitive info window)

    I have disabled the local seo module, but there local seo – minimum fields up URL – are still showing in titles & meta > local seo. I have filled these out.

    Will the local-sitemap only be available when the local seo module is enabled? Or should this already be working now?

    In my cache plugin W3 Total Cache my settings are:
    Performance > page cache > Never cache the following pages:

    ([a-z0-9_\-]*)?\.xml
    [a-z0-9_\-]*sitemap[a-z0-9_\-]*\.(xml|xsl|html)(\.gz)?
    index\.php
    sitemap(_index)?\.xml(\.gz)?
    wp-.*\.php

    Does this also include local-sitemap.xml?

    Thanks
    Mel

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Hello,

    Thank you for contacting us and sorry for any inconvenience that might have been caused due to that.

    Please note that in order to use a local sitemap, you’ll have to enable your Local SEO module from Rank Math Dashboard. Without this, your local sitemap will not work.

    After enabling the module, please head over to your WordPress Dashboard > Rank Math > Sitemap Settings > Local Sitemap, and from there make sure the “Include KML File in the Sitemap” option is enabled.

    For more details on the local sitemap, you can check this URL: https://rankmath.com/kb/kml-sitemap/

    Hope that helps and please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any other questions.
     
    Thank you.

    Anonymous
    Rank Math free

    Hi,
    Thanks for the reply.

    If the local SEO module is disabled why am I getting an 404 error for local-sitemap.xml? I understand the error is because it couldn’t get accessed as not available. But why would there be a query for it? Would google try and access it? I can also see in the 404 monitor that there are 4 queries for google(several numbers).html. Could this be realted to the missing local sitemap?

    Why is the local seo section (up to the URL field) still ther ein my settings of the module is disabled? Would this create a problem with google?

    This website ony has the free verion of RankMath. I read the “Include KML File in the Sitemap” option is only available dor the PRO version. Is the local sitemap available for the free version?

    Thanks

    Hello,

    Yes, the local sitemap is only available with the Rank Math PRO version. The KML file in the free version has to be enabled using a filter:
    https://rankmath.com/kb/filters-hooks-api-developer/#add-extra-urls-in-sitemap

    Regarding the 404 in your Google Search Console, to figure out how Google is discovering those URLs, you should use the URL inspection tool of your GSC account to check the URLs and check the referring page.

    Let us know how this goes.

    Thank you.

    Anonymous
    Rank Math free

    Hi,
    Thanks for the info.

    Why is the local seo section (up to the URL field) still there in my settings if the module is disabled? Would this create a problem with google?

    What does the local seo section actually do (with module disabled and enabled)?

    Thanks

    Hello,

    Even with the Local SEO module disabled, there still should be a couple of Local SEO options in the Titles & Meta settings page. These options are essential for the basic identity of your website.

    However, the local sitemap should be disabled as well and we can’t see that sitemap path in your primary or index sitemap as you can see in my screenshot below:

    Rank Math support

    Can you please share a screenshot of where you are seeing the local-sitemap.xml URL? You may share your screenshot/s using this handy tool https://imgur.com/

    Looking forward to helping you.

    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 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The ticket ‘Local sitemap showing 404 error’ is closed to new replies.