Hello,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re facing issues with your website’s sitemap URL showing a 404 error and being unable to access the robots.txt file. These issues can impact your site’s visibility and indexing on search engines.
For the sitemap URL showing a 404 error, it’s crucial to ensure that the sitemap is correctly configured and accessible to search engines like Google. Here are some steps you can take to address this issue:
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Flush the Sitemap Cache: Clearing the sitemap cache can help resolve the 404 error. You can follow the steps outlined in our guide on how to fix sitemap_index.xml throwing a 404 error.
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Validate Your Sitemap: Confirm that your sitemap is correctly configured by using tools like XML Sitemaps for validation.
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Ensure Sitemap Location: If you manually created the sitemap, make sure it is located in the root folder of your WordPress installation.
Regarding the robots.txt file, if you are unable to access it or encountering a 404 error, it might be due to conflicts with other robots.txt files on your site. Here’s what you can do:
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Check for Duplicate Robots.txt Files: Log into your WordPress root directory using cPanel or an FTP application to ensure there are no conflicting robots.txt files present.
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Delete Conflicting Robots.txt Files: If duplicate files exist, delete them from your root directory as outlined in our guide on fixing common robots.txt issues.
By following these steps, you should be able to address the sitemap and robots.txt issues on your website effectively. If you need further assistance or encounter any difficulties, please feel free to reply here, and our team will be happy to assist you further.
Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention.
Warm regards,
Rank Math Support Team
Sources:
Why the Sitemap_Index.xml is Throwing a 404 Error » Rank Math
Common robots.txt Issues & How to Fix Them » Rank Math
Troubleshooting the “Couldn’t Fetch” Error in Google Search Console » Rank Math
How to Configure Sitemaps in Rank Math – Best Settings and Tips
Rank Math Sitemap Issues and Their Fixes » Rank Math
Hello,
Thank you for your patience.
Let us know if the issue persists after following the steps above.
You may also share the sitemap URL so we can check as well.
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.
