Blogger Sitemap Error Fix: Google Search Console Couldn’t Fetch Solution
A complete step-by-step guide to fix Blogger sitemap error, Couldn’t fetch sitemap, sitemap.xml issue and Google Search Console indexing problems.
If your Blogger sitemap is not working in Google Search Console, then first thing is simple: do not panic. This issue is very common for new Blogger websites, Blogspot blogs, and custom domain Blogger websites. Sometimes Search Console shows Couldn’t fetch, sometimes it shows Sitemap could not be read, and sometimes sitemap is submitted successfully but posts are still not indexing.
Many new bloggers think sitemap is the main reason behind every indexing problem. But sitemap is only one part of Blogger SEO. A sitemap helps Google discover your URLs, but it does not guarantee that every post will be indexed immediately. Your content quality, internal linking, robots settings, clean URLs and website trust also matter.
In this guide, I will explain why Blogger sitemap not working happens, which sitemap URL you should submit, how to fix Google Search Console sitemap error, and what you should do if sitemap is working but posts are still not showing on Google.
What Is Blogger Sitemap?
A Blogger sitemap is a file or feed that helps search engines discover your blog posts. In simple words, it tells Google which URLs are available on your website. Blogger normally creates sitemap automatically, so you do not need to create a separate sitemap manually like some custom websites.
Simple meaning: Blogger sitemap is a list of your blog post URLs that helps Google discover and crawl your content.
People search this topic with many terms like Blogger sitemap not working, Google Search Console sitemap couldn’t fetch, Blogger sitemap error fix, Blogspot sitemap not submitted, sitemap.xml not working Blogger, Blogger sitemap pending, Blogger posts not indexing and how to submit Blogger sitemap in Search Console.
Best Blogger Sitemap URLs to Submit
For most Blogger websites, you can submit the default sitemap URL in Google Search Console. If you have many posts, you can also submit the Blogger atom feed sitemap.
| Sitemap Type | What to Submit in Search Console | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Main Blogger Sitemap | sitemap.xml | Best for most Blogger websites |
| Blogger Atom Feed Sitemap | atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=500 | Useful for blogs with many posts |
| Second Atom Feed for More Posts | atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=500 | Use only if your blog has more than 500 posts |
https://www.yourdomain.com/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=500
Why Blogger Sitemap Shows Error in Search Console?
There can be many reasons why your sitemap is not working. Sometimes the sitemap is actually fine, but Search Console takes time to fetch it. Sometimes wrong URL format, wrong property, robots issue or temporary server issue creates confusion.
| Problem | What It Means | Basic Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn’t fetch | Google could not fetch sitemap at that moment | Check sitemap URL and wait |
| Sitemap could not be read | Wrong format or inaccessible sitemap | Open sitemap in browser and test |
| Submitted URL blocked | Robots.txt or settings may block URLs | Check robots settings |
| Wrong property | You submitted sitemap in wrong domain version | Use correct https/www property |
| Posts still not indexing | Sitemap works but Google has not indexed posts | Improve content and internal links |
Real Fix for Blogger Sitemap Not Working
Now let us come to the practical solution. Follow these steps one by one. Do not randomly edit theme code or robots.txt without checking the real problem.
Open Sitemap in Browser
First check if your sitemap URL opens normally in the browser.
Use Correct Property
Make sure you submit sitemap in the correct Google Search Console property.
Submit sitemap.xml
Submit the default Blogger sitemap path in the Sitemaps section.
Submit Atom Sitemap
If needed, submit Blogger atom feed sitemap for more coverage.
Check Robots Settings
Make sure post URLs are not blocked by custom robots.txt.
Use Clean URLs
Use clean HTTPS URLs, not ?m=1 or redirected URLs.
Improve Internal Links
Add internal links so Google can discover posts even without sitemap.
Wait and Track
After submitting sitemap, wait and check Search Console after some time.
Step 1: Check If Sitemap Opens in Browser
Before doing anything in Search Console, open your sitemap URL in browser. This simple step will tell you whether sitemap is accessible or not.
Try this: https://www.yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
For Blogspot: https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml
If the sitemap opens and shows XML or sitemap content, then your sitemap is available. If it shows 404, redirect problem, blank page, or wrong domain, then you need to fix URL or domain setup first.
Step 2: Submit Sitemap in Correct Search Console Property
One common mistake is submitting sitemap in the wrong property. For example, your website works on https://www.sahildubey.com, but you submit sitemap in http://sahildubey.com property. This can create confusion.
| Your Website Version | Correct Property Example | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Custom domain with www | https://www.sahildubey.com | Submit sitemap in this property |
| Custom domain without www | https://sahildubey.com | Submit sitemap in this property |
| Blogspot subdomain | https://sahildubey.blogspot.com | Submit sitemap in Blogspot property |
| Domain property | sahildubey.com | Can include all versions, but still use clean sitemap path |
If you recently changed from Blogspot to custom domain, submit sitemap in the custom domain property and focus on the final live domain only.
Step 3: Submit Blogger Sitemap Properly
Now follow these steps to submit Blogger sitemap in Google Search Console.
- Open Google Search Console.
- Select your Blogger website property.
- Go to the Sitemaps section.
- In “Add a new sitemap”, type sitemap.xml.
- Click on Submit.
- Wait for Search Console to process the sitemap.
- If needed, submit the atom feed sitemap also.
atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=500
Step 4: Fix Couldn’t Fetch Sitemap Error
If Search Console shows Couldn’t fetch, it does not always mean your sitemap is broken. Sometimes Google could not fetch it at that moment, or Search Console needs time to update the status.
| Check | What to Do | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Open sitemap in browser | Check if sitemap.xml opens | If it opens, sitemap is likely okay |
| Check property version | Use same https/www version | Prevents wrong domain issue |
| Check robots.txt | Make sure sitemap/post URLs are not blocked | Google can access URLs |
| Wait for processing | Check after some hours or days | Status may update automatically |
Step 5: Check Blogger Robots.txt Settings
Sometimes sitemap works, but Google cannot crawl important posts because custom robots.txt is blocking something. This usually happens when beginners copy robots.txt code from random websites.
Go to Blogger Dashboard, then open Settings, and check Crawlers and indexing. If custom robots.txt is enabled, check carefully that post URLs are not blocked.
A simple Blogger robots.txt usually should not block your post URLs. If you are not sure, keep custom robots.txt disabled or use a clean setup.
Step 6: Sitemap Submitted But Posts Still Not Indexing
This is very important. Many bloggers submit sitemap successfully and then think all posts should appear on Google. But sitemap submission is not indexing guarantee. Sitemap helps discovery, but Google still decides when and whether to crawl and index each post.
Sitemap submitted: Google can discover your URLs.
Post indexed: Google has selected your page for search results.
Post ranking: Your page is visible for keywords in Google Search.
If your sitemap is submitted but posts are not indexing, then check these things:
- Is your content original and useful?
- Are posts internally linked from other articles?
- Is your blog very new?
- Are you publishing many thin articles?
- Are you submitting clean URLs or ?m=1 URLs?
- Are robots tags blocking indexing?
- Are posts showing Discovered or Crawled Currently Not Indexed?
Step 7: Use Internal Linking Along With Sitemap
Internal linking is very important because Google should not depend only on sitemap to discover your posts. If your post is linked from your homepage, menu, category page, or related articles, Google gets stronger discovery signals.
Want to automatically add also read box? Then read this
For example, if you write about Blogger Sitemap Not Working, you can internally link to these related guides:
- Google Search Console setup for Blogger
- Blogger post not showing in Google
- Discovered Currently Not Indexed fix
- Crawled Currently Not Indexed fix
- Blogger redirect error fix
- How to add Also Read box in Blogger
Step 8: Check Clean URL and ?m=1 Issue
Blogger mobile URLs may show ?m=1. This is normal Blogger behavior, but you should not submit mobile URLs in Search Console sitemap or URL Inspection. Always use clean post URLs.
Want to remove ?m=1 mobile url issue? Then read this:
Blogger ?m=1 Redirect Error Fix: Remove ?m=1 Mobile URL Issue
Correct URL: https://www.example.com/post-title.html
Avoid URL: https://www.example.com/post-title.html?m=1
Also check that your internal links do not point to ?m=1 URLs. Clean URL structure helps reduce confusion in indexing reports.
Best Checklist to Fix Blogger Sitemap Not Working
Use this checklist whenever your Blogger sitemap is not working in Google Search Console.
Common Blogger Sitemap Mistakes
Most sitemap problems happen because of small mistakes. If you avoid these, your Blogger sitemap setup will stay clean.
| Mistake | Why It Creates Problem | Better Option |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting wrong sitemap URL | Search Console cannot fetch it | Submit sitemap.xml |
| Using wrong property | Domain version mismatch happens | Use correct https/www property |
| Editing robots.txt randomly | Important URLs may get blocked | Use clean robots setup |
| Expecting instant indexing | Sitemap does not guarantee indexing | Improve content and internal links |
| No internal linking | Posts look isolated | Link related posts together |
Final Fix Plan for New Blogger Websites
If your Blogger sitemap is submitted but your posts are still not indexing, follow this simple plan.
Submit Correct Sitemap
Submit sitemap.xml in the correct Search Console property.
Check URL Inspection
Inspect important post URLs one by one to see real indexing status.
Add Internal Links
Link new posts from old related posts and category pages.
Improve Content
Make posts useful, detailed and original instead of thin content.
Check Robots
Make sure robots.txt and custom robots tags are not blocking posts.
Track Weekly
Check Search Console weekly and wait for Google to process changes.
Conclusion
Blogger Sitemap Not Working in Google Search Console can look confusing, but most of the time it can be fixed by submitting the correct sitemap URL, using the correct property, checking robots settings, and waiting for Search Console to process the sitemap.
Remember, sitemap is not a magic ranking or indexing button. It helps Google discover your URLs, but your posts still need helpful content, clean URL structure, internal linking and proper Blogger SEO setup.
So first submit sitemap.xml, then check important URLs in URL Inspection, fix technical issues, improve content quality, and build strong internal linking. This is the real way to improve Blogger indexing.
FAQs on Blogger Sitemap Not Working
Why is my Blogger sitemap not working in Google Search Console?
Your Blogger sitemap may not work because of wrong sitemap URL, wrong Search Console property, temporary fetch issue, robots.txt blocking, domain version mismatch or Search Console processing delay.
What sitemap should I submit for Blogger?
For most Blogger websites, submit sitemap.xml. You can also submit atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=500 if you want to submit Blogger feed sitemap.
How do I fix Blogger sitemap couldn’t fetch?
Open sitemap.xml in browser, check the correct domain property, make sure robots.txt is not blocking it, submit sitemap.xml again if needed and wait for Search Console to process it.
Does Blogger automatically create sitemap?
Yes, Blogger normally creates sitemap automatically. You usually do not need to create a separate sitemap manually.
Does sitemap guarantee indexing?
No, sitemap does not guarantee indexing. It helps Google discover URLs, but Google still decides whether and when to crawl and index your posts.
Why are my posts not indexing even after sitemap submission?
Your posts may not index because of thin content, weak internal linking, new blog trust issue, robots settings, duplicate content or Google crawl priority.
Should I submit ?m=1 Blogger URLs in sitemap?
No, you should use clean Blogger post URLs. Avoid submitting ?m=1 mobile URLs or tracking parameter URLs.
How long does Search Console take to read sitemap?
There is no fixed time. Sometimes it updates quickly, and sometimes it may take longer. If your sitemap opens correctly in browser, wait and check again later.
Can internal linking help if sitemap is submitted?
Yes, internal linking can help because Google can discover and understand your important posts through links, not only through sitemap.
