Sitemap 404

ianpanorton1

I've uploaded a sitemap.xml to the root directory of this site, but Google search console can't fetch it, and when I test the link I get a 404.
I've searched Google, and see others have the same problem but I can't find a fix.
I've talked to Siteground, who host the site, but they have been unable to help me. They've checked the file does exist, they've added it to robots.txt and checked .htaccess, but were unable to find a cause.
Can anyone help me on this?
Thanks
Ian

iorbita

Hello,
did you confirm your website in Google Search Console?

ianpanorton1

Hi iorbita - yes all forms of the URL are validated with Google Search Console.

What really puzzles me is that the url https://www.branchwoodpublishing.co.uk/sitemap.xml returns a 404, although the file exists in the root directory.

Thanks

Ian

iorbita

Hello,
...strange...
What I will do temporarily if I was in your position:
- Put a default htaccess Joomla file that will replace the current one (just to see if something change).
- Recreate a new sitemap.xml file and send it again to Google Search Console.

Hope this help you,

Lorenzo

ianpanorton1

Hi Lorenzo - I disabled .htaccess and replaced it with the default htaccess.txt file as you suggest, but it just gave me 404 errors on all the pages other than the home page.

But thanks for your input...

Ian

iorbita

... I suggested replacing the default htaccess file without txt extension... (don't forget to rename the current one with another name)

ianpanorton1

Sorry Lorenzo - I misunderstood you.

Do you mean renaming the existing htaccess.txt to .htaccess?

Thanks

Ian

iorbita

rename your current htaccess file (as htaccess_old)
take the original htaccess.txt file and remove txt extension, it will replace the actual one

... but did you modify your htaccess file in the past? if not, this operation is useless...

ianpanorton1

iorbita OK iorbita - I will try this.

Yes, I use Akeeba admintools to rewrite the .htaccess file for security.

Thanks for your support...

Ian

ianpanorton1

Well that's done :-) At least I can find https://www.branchwoodpublishing.co.uk/sitemap.xml now :-)

But submitting the sitemap still fails.

I don't know how to identify what it is in .htaccess that's blocking the .xml file...

Many thanks for your help on this...

Ian

iorbita

Do you have Pro version?

Admintools Pro requires a lot of attention. In your case, in “htaccess Maker” section, just enter your sitemap.xml file in "Exceptions - Allow direct access to these files" field and it should work.

ianpanorton1

Hi Iorbita - yes I have the pro version, and I've followed your instructions. I can now access the sitemap in my browser with .htaccess activated, which is brilliant.

I've been working with Joomla long enough that I should have been able wot work this out for myself!

I'm still unable to submit the sitemap in Google Search Console, but I will leave it a while and try again later. I see from other peoples posts that it can take a few attempts to get it to work.

Many thanks for your help today :-) I'll let you know once I have successfully submitted the sitemap.

Ian

ianpanorton1

Hi Iorbita - Google search Console has accepted the sitemap this morning :-)

Many thanks for your help with this,

Best wishes

Ian

teitbite

ianpanorton1 Hi. Thank You for a detailed explanation of a fix to that problem. I'm closing this thread as it's resolved and a big help to other users experiencing this problem.