If you have been hit by the annoying Google search console bug where your sitemaps are not fetched, I finally found a solution that works 50% of the time.
[Update: This solution has been reported to not work for some users. If it does not work for you do comment below. If this did work for you or you found another solution, comment below and let others know! ]
This issue drove me nuts for almost 20 days now and I couldn’t find a solution to the issue literally anywhere on the web.
The big surprise is that a large number of users are affected by this issue. Even though:
- You have a valid sitemap
- There are no errors on your chrome console
- Curl command gives status 200
Google just wouldn’t fetch it. Nada.
Without keeping you waiting, here’s the solution and I just stumbled upon it while trying to index our 8 new websites, so you can imagine the pressure our team was in for 20 days!
Here’s How to Fix The Couldn’t Fetch Google Search Console Error
- Login To Google Search Console
- Click on “Sitemaps” on the left panel/Menu
- On add a sitemap, enter URL of the sitemap you are trying to index
- Add a Forward slash “/” just after the last forward slash in the URL (See Screenshot)
- Click on Submit
- If you still get an error, repeat without the extra forward slash

This should do it. It worked on all of the 8 websites. Don’t worry, even with the extra forward slash, Google search console will index the right URL!

Other Submitted Solutions That Worked
I had the website verified in console as http:// yet the live website had an https:// and this means the the sitemaps had https://.
I deleted the http:// property and added it again as https:// and the sitemaps issue was fixed. I was using Yoast to generate the sitemaps.
Caleb
Need someone to manage your WordPress Website? Pick us! ?♂️
Did it work for you? Let me know down in the comments!
Purushottam Kiri
says:Try a different plugin and check your caches. Have you tried regenerating the sitemap?
Laura
says:I CANT BELIEVE IT WORKED. Thank you so much,
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad that helped! Keep WordPressing!
Ghulam Mustafa
says:It worked. I tried a 100 things in last 4 days. Didn’t know it was this simple.
Thank you.
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad that worked for you!
yoon
says:it worked for me!
Francis Huria
says:That worked! Thank you.
Tom
says:Worked for me 🙂
Thanks a mill
Caleb
says:Although this solution didn’t work for me here is what worked.
I had the website verified in console as http:// yet the live website had an https:// and this means the the sitemaps had https://.
I deleted the http:// property and added it again as https:// and the sitemaps issue was fixed. I was using Yoast to generate the sitemaps.
Mahesh Bhavana
says:its not working for me.
in the live URL it shows fetching is successful.
My link is https://uggoalsuk.000webhostapp.com/sitemap.xml
Jigga
says:This worked, i did it on the first slash e.g. https://examplesite.com//sitemaps/page-sitemap.xml
basha
says:not working for http://jamexupvc.com/sitemap_index.xml
can you pls help me
jose
says:Sadly it did not work for me, still couldn’t fetch my sitemap.
I’ll try a different plugin to generate sitemap, I am using yoast seo
Bianca
says:Wow! That extra slash worked! Thank you!
Harvey
says:it worked, thanks
srividya
says:Great, this is working. Thanks a lot
paul
says:worked for me. Thankyou
Kael
says:Alas! Thank you!
Jamie T.
says:The additional slash worked! Thank you!
Purushottam Kiri
says:You’re welcome!
Tiisetso
says:It worked for me
Rey
says:This works for me. But I’m really curious why is this the case and how did you go about finding this solution.
Thanks by the way,
– Rey
Purushottam Kiri
says:This bugged me for days, then I basically tried everything I could to fix this, and stumbled on this through trial and error
Michael Oladoye
says:Hello. I use Blogger and here’s my sitemap url https://naijastories.ga/sitemap.xml
Still shows the error.
Site doesn’t even appear on Google search.
I am frustrated
Please help.
Akhilesh
says:I was too much worried about the lost traffic but then this worked like a charm! Kudos to you!
Oskar
says:Didn’t work for me. I’m sure my sitemap is valid and fetchable.
https://ancaps.forumotion.com/sitemap.xml
KK
says:I have tried all your 3 methods : 1. Disabling all cache; 2. Regenerating sitemap; 3. Trying a different plugin to generate sitemap
Still not working.
https://controsys.com
Purushottam Kiri
says:Did you try adding an extra “/” before your sitemap name? Also try adding individual sitemaps for posts, pages etc.
Vipin
says:it did not work for me
i remove all my cache is it is the problem
Joe
says:Brilliant!!! Cheers, was doing my head in!
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad it helped you out!
G
says:Worked, nice one. thanks!
Shani
says:Adding the extra forward slash worked! Thank you!
Ahsan Mughal
says:It didn’t work for me. still, error appeared.
Mitch & Justine
says:The // did not work for me. It seems everything is in order. Here is our sitemap: https://brokebankvegan.com/sitemap_index.xml. Has anyone had this issue resolved who didn’t get the “//” to work?
Purushottam Kiri
says:Have you tried:
1. Disabling all cache
2. Regenerating sitemap
3. Trying a different plugin to generate a sitemap? eg. Yoast, SEOPress, Rankmath?
Joe
says:Not working here
http://www.joecontirc.com/20200423-054616_sitemap.xml
Purushottam Kiri
says:Sitemap looks good, Have you tried:
1. Disabling all cache
2. Regenerating sitemap
3. Trying a different plugin to generate sitemap?
DRASHTI
says:It works now. Thanks!!
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad it worked out!
Jorge
says:It didn’t work.
My sitemap is https://pisoenalicante.casa/sitemap.xml
Thanks!
Purushottam Kiri
says:Sitemap looks good, Have you tried:
1. Disabling all cache
2. Regenerating sitemap
3. Trying a different plugin to generate sitemap?
Reuben
says:// didnt work for me either
Kelvin walker
says:You can try to change your site map plugin..I had the same problems and changed my site map plugin on WordPress
sam
says:Yesss it worked thank you
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad this helped!
John
says:Worked. Incredible. Thats a bug.
Thanks
Purushottam Kiri
says:Yes, unfortunately, it seems the same to me too.
ketoplan
says:hi https://www.ketoplan.tk//sitemap.xml but not working
Purushottam Kiri
says:Sitemap looks good, Have you tried:
1. Disabling all cache
2. Regenerating sitemap
3. Trying a different plugin to generate sitemap?
Daniela Verhoeven
says:Although I don’t know why, but it worked for my site! Thanks so much.
Purushottam Kiri
says:Thanks for taking the time to comment here! Glad this helped you.
Purushottam Kiri
says:Thanks for letting us know!
Adeline Bibby
says:Yes, worked for me first time – thank you, such a relief!
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad your sitemap got fetched! Thanks for taking the time to write.
Purushottam Kiri
says:I know, Tell me about it, huh!
Brijendar
says:I didn’t work please help me
Purushottam Kiri
says:Can you please share your sitemap url please. I’ll take a look.
Purushottam Kiri
says:Are you using wordpress?
Purushottam Kiri
says:Have you tried:
1. Disabling all cache
2. Regenerating sitemap
3. Trying a different plugin to generate sitemap?
Can you share your sitemap url so I can verify that it is fetchable and valid?
Purushottam Kiri
says:Glad it worked out for you!
Court Marriage Faisalabad
says:my website http://www.nblc.tk
// didn’t work for me, plz help
Purushottam Kiri
says:Hi, can you share your sitemap url that you are trying to submit? I could do a quick check to see if everything is okay.
John Redken
says:not helping..
Purushottam Kiri
says:Have you tried:
1. Disabling all cache
2. Regenerating sitemap
3. Trying a different plugin to generate sitemap?
Purushottam Kiri
says:Hi John, if you could share your sitemap url that you are trying to submit, I could take a look and see if there’s anything wrong.
Thanks!
Winar
says:not working. still couldn’t fetch my sitemap..
Visitor
says:Okay this is working!! Thankyou!!