Sitemap could not be read

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A Shopify store owner is unable to submit their sitemap to Google Search Console, receiving a “Sitemap could not be read” error. The issue appears to affect multiple users experiencing the same problem.

Troubleshooting steps provided:

  • Verify the sitemap URL format (https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml)
  • Check if the sitemap loads in a browser and returns a 200 HTTP status code
  • Ensure no syntax errors or configuration issues exist
  • Resubmit after corrections and allow time for Google to process

Current status:

  • The original poster confirmed their sitemap is not returning a 200 status code (shared screenshots showing error messages)
  • They also discovered “disallowed” entries in their robots.txt file, which may be blocking Google’s access
  • At least three other users have reported experiencing the identical issue

Resolution: The discussion remains unresolved with no confirmed fix. Multiple participants are seeking a solution to this recurring problem.

Summarized with AI on October 28. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

hi Guys

not sure if this is a new thing or what.

i tried loading a sitemap on Google console but it says that it cant be fetched and Sitemap could not be read.

im new at this so please excuse me, should i wait on google or is there something i can do.

do i need the sitemap to be added to the console ?

2

Hello @ab100 ,

Welcome to the Shopify community.

Here’s a quick guide to resolve the issue of your sitemap not being read by Google Search Console:

Check Sitemap URL:
Ensure the URL you submitted is correct. It should be in the format: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.

Verify Sitemap Accessibility:
Open the sitemap URL in your browser to see if it loads correctly. If it doesn’t, there might be a server or configuration issue.

Ensure Proper HTTP Status:
The sitemap should return a 200 HTTP status code. Use tools like httpstatus.io to check this.

Fix Any Errors:
If there are errors in the sitemap, correct them. Common issues include incorrect URLs, syntax errors, or unsupported formats.

Resubmit Sitemap:
After addressing the above points, resubmit the sitemap in Google Search Console.

Wait and Monitor:
Sometimes, it may take a bit of time for Google to process the sitemap. Check back after a few hours.

Including a screenshot of the error message from Google Search Console can help in diagnosing the problem more effectively. Please attach the screenshot in your response for a more precise solution.

Do You Need the Sitemap in the Console?

Yes, submitting a sitemap helps Google discover and index your site’s pages more efficiently. It’s especially useful for new websites or websites with a complex structure.

If you need any further assistance, feel free to reach out.

Best regards,

3

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Hi Hassan

thank you for taking the time out to assist me.

I Copied the URL from the browser and added sitemap.xml.

im not getting the 200 HTTP status code.

i have attached pictures above for reference .

thank you

4

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i entered the URL with sitemap.xml. and individual entered each one.

one has the above error code attached above .

5

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6

sorry for all the messages but im trying to figure this out.

i add the https://sourceitallsolutions.myshopify.com/robots.txt

and it gave me the below disallowed not sure if this should say allowed.

ab100__4-1722450469126.png
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and carries on like this all the way down,

7

Did you fix this? I am having the same issue and have been through all of the troubleshooting above - everything looks fine.

8

Hi Emma, did you ever fix this? Same issue here.

9

I am also having this issue