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Blogger Sitemap Couldn’t Fetch in Google Search Console (Fix It Step by Step)

Blogger Sitemap Couldn’t Fetch in Google Search Console (Fix It Step by Step)

Seeing “Couldn’t fetch” next to your sitemap in Google Search Console can be alarming—especially for Blogger users. Many site owners assume their sitemap is broken or that Google is blocking their site. In most cases, that assumption is wrong.

This in-depth guide explains why Blogger sitemaps sometimes fail to fetch, what the message really means, and how to fix it correctly without hurting your site’s indexing or SEO performance.

What “Couldn’t Fetch” Actually Means

When Google shows “Couldn’t fetch”, it simply means:

  • Google tried to access your sitemap
  • It temporarily failed to retrieve or process it

 It does not automatically mean:

  • Your sitemap is invalid
  • Your site is blocked
  • Your pages will never be indexed

In fact, many fully indexed Blogger sites occasionally show this message.

Common Causes of Sitemap Fetch Errors in Blogger

Understanding the cause helps you fix the issue calmly and correctly.

1. Temporary Google Fetching Issues

Google’s crawler does not fetch sitemaps in real time. Temporary server delays or system updates can cause fetch failures.

Key point: If your pages are still getting impressions, clicks, or indexing, your sitemap is likely fine.

2. Submitting the Wrong Sitemap URL

Blogger supports multiple sitemap formats, but not all need to be submitted.

❌ Common mistakes:

  • Submitting multiple old sitemap URLs
  • Submitting invalid feed URLs
  • Submitting label-based sitemap URLs

✅ Correct primary sitemap:

https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml

Optional (for large blogs):

https://yourblog.blogspot.com/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=500

3. Recently Changed Robots.txt

If you recently edited custom robots.txt, Google may temporarily fail to fetch the sitemap until the new rules are processed.

Important: Repeated changes slow things down.

4. HTTPS or Redirect Confusion

Blogger automatically redirects HTTP to HTTPS. Submitting mixed versions can cause fetch confusion.

Always submit:

https://

not

http://

5. New or Low-Authority Blog

For new Blogger sites, Google sometimes delays sitemap processing while it evaluates site trust.

This is normal and resolves over time.

How to Fix “Couldn’t Fetch” (Step-by-Step)

Follow these steps carefully—no shortcuts.

Step 1: Remove Old or Duplicate Sitemaps

In Google Search Console:

  • Go to Sitemaps
  • Remove outdated or incorrect sitemap URLs
  • Keep only one or two valid sitemaps

Step 2: Submit the Correct Sitemap

Submit:

https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml

Wait. Do not resubmit repeatedly.

Step 3: Verify Robots.txt Settings

Your robots.txt should:

  • Allow /
  • Disallow /search
  • Include sitemap URL

Minimal is best.

Step 4: Check Indexing Status (Not Sitemap Status)

Even if sitemap says “Couldn’t fetch,” check:

  • URL Inspection
  • Indexed pages count
  • Impressions & clicks

If pages are indexing, your sitemap is working.

Step 5: Be Patient

Google may take:

  • A few days
  • Sometimes 1–2 weeks

to update sitemap status.

What NOT to Do

❌ Don’t submit sitemap daily ❌ Don’t use third-party ping tools ❌ Don’t keep changing robots.txt ❌ Don’t delete and re-add sitemap repeatedly

These actions reduce trust signals.

Does “Couldn’t Fetch” Affect Rankings?

No.

If Google can crawl your pages via internal links, rankings and indexing continue normally.

Sitemaps are helpers, not requirements.

How Google Really Finds Blogger Pages

Google discovers pages through:

  1. Internal links
  2. Blogger feeds
  3. External links
  4. Previous crawl data

Sitemaps only speed things up—they do not control indexing.

Long-Term Best Practices for Blogger Sitemaps

  • Use one clean sitemap
  • Maintain strong internal linking
  • Publish consistently
  • Avoid unnecessary technical changes

This ensures stable crawling.

Final Verdict

A “Couldn’t fetch” sitemap message in Blogger is rarely a serious problem. In most cases, your site continues indexing normally.

Focus on content quality and internal links, not constant sitemap changes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Is my site blocked if sitemap says couldn’t fetch?

No. Check URL Inspection instead. Sitemap errors alone do not block indexing.

❓ How many sitemaps should a Blogger site submit?

Usually one. Two only if the site is very large.

❓ Should I resubmit the sitemap after every post?

No. Google automatically re-crawls sitemaps.

❓ Does sitemap status affect rankings?

No. Rankings depend on content quality and relevance.

❓ How long should I wait before taking action?

Wait 7–14 days before changing anything.


Read related:Why Google Discovers but Doesn’t Index New Blogger Posts (Fix It Fast)

Read also:How to Speed Up Google Indexing for a New Blogger Website (Safe & Proven Guide)

Read next:Best Earning Apps in Bangladesh – Legit & Paying in 2025

You may like:Why Digital Skills Are the Future for Bangladeshi Youth

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