Last week, one of our readers reached out about their XML sitemap returning a 404 error in Yoast SEO. It reminded us of our early WordPress days when we encountered the same issue and couldn’t find a straightforward solution online.
Since then, we’ve helped thousands of WordPress users through WPBeginner, and the Yoast sitemap error remains one of the most common SEO issues we see. While it might seem technical at first, fixing this error is actually simpler than you might think.
We’re going to share our tested solution that has worked for countless WordPress sites, including our own. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, you’ll be able to fix this error and get your sitemap working properly in no time.
What’s Causing Yoast SEO Sitemap 404 Error in WordPress?
The Yoast SEO sitemap helps search engines find all the content on your website that you want them to find and index.
Fixing the error ensures that search engines can access your sitemap and discover all the pages and content on your site. This can lead to better search engine visibility and ranking, and it will also help rank your content faster than without a sitemap.
WordPress has a default XML sitemap that you can submit to Google Search Console and other search engines.
This XML sitemap can be visited by entering the following URL in your browser’s address bar:
https://example.com/sitemap.xml
However, this default WordPress-generated sitemap is very basic. To fix this, all top WordPress SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and the All in One SEO plugin create their own XML sitemaps with more features.
When you use the XML sitemap generated by your WordPress SEO plugin, the plugin rewrites the default WordPress XML sitemap shortcut.
This means that the sitemap URL mentioned above will then send users to the sitemaps generated by your WordPress SEO plugin.
Unfortunately, this may cause a 404 error on some websites due to plugin conflicts or incorrect WordPress settings.
In the following sections, we’ll show you how to easily fix the WordPress sitemap 404 error in the Yoast SEO plugin. Here’s a quick overview of all the methods we’ll cover:
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
1. Refresh WordPress Permalink Structure
WordPress comes with an SEO-friendly URL structure, called permalinks. This URL structure uses a redirect system to tell your web hosting server which page to load when a user enters a URL in their browser.
Normally, these permalinks settings are automatically updated when you make changes to your website.
The bad news is that sometimes WordPress is unable to refresh the permalink structure, which can cause Yoast SEO’s sitemap 404 error to appear.
That said, this can be easily fixed by going to the Settings » Permalinks page from the WordPress admin area and simply clicking on the ‘Save Changes’ button.
Doing so will refresh the WordPress permalink settings. You can now visit your XML sitemap page to see if this has fixed your problem.
If it didn’t fix the problem, then you can continue reading.
2. Manually Update Permalinks
If refreshing your WordPress permalink structure doesn’t fix the 404 error, then you can manually tell your web server to redirect users to Yoast SEO’s sitemap page.
To do this, you’ll need to add the following code to your .htaccess file.
# Yoast SEO - XML Sitemap Rewrite Fix
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^sitemap_index.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=1 [L]
RewriteRule ^locations.kml$ /index.php?sitemap=wpseo_local_kml [L]
RewriteRule ^geo_sitemap.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=geo [L]
RewriteRule ^([^/]+?)-sitemap([0-9]+)?.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=$1&sitemap_n=$2 [L]
RewriteRule ^([a-z]+)?-?sitemap.xsl$ /index.php?yoast-sitemap-xsl=$1 [L]
# END Yoast SEO - XML Sitemap Rewrite Fix
Note: If your WordPress website is installed in a subdirectory or folder (e.g. https://example.com/mywebsite/ ), then you’ll need to use the following code.
# Yoast SEO - XML Sitemap Rewrite Fix
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /mywebsite/
RewriteRule ^sitemap_index.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=1 [L]
RewriteRule ^locations.kml$ /index.php?sitemap=wpseo_local_kml [L]
RewriteRule ^geo_sitemap.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=geo [L]
RewriteRule ^([^/]+?)-sitemap([0-9]+)?.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=$1&sitemap_n=$2 [L]
RewriteRule ^([a-z]+)?-?sitemap.xsl$ /index.php?yoast-sitemap-xsl=$1 [L]
# END Yoast SEO - XML Sitemap Rewrite Fix
Don’t forget to replace /mywebsite/ with your subdirectory name.
This code simply tells your web server which pages to display when users access Yoast SEO’s XML sitemaps.
You can now try viewing your XML sitemap to see if this resolves your issue.
3. Switch to an XML Sitemaps Plugin
If the above-mentioned methods didn’t solve the 404 error on Yoast SEO’s XML sitemap page, then you can try using a separate plugin to generate XML sitemaps for your website. And a good plugin for this is the XML Sitemaps plugin.
The disadvantage of this approach is that you’ll have to rely on a separate plugin to generate XML sitemaps and Yoast SEO for other SEO features.
First, you need to install and activate the XML Sitemaps plugin. For more details, you can see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Since you are using Yoast SEO, you will automatically receive a notification to disable the XML Sitemaps plugin or Yoast SEO’s sitemap functionality.
Then, you can click on the ‘Toggle Yoast SEO’s XML Sitemap’ button to continue.
This will bring you to the ‘Features’ tab under SEO » General. From here, you’ll need to scroll down to the ‘XML sitemaps’ option and switch it off.
Don’t forget to click on the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.
You can now switch to the Settings » XML-Sitemap page to configure your sitemaps. For most websites, default settings would work out of the box.
But you can always configure the settings based on your needs.
You can now submit the XML sitemap URL to the Google search console and other search engines.
4. Switch to the All in One SEO for WordPress
If all the above fail and you don’t want to use a separate plugin to generate XML sitemaps, then this method may help you fix the sitemap 404 error issue.
For this method, you’ll need All in One SEO for WordPress. It’s the best WordPress SEO plugin on the market and a much better Yoast SEO alternative.
You can see our Yoast vs All in One SEO comparison for more details on the differences.
All-in-One SEO (AIOSEO) comes with advanced XML sitemaps and easy-to-manage options that give you full control over what to include or exclude from them.
First, let’s install and activate the All in One SEO for WordPress plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Note: There is also a free version of All in One SEO for WordPress, which includes most XML sitemap features except for video and news.
Upon activation, the plugin will walk you through a setup wizard. If you need help during setup, follow our guide on how to properly set up the All in One SEO plugin for WordPress.
All in One SEO will also allow you to import SEO data from Yoast SEO.
This ensures that all your previous SEO meta tags and titles remain unchanged.
After the initial setup, you can go to All in One SEO » Sitemaps page to configure XML sitemap settings.
You can click the ‘Open Sitemap’ button to see if it fixed the sitemap 404 error in WordPress.
After that, you configure sitemap settings if needed.
For instance, All in One SEO allows you to choose what to include in your sitemaps. You can add or remove post types, taxonomies, individual posts, and pages.
All in One SEO also allows you to create video, news, RSS sitemap, and HTML sitemap for your website.
Simply explore its tabs to see if you want to configure more settings.
These sitemaps can also be submitted to Google Search Console and other search engines. This helps search engines quickly find newer content on your website.
Expert Tip: Don’t want to fix that WordPress error yourself? No worries – we’ve got you covered! Say goodbye to frustrating errors and get back to focusing on what you love. Let us handle the tech stuff, and book our Emergency WordPress Support now!
We hope this article helped you fix the Yoast SEO Sitemap 404 error in WordPress. Next, you may also want to see our guide on how to easily disable the default WordPress sitemap or our expert pick of the best online content optimization tools for WordPress.
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Reyhan Emilia
Thank you because yoast had brought me to an impossible point. I will always read your blogs. You are perfect.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad we could help!
Admin
Scott Baranek
Thank you so much for this article!!! I have been speaking with multiple people and support teams and I always knew it was something easy. Article was broken down for easy understanding as well. Thank you!!!
Mark the martian
Thanks so much for explaining. Was pulling my hair out over this.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
ahmed
try to delete caches after first solution and it will work
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendation
Admin
Deepak kumar
Due to this tutorial. My issue fix thankyou so much………..
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide could be helpful
Admin
Adam
I was getting the same 404 error and the first solution solved the issue for me.
Many thanks!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Binod Raj Joshi
Hey, wpbeginner, I was in sitemap trouble from a few days, now it have been solved. Learning a lot from you guys about wp error fixing, thanks!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide could help
Admin
saurab
Hi
After moving to https from http, Sitemap address is displaying 404 error, Is it possible know the solution for this ?
Ashish Sharma
Nice pluging , but when I am creating sitmap using yoast and submitting it to webmaster it is showing 404 error for multiple urls. I searched in my site no where those urls exist. But y these are coming into sitemap I don’t understand any expert to help me
RAJEEV KUMAR
Sir, In my WordPress blog, 410 Response code error are showing in Yoast SEO’S Search Console feature. How I fix It.
seerity
Thanks, this fixed mine.
Tracy Pope
I tried to download the Yoast SEO plug in and I received this error message:
Fatal error: Call to undefined function apply_filters_deprecated() in /websites/websitename/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/admin/menu/class-admin-menu.php on line 246
I now can’t get into my back end of the website at all I just keep getting this error? What can I do??
WPBeginner Support
Hi Tracy,
You need to connect to your website using FTP or File Manager app in your cPanel account. Go to wp-content/plugins/ and delete wordpress-seo folder. After that you will be able to login to your WordPress admin area and reinstall the plugin.
Admin
Amit
Hi,
To edit the .htaccess file do we need to remove the existing code and add your code
or
keep the existing code and add your code also?
Need help.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Amit,
Keep the existing code and paste the new code below it.
Admin
Keitai
hmm,
Tried every suggestion but still got a 404. somehow i can’t redirect xml html htm php file extensions.
when i try
RewriteRule ^sitemap_index.xl$ /site/index.php?sitemap=1 [L] and not
RewriteRule ^sitemap_index.xml$ /site/index.php?sitemap=1 [L]
Hence, i removed the “m”, and the redirect works but sitemap_index.xml doesn’t
Any more tips?
Carol
I did the first option and now I have an internal server error!
Tony
Thanks for listening. I got the solution cheers
WPBeginner Support
Hey Tony,
Glad to hear that you found a solution. Good luck
Admin
Tony
@wpbeginner support. I have already gotten the sitemap, the issue when I submit it to google for test it bring out an error http 404. I have read your post on how to edit .ht access file and wp seo. I have also check and unchecked the yoast plugin. But it hasn’t resolved the http 404. Please help
Tony
i just opened a new Wordpress site. I have tried everything still the site app generated by yoast seo is still showing http 404 error. What do I do. The website is . please note I have edited my .htaccess file, edited wp-content/Wordpress. Pap, unchecked and checked site map settings for seo, saved permalinks. I even used a free sitemap generator upload the file via my Cpanel but still am getting the same error
WPBeginner Support
Hi Tony,
If you are unable to find Yoast SEO generated sitemap file, then it is located at http://example.com/sitemap_index.xml
Replace example.com with your own domain name.
Admin
nageswarao
hi bro my website Google XML Sitemaps not showing last 5 months (sitemap-pt-post-2016-06.xml end after not showing) and also sitemap-tax-post_tag.xml not showing how to solve my problem
Brandon Still
This worked for me, thank you!!!
Nik
Thanks! I was having the hardest time getting it to work and the first section with the .htaccess code did the trick!
Andy Johnston
Worked for me. Thank you!
Kunal Sarkar
Hi all,
I was facing the same problem while I came across this blog post. But I guess I found a better solution for non-tech guys.
You can simply install JetPack from Wordpress and Activate its Sitemap functionality and disable the Sitemap of Yoast. Additionally Jetpack has a lot of essential features that I guess every WP admin should have.
Thanks,
Kunal Sarkar
Shivam
For me there is a different issue. Its just showing plain text instead of links. Can some one help please
Naman Kumar
Hey, I’m using the same code goy fixing yoast xml sitemap but what to do for google analytics by yoast?
Mohammed Jhosawa
Hi Guys,
Please follow this steps if you are facing 404 error issue with Yoast XML Sitemap :
1. Go to > Yoast SEO Plugin.
2. Yoast SEO Plugin > XML Sitemap.
3. Uncheck the user XML Sitemap functionality > Save Changes.
4. Again Check XML Sitemap functionality > Save Changes.
5. Click on XML Sitemap and you’ll see your sitemap_index.xml right there.
Hope this information is useful to you.
Thanks.
Alx Diesel
@Mohammed Your suggestion worked. Thanks a lot.
Amar
Thnks bro this worked for me.
Mr. Dif
This worked for me also although I did implement the .htacess change as well.
Mohammed
Your idea was good and thanks a lot
Faisal Sofi
It worked… Thanks
Felix
Yo here is an easy way to fix it and should work fine for all!
Go to settings in wordpress
Select permalinks
Don’t change anything
Just Press save changes at the bottom of the page
Now click on your XML Site Map button again in Yoast
404 error should no longer show
You welcome homies
Pankaj
Yah This is fixed! Thanks a lot!
Christian
thanks man, this worked.
Grant
Reply to say that this method worked for me. Just go to permalinks page in settings, and click save.
Raf
Awesome!! It worked.
Sergey
Thanx! fixed for me
Deborah
Thank you so much! Worked like a charm to reduce the number from 1000 to 100.
Tim
Simply untick “Check this box to enable XML sitemap functionality.” in the SEO plug-in and Save Changes, then renable again. Problem solved.
Arshad
Thanks Joshua
Had the same problem. Changing the rows from 1000 to 100 will fixed it for me.
Klick
Thx i have change it too from 1000 to 100 now it work Thanx
Ridfay
Now work with this tips thanx
Miro
After adding the first code to your htacces file disable sitemap functionality flush your cache (if you use any of caching tools like w3 total cache) and then enable the functionality again.
It worked for me that way.
Thank you for the tutorial! It helped!
aaron
I seem to be getting this for my posts. I suspect yoast is deleting my .htaccess file.
Jeremy Vandermeer
Unchecking and rechecking the XML SItemap option also worked for me. Thanks!
Esteban
Thank you!
Joe
Hey guys. I fixed it! I turned this sitemap option off in this flawless plugin and used a different plugin. It was that easy. It was probably my crummy theme though. Probably.
Atanas Tanev
Ok guys. I was struggling with this issus for a day or so and finally I found the solution!
Skip the mentioned plugins and the codes which may harm your website. I’ve tried everything!
Simply uncheck the “remove strip” from yoast plugin and instead of this option just download and install the plugin: “Remove Category URL” from wordpress plugin section.
The plugin supports WPML and sitemaps and the 404 error is fixed!
Now you can buy me a beer for saving all your headaches!
Cheers!
Atanas Tanev
Nirav Dave
Hey ATANAS!
No way man! This solution worked for me mate. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Nirav
Bas
i placed the code in my .htaccess file and saved it. Now every page gives a 500 internal server Error!!!
What can i do?
Jay
Same with me!!!? Have you managed to fix this?
Miles O'Brien
What I did was I went to the xml sitemap page under the SEO plugin and under user sitemap I unchecked disable user sitemap. then when I put in the sitemap into webmasters it worked successfully. I can’t help you with your 500 internal error, But if you do this fresh it should work instead of using the code.
Rafael
BAS: Remove the code you entered into your.htaccess file, resave it to the server and reload the website.
Henry
If anyone is using iThemes security plug in and has set it to guard the .htaccess file, disable it and create your sitemap, then re-enable.
Rami Alloush
Uncheck then re-check indeed solved that for me.
Thanks
Chris
LOL This worked for me too. I looked at 25 pages before I saw your comment.
Nikos Kavvadas
I add the code in the .htaccess and then i uncheck the sitemap option in the Yoast’s SEO plugin and save their settings. After that i re-checking the sitemap’s option and the the error is solved!
Thanks!
Henk Valk
Thanks Joshua
Had the same problem. Changing the rows from 1000 to 100 will fixed it for me.
Morteza
Thanks a lot, but not works for me. I do all of these ways and check/save/uncheck/save/XML Sitemap process after one & both of them… but ERROR 404!
I’ll try another plugins for this.
thanks for your great site..
Gaurav k
yeah this one is a great finding thanks a lot
TimValDen
Worked for me too… I had the 404page problem when loading the sitemap generated by Yoast SEO.
Joshua Largent
This is what worked for me – Go to the yoast XML sitemap on your dashboard. Change the Max Entries per sitemap from 1000 to 100. Worked like a charm for me.
Tony
Easy does it again, change from 1000 to 100 did the job, without changing the code. Thank You!
onarto
It looks like htaccess edition disappear since yesterday… nothing in the menu anymore…
Adrienne McCue
Just checking and unchecking takes care of the issue. I will check this plugin out now! I did so much seo before, but I like so many features here!
David Bell
I found the same thing as Jane below. Thank you!
smaug
adding the following code to my .htaccess fixed the sitemap for me:
https://gist.github.com/jdevalk/5345872
(note this code is for if your wordpress installation is in a subdirectory named wordpress, if your is in a different folder, change the directory name in the code)
Awais
i have photography website . Should i uncheck the exclude media option or it’s ok?