Sitemap Blogger Not Readable in Search Console, What’s Actually Going On

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Sitemap Blogger Not Readable in Search Console: What’s Actually Going On?

I still remember the first time Google Search Console flagged my Blogger sitemap as “Couldn’t fetch”. No indexing errors, no manual action, no penalty—just silence. At first, I assumed it was a temporary Google glitch. That assumption turned out to be wrong.

If you are using Blogger and your sitemap is “not readable” or “not fetched” in Search Console, this article is written from real-world troubleshooting—not recycled documentation.

The Common Assumption That Holds Bloggers Back

Most Blogger users assume:

• “Blogger is owned by Google, so sitemap issues will fix themselves.”
• “If posts appear in Google, sitemap errors don’t matter.”
• “Search Console errors are cosmetic.”

In practice, these assumptions delay real indexing optimization. Google may index your content, but inefficient crawling quietly caps your growth.

What “Sitemap Not Readable” Really Means (Beyond the Error Message)

1. Blogger’s Default Sitemap Is Technically Valid—but Contextually Fragile

Blogger uses dynamic feeds as sitemaps, such as:

/sitemap.xml
/feeds/posts/default?orderby=UPDATED

On paper, these are valid XML feeds. In reality, they are sensitive to:

• Feed size limits
• Template-level feed restrictions
• HTTP vs HTTPS canonical mismatches

I discovered this only after comparing crawl logs across two identical Blogger blogs with different templates. Same content. Different results.

2. FeedBurner and Custom Redirects Break Sitemap Fetching

This is rarely mentioned in generic SEO articles:

• FeedBurner redirection
• Old custom domain redirects
• Cloudflare page rules

All three can cause Search Console to fail fetching the sitemap while browsers load it fine. Search Console fetch behavior is stricter than human access.

Practical Fixes That Actually Work (Tested)

Use the Correct Blogger Sitemap Structure

Instead of relying on a single sitemap, submit segmented feeds:

• /sitemap.xml
• /feeds/posts/default?start-index=1&max-results=500
• /feeds/posts/default?start-index=501&max-results=500

This reduces feed overload, which Blogger rarely warns you about.

Check Template-Level Feed Settings (Often Ignored)

Many premium Blogger templates disable feeds for “performance.” That optimization silently kills sitemap readability.

In Theme → Edit HTML, ensure:

<b:include data='feedLinks'/>

If it’s missing, your sitemap issues are structural—not Search Console bugs.

Force HTTPS Canonical Consistency

Search Console treats:

• http://example.com/sitemap.xml
• https://example.com/sitemap.xml

as different resources. I have personally seen sitemap errors disappear within 48 hours after removing the HTTP property entirely.

Why Google Sometimes Crawls Your Blog But Ignores the Sitemap

This is uncomfortable to admit, but Google often prioritizes internal links over sitemaps for Blogger. Sitemaps become secondary signals.

If your internal linking is weak, your sitemap error becomes visible. If your internal linking is strong, Google silently compensates.

You may want to read this deeper explanation here: Why Google Crawls Your Website But Doesn’t Index It

Honest Opinion: Blogger SEO Is Stable, Not Forgiving

Here’s the human part most AI-written articles avoid:

Blogger works well for disciplined publishers, but it punishes “set and forget” behavior. Google does not babysit Blogger blogs—even though it owns the platform.

If your sitemap is unreadable, it’s not personal. It’s structural.

What I’d Do Differently If Starting Over

• Audit feeds before submitting Search Console
• Limit sitemap size from day one
• Prioritize internal links over sitemap dependency

Related Reading (Internal Knowledge Expansion)

• Blogger Tips: Secrets to Successful Blogging
• Blogging Tricks to Make Money
• Effective Ways to Earn from Blogging
• Google AdSense Monetization Guide
• How to Start a Blog and Its Benefits

Final Takeaway

If your Blogger sitemap is not readable in Search Console, stop refreshing the page. Start auditing structure, feeds, and assumptions.

Sitemaps don’t fix weak blogs—but broken sitemaps quietly limit strong ones.