Why My Blogger Sitemap Was Not Readable in Google Search Console

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Why My Blogger Sitemap Was Not Readable in Google Search Console (And What It Taught Me)

At first, I thought it was just another harmless warning. Google Search Console showed the dreaded message: “Sitemap could not be read”. No red alerts, no indexing penalties — just silence. But weeks passed, and my new posts barely appeared in search results.

That’s when I realized: a broken sitemap is like whispering directions to someone wearing noise-canceling headphones. Google is crawling, yes — but it doesn’t really understand where to go.

This article is not a generic checklist. It’s based on real debugging sessions, wasted hours, and uncomfortable realizations about how Blogger handles sitemap generation.

What “Sitemap Not Readable” Actually Means

When Google Search Console says your sitemap is not readable, it usually means one of these:

• The sitemap URL returns an invalid XML format
• Blogger is generating a broken feed structure
• Redirect loops confuse Googlebot
• Your blog uses incompatible custom domain settings

In my case, the sitemap worked in the browser — but failed silently in Search Console. This is the most dangerous scenario because it gives a false sense of security.

The Real Sitemap URLs That Actually Work for Blogger

Most tutorials recommend:

https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml

But Blogger doesn’t generate a traditional sitemap file. Instead, it uses feed-based dynamic sitemaps.

Correct Sitemap URLs for Blogger:

• /sitemap.xml → Often broken or incomplete
• /feeds/posts/default?orderby=UPDATED → Works but limited
• /sitemap.xml?page=1 → Most stable
• /sitemap.xml?page=2 → For large blogs

Once I split my sitemap into paginated segments, Google started indexing new posts within hours — not days.

The Silent Killer: HTTPS Canonical Conflict

This is rarely discussed.

If your blog canonical is HTTPS but some sitemap URLs still redirect from HTTP → HTTPS → www → non-www, Google may fail to parse the sitemap.

One small mismatch can cause:

• Soft 404 sitemap errors
• “Couldn't fetch” warnings
• Indexing delays that look random

Hard truth: Blogger’s domain mapping system is fragile. It assumes you configure everything perfectly. Any small deviation creates silent SEO friction.

What Finally Fixed My Sitemap Issue

Here’s the exact sequence that worked for me:

1. Removed all sitemap submissions from GSC
2. Waited 24 hours
3. Submitted only: /sitemap.xml?page=1
4. Forced re-crawl of homepage
5. Updated canonical URLs inside theme

After that, indexing graphs slowly normalized.

Uncommon Fix: Feed Burn Suppression

Here’s something almost nobody mentions.

If you previously used:

• FeedBurner
• RSS redirect plugins
• Custom feed scripts

They may silently hijack sitemap resolution.

In one of my blogs, disabling feed redirection immediately fixed sitemap crawling issues.

Lesson: Feeds and sitemaps are deeply connected in Blogger — modifying one often breaks the other.

Why Google Crawls But Doesn't Index (My Honest Opinion)

I used to blame Google. But the uncomfortable reality is this:

Google is not broken — most Blogger blogs are poorly structured.

Weak internal linking, chaotic categories, duplicate tag pages, and bloated templates quietly sabotage crawling efficiency.

If your sitemap fails, it’s usually a symptom — not the root problem.

Human Insight: What I Wish I Knew Earlier

For years, I treated sitemap as a one-time setup. Big mistake.

In reality, sitemap health reflects:

• Template cleanliness
• Internal linking discipline
• Feed architecture
• Domain consistency

Once I fixed those, sitemap errors simply disappeared — without touching GSC again.

Recommended Sitemap Structure for Blogger (Clean & Scalable)

• /sitemap.xml?page=1
• /sitemap.xml?page=2
• /sitemap.xml?page=3

For most blogs, only page 1 and 2 are needed.

Common Mistakes That Break Blogger Sitemap

• Using random sitemap generator tools
• Injecting sitemap code inside theme
• Using feed redirection services
• Incorrect robots.txt blocking feeds

Related Reading (Internal Link Strategy)

• Why Google Crawls Your Website But Doesn't Index It
• Blogger Tips: Secrets to Successful Blogging
• Blogging Tricks: How to Make Money from Blogging
• Effective Ways to Earn Money from Blogging
• Google AdSense Blog Monetization Guide
• How to Start a Blog and Its Real Advantages

Final Thought: Sitemap Is a Mirror of Blog Health

If your sitemap is broken, your site structure probably is too.

Instead of endlessly resubmitting sitemap in Search Console, invest time into:

• Cleaner templates
• Smarter internal links
• Logical category architecture
• Minimal redirect layers

Once I fixed those, sitemap issues stopped being a problem — permanently.