Facing sitemapindex error in google search console

[johnthan]

I am not sure if it is a good section to post this question.

I am facing the sitemap submission error on Google search consoles. It says "sitemap index can be read, but has error".

The reason is: Your sitemap or Sitemap index file doesn't properly declare the namespace.

Examples:
Line 1
Tag: sitemapindex

Below is my xml code

<sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schema/sitemap/0.9">
<sitemap>
<loc>https://...../sitemap/posts</loc>
</sitemap>
</sitemapindex>

Can you tell me the correct format or point out the mistake I have done there?

 

[Lineldon]

To begin with, how did you create it?

 

[Purres]

Best answer

The namespace declaration in your XML code is missing the xsi attribute, which is required by the Sitemap protocol. Here is the corrected code:

PHP Code:

<sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schema/sitemap/0.9"
              xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
              xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.sitemaps.org/schema/sitemap/0.9
                                  http://www.sitemaps.org/schema/sitemap/0.9/sitemap.xsd">
  <sitemap>
    <loc>https://...../sitemap/posts</loc>
  </sitemap>
</sitemapindex>

With this correction, the sitemap index file should now be properly declared and recognized by Google Search Console.

Hope it helps!