Title: Google Search Console noindex
Last modified: December 6, 2025

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# Google Search Console noindex

 *  Resolved [zkedrov](https://wordpress.org/support/users/zkedrov/)
 * (@zkedrov)
 * [4 months, 4 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-noindex/)
 * Hello,
 * I am experiencing an issue with the XML sitemaps generated by Yoast SEO on my
   website **blisstver.ru**.
 * Google Search Console refuses to process my sitemap and returns the error:
 * **“Couldn’t fetch / Sitemap could not be processed.”**
 * After checking the HTTP response, I discovered that the sitemap files generated
   by Yoast include the following header:
 * **X-Robots-Tag: noindex, follow**
 * Because of this header, Google does not accept the sitemap.
 * Here are the verified facts:
    1. When I deactivate Yoast SEO, the sitemap returns a 404 error — confirming that
       Yoast is generating the sitemap.
    2. All regular website pages return normal headers **without** noindex.
    3. **Only the sitemap files** created by Yoast SEO return:
 * **X-Robots-Tag: noindex, follow**
    4. My hosting provider (REG.ru) confirmed that the header is **not** added by the
       server (nginx), but specifically by the Yoast SEO plugin.They wrote:“The X-Robots-
       Tag: noindex header is generated by the WordPress SEO plugin, not by the Nginx
       server.”
 * The problem is that I cannot find any setting inside Yoast SEO that would enable
   or disable the noindex header for XML or sitemap files.**Environment:**
    - WordPress
    - Yoast SEO version **26.5**
    - Sitemap URL: [https://blisstver.ru/sitemap_index.xml](https://blisstver.ru/sitemap_index.xml)
    - HTTP response for sitemap (via httpstatus.io):
 * HTTP/2 200
   Content-Type: text/xmlX-Robots-Tag: noindex, follow
 * **I kindly request your assistance with the following:**
    1. **Where exactly in Yoast SEO (in my version) is the setting located that controls
       the ****noindex**** header for XML/sitemap files?**
    2. **How can I disable Yoast SEO from adding ****X-Robots-Tag: noindex**** to sitemap
       files?**
    3. Is it possible that this noindex header is added automatically if some content
       types or sections in Yoast are set to “Do not show in search results”?If so,
       please specify where I should check this.
 * I need the sitemap to be indexable (or at least not include a noindex header),
   otherwise Google Search Console cannot process it.
 * Thank you in advance for your help!
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fgoogle-search-console-noindex%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [biglyash1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/biglyash1/)
 * (@biglyash1)
 * [4 months, 4 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-noindex/#post-18746080)
 * I am having the same issue – my homepage is returning <meta name=’robots’ content
   =’noindex, follow’ /> which has prevented google from indexing certain pages.
   Have checked robots.txt and updated rules, but that is unlikely to be the issue
   anyway since some pages are indexing and do not have the no index meta tags. 
   OP if you check individual URLs you might find similar thing.
 * Would appreciate further assistance.
 *  Plugin Support [Maybellyne](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maybellyne/)
 * (@maybellyne)
 * [4 months, 3 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-noindex/#post-18750972)
 * Hello [@zkedrov](https://wordpress.org/support/users/zkedrov/),
 * Thanks for reaching out. I understand Google Search Console hasn’t fetched or
   processed your sitemap. This has nothing to do with `X-Robots-Tag: noindex, follow`.
   That directive is added to ensure the sitemap itself is not listed in search 
   results. It does not prevent Google will indexing the URLs in the sitemap.
 * > Where exactly in Yoast SEO (in my version) is the setting located that controls
   > the noindex header for XML/sitemap files?
 * Yoast SEO generates the XML sitemap dynamically, so the header is added automatically.
   You cannot remove it.
 * > How can I disable Yoast SEO from adding X-Robots-Tag: noindex to sitemap files
 * No, it cannot be disabled
 * > Is it possible that this noindex header is added automatically if some content
   > types or sections in Yoast are set to “Do not show in search results”?If so,
   > please specify where I should check this.
 * It is unconnected to content types or the sections in the plugin you have referred
   to.
 * To the main issue, ensure you submitted only the sitemap index. Do not remove
   and resubmit as this sort of restarts the process. Google needs some time to 
   process the sitemap and will do so eventually.
 * [@biglyash1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/biglyash1/): Your issue is unrelated.
   Please [open a new topic](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo#new-topic-0).
 *  [desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/)
 * (@desmondrafferty)
 * [4 months, 3 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-noindex/#post-18752545)
 * Hi I have a similar issue.
 * a lot of pages not indexed. Some of these pages were created in 2020.
 * [https://the-mkgroup.com/](https://the-mkgroup.com/)
 * How do I add images to this?
    -  This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by [desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/).
    -  This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by [desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/).
    -  This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by [desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/).
    -  This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by [desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/).
    -  This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by [desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/).
 *  Plugin Support [Maybellyne](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maybellyne/)
 * (@maybellyne)
 * [4 months, 3 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-noindex/#post-18752591)
 * [@desmondrafferty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/desmondrafferty/): Your
   issue is unrelated. Please [open your own thread](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo#new-topic-0).

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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## Tags

 * [Google Search Console](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/google-search-console/)
 * [noindex](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/noindex/)

 * 4 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [Maybellyne](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maybellyne/)
 * Last activity: [4 months, 3 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-noindex/#post-18752591)
 * Status: resolved