Skip Navigation

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client reported an issue with the HTML sitemap on their website using WPML and Rank Math SEO. The sitemap displayed Ukrainian titles for pages but linked to the Czech versions, and it did not include other language versions correctly. Additionally, all pages for the Ukrainian language were marked with a noindex tag, making them invisible to search engines.
Solution:
We recommended the client to follow these steps:
1. Install the WPML SEO add-on from Plugins -> Add new -> Commercial tab.
2. Re-save the permalinks.
3. Apply the workaround described in the errata page: https://wpml.org/errata/rankmath-rank_math_html_sitemap-shortcode-lists-html-sitemap-in-all-languages/.
4. Check if the issue is resolved.
If these steps do not resolve the issue, we recommend creating a staging site and testing by deactivating all plugins and reactivating them one by one to identify the culprit. Start with a default WordPress theme and only WPML plugins and RankMath SEO activated.

Please note that this solution might be outdated or not applicable to your specific case. We highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the problem persists, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

This topic contains 0 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Carlos Rojas 3 weeks, 2 days ago.

Assisted by: Carlos Rojas.

Author Posts
November 23, 2024 at 2:39 pm #16436165

maksymK-2

Background of the issue:
I am experiencing unusual behavior with WPML on my website hidden link. I have tried reinstalling WPML and clearing the database, but nothing helps.

Symptoms:
The HTML sitemap generated by Rank Math uses Ukrainian titles for pages but links to the Czech versions. The sitemap does not include other language versions correctly. All pages for the Ukrainian language are marked with a noindex tag hidden link , making the entire version of the site invisible to search engines. Canonical tags are also added.

Questions:
Could you please help investigate and advise on how to resolve these issues?

November 24, 2024 at 7:42 am #16436719

Christopher Amirian
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi,

I will try to answer the question before assigning the ticket to one of my colleagues.

Would you please follow the steps mentioned in the erratum below?

https://wpml.org/errata/rank-math-seo-fatal-error-with-html-sitemap/

Thanks.

November 25, 2024 at 4:20 pm #16441208

maksymK-2

Good afternoon, please note that I do not use the sitemap through a shortcode; I use it by selecting a page.

Also, I don't see any critical errors. In fact, no errors are visible at all.

Additionally, I figured out why there was a noindex tag in the categories. This happened when I selected the option in the RANK Math settings to not index empty categories and archives. I think this setting is perceived as the absence of translation - hidden link.

Nevertheless, in the sitemap, the links still lead to the Czech version instead of the Ukrainian one, although the titles are in Ukrainian. At the same time, categories and products in Ukrainian are missing from the sitemap, as well as the products themselves. Could this be related? Even Robin Image Optimizer and WEBP Express are behaving strangely and do not see all the media files.

November 27, 2024 at 10:54 am #16448734

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hello,
My name is Carlos and I will continue working on this ticket.

Please follow these steps:
- Install the WPML SEO add-on in Plugins -> Add new -> Commercial tab
- Re-save the permalinks
- Double-check if the issue disappeared

Could you tell me the results of the steps described above?

Regards,
Carlos

November 27, 2024 at 11:16 am #16448781

maksymK-2

Done, nothing changed...
Maybe you want some access to check it? Just let me know

November 27, 2024 at 11:35 am #16448856

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Sure!

I have set your next message private so you can securely share the access credentials to the site.

Please don't forget to create a full site backup before sharing the credentials.

Also, share a URL where the sitemap can be seen.

November 28, 2024 at 11:40 am #16454759

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Thank you for sharing the credentials.

Please share a URL where the sitemap can be seen.

November 28, 2024 at 11:42 am #16454778

maksymK-2

Sure, here - hidden link

November 28, 2024 at 11:46 am #16454787

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi there,

This is not a sitemap: hidden link the sitemap is a XML file that contains all URLs of a site.

November 28, 2024 at 11:51 am #16454803

maksymK-2

This is HTML sitemap, Im talking about HTML sitemap all time.
If you are talking about XML you can find it here - hidden link

November 28, 2024 at 11:51 am #16454805

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi again,

This is the sitemap of your site: hidden link

Please check if that sitemap contains any errors.

November 28, 2024 at 11:54 am #16454811

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Ok, it seems there was a misunderstanding.

I can see that this page is showing the issues in the original language where WPML plugins make no changes. Could you describe step by step how this page was created?

November 28, 2024 at 11:55 am #16454812

maksymK-2

What page do you mean? Ill provide info.

November 28, 2024 at 11:56 am #16454814

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

This page hidden link, the one with the issue you are describing.

November 28, 2024 at 12:00 pm #16454846

maksymK-2

Just created page, normally hidden link and assigned here as a HTML sitemap hidden link. Simillar situation... Nothing changed.