Problem: When activating WPML SEO, the secondary language's sitemap displays a 404 error. This occurs when using the 'Language in Directories' URL format. Solution: This behavior is expected and not a bug. When using the 'Language in Directories' format, the multilingual sitemaps generated by Rank Math do not follow the standard structure. Instead, WPML creates hreflang tags for search engines to recognize the default language and its translations. You can find more details in our documentation on optimizing multilingual websites with Rank Math and WPML: Rank Math Sitemaps and WPML.
If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we recommend opening a new support ticket. Also, check related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verify the version of the permanent fix, and confirm that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. For further assistance, please visit our support forum: WPML Support Forum.
