Google Search Console: "Couldn't fetch" and "Type: Unknown" for sitemap on Netlify

I built and deployed my static site serpscaler.com on Netlify, using the default Netlify hosting setup and domain structure.

I then manually added a properly formatted sitemap.xml file at the root of the deployed project. I also included a _headers file with the following content to set the correct MIME type:

/sitemap.xml

Content-Type: application/xml

✅ The sitemap:

Loads fine in browsers

Returns HTTP 200 OK

Shows Content-Type: application/xml when inspected with Redbot and curl

Is valid XML (checked with online validators)

❌ The Problem:

When I submit the sitemap to Google Search Console at:

https://mysite.netlify.app/sitemap.xml

I get:

“Status: Couldn't fetch”

“Type: Unknown”

❓What I Need Help With:

Why might Netlify be failing to apply the header correctly?

How can I resolve this so that Google can successfully fetch and index the sitemap?

I preferbly want to keep everything hosted on Netlify, as I heard its domain has some power idk, just need a working fix or best practice for this issue.

Thanks for any insight.

19 comments