When you submit an OSMap XML sitemap to Google Search Console, you may see the following error:

Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page. Please use a supported sitemap format instead.

This means that Google did not recognise the submitted URL as a valid XML sitemap.

OSMap provides two versions of a sitemap:

• The XML sitemap is intended for Google and other search engines.
• The HTML sitemap is intended for your site visitors.

First, make sure that you submitted the XML sitemap URL rather than the HTML sitemap URL.

Check Your XML Sitemap

• In your Joomla administrator area, go to Components > OSMap Pro.
• Find your sitemap and click its XML link. Copy this URL and submit it to Google Search Console.

When you open the URL, it may look like a formatted web page. This does not necessarily mean that it is HTML. OSMap can apply an XSL stylesheet that makes the XML sitemap easier to read in a browser.

Disable XML Styling

If Google still reports that the sitemap is an HTML page, try creating a sitemap URL without XML styling:

• Create a hidden menu item in Joomla.
• Select OSMap Pro > Sitemap - XML Format as the menu item type.
• Select the sitemap you want to submit.
• Set Add Styling to No.
• Save the menu item.

Open the menu item URL and confirm that it displays the unstyled XML sitemap. Submit this URL to Google Search Console.

If the Error Continues

If disabling the styling does not solve the problem, open the sitemap URL in a private browser window.

Check that the URL does not display or redirect to:

• Your homepage
• A 404 error page
• A login page
• A security challenge
• Another HTML page

You should also check whether a Joomla extension, security service, caching system or server rule treats Googlebot differently from a regular visitor.