Sitemap not read: old Last read or pending

Google re-reads a sitemap on its own schedule. A Last read date that does not move after you change pages, or a sitemap with no Last read date, needs a check.

Where you see it

In Indexing > Sitemaps, look at the Submitted and Last read columns of the Submitted sitemaps table.

What it means

Submitted is the date you last submitted the sitemap in the report. Last read is the last time Google fetched it. Last read only shows when Google could fetch the file.

Google tries to fetch a sitemap as soon as you submit it. After a successful read, it re-reads the sitemap at its own pace, separate from how it crawls your pages.

In Search Console's API, a sitemap Google has not processed yet is called pending.

Common causes

Google has not fetched it yet. Google says a submitted sitemap should be fetched right away, so this should not last.
Every fetch fails, so Last read stays empty or old. The status then shows Couldn't fetch or an error.
Low crawl demand for the site. Google's help lists this as a reason a sitemap is not fetched.
The sitemap rarely changes, so Google sees no reason to read it often.

Find the cause

Check the Status column. If it is not Success, follow that error first.
Open the sitemap and run Test live URL on it in URL Inspection.
Compare Last read with the date you last added or changed pages.

How to fix it

Fix any fetch error first.
After big changes, resubmit: type the address in Add a new sitemap and click Submit. Google tries to fetch it right away.
Keep <lastmod> dates accurate, so a read gives Google useful news.
Link to new pages from pages Google already crawls, so Google finds them without the sitemap too.

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When you can ignore it

Your sitemap rarely changes and its status is Success. An old Last read date is normal then. Google keeps what it read before.

On your platform

Wix

Wix makes your sitemap at /sitemap.xml. When you connect Search Console through Wix's SEO Setup Checklist, Wix submits it for you. That needs a Premium plan and a connected domain. Wix pages not indexed

Shopify

Shopify makes your sitemap at /sitemap.xml and links it to smaller sitemaps for products, collections, blogs, and pages. Submit only sitemap.xml, in the Search Console property for your primary domain. Google can't read the sitemap while the store is in private mode with a password page. Shopify pages not indexed

Catch sitemap problems before they cost you pages

On paid plans, CrawlCoach downloads your sitemaps every day and reads Search Console's sitemap data for each fix list. When a sitemap stops loading, Search Console reports errors in it, or Google stops reading it, the fix goes in your fix list with the steps and a link to the right guide. See plans and prices.

Questions

How often does Google read a sitemap?

Google does not publish a schedule. It fetches a sitemap when you submit it, then re-reads it periodically at its own pace. Resubmit after big changes.

Does resubmitting the same sitemap help?

Yes, after big changes or after you fix a failed fetch. If nothing important changed, Google suggests letting it follow its regular schedule.

What does pending mean for a sitemap?

In Search Console's API, pending means Google has not processed the sitemap yet. If a sitemap stays unread for days after you submit it, open it and run Test live URL on it to look for a fetch problem.

Sources

Checked on October 8, 2026. Search Console's wording can change after that date.

Search Console sitemap Last read date is old, or the sitemap is pending