Description
Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap is a lightweight plugin that automatically removes unwanted spaces or blank lines before the XML declaration (<?xml version="1.0" ... ?>) in your WordPress output.
This small whitespace, often caused by themes or plugins, breaks XML feeds and causes browser or validator errors like:
XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document
With this plugin activated, the output buffer is cleaned before anything is sent to the browser—ensuring your sitemaps and RSS feeds are valid and readable by search engines like Google.
✅ Works with:
– Rank Math
– Yoast SEO
– Other Seo Tools
– All themes and plugins
No settings page. No configuration. Just activate and forget.
Features
- Automatically removes leading whitespace from XML output
- Fixes “XML declaration not at start” errors
- Works with Rank Math, Yoast, and other sitemap plugins
- Compatible with any WordPress theme or hosting
- Runs silently in the background
License
Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2 or later.
Screenshots
Browser error message without the plugin (before fix)
Browser error message without the plugin (before fix)
XML sitemap loads cleanly after plugin activation (no errors)
Installation
- Upload the plugin to the
/wp-content/plugins/directory, or install it via the WordPress Plugin Installer. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
- That’s it! Your sitemaps and feeds will now be clean and error-free.
FAQ
-
Does this plugin modify any content or database?
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No. It only buffers and cleans output whitespace before it reaches the browser. It doesn’t store or alter data.
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Will this conflict with my SEO plugin?
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Not at all. It is compatible with Rank Math, Yoast SEO, All in One SEO, SEOPress, and others.
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What if I still see the error after activation?
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Ensure no theme or plugin is sending output (like
echo,var_dump(), or spaces) before the plugin loads. Also, clear any caching and test again. -
Does it have any settings page?
-
No. It’s designed to be automatic. Activate and you’re done.
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.0.2
- Improved performance by reducing unnecessary output buffering.
- Refactored core cleanup logic for cleaner and more reliable XML output.
1.0.1
- Improved output sanitization to enhance overall security and prevent unwanted data leakage.
- Added stricter header validation before applying whitespace cleanup for safer XML response handling.
- Optimized output buffer handling to ensure better compatibility with caching and SEO plugins.
- Improved performance and reduced risk of accidental whitespace removal in non-XML outputs.
1.0.0
- Initial release
- Automatically removes whitespace before XML declarations