Sitemap.xml show an error "error on line 2 at column 6: XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document." - How-to and Troubleshooting - wpForo 2.0 https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/ Discussion Board en-US Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:14:22 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Sitemap.xml show an error "error on line 2 at column 6: XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document." https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101523 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:45:40 +0000 Yes, thank you, I found the guilty plugin in between...

]]> How-to and Troubleshooting - wpForo 2.0 Le Bear https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101523 RE: Sitemap.xml show an error "error on line 2 at column 6: XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document." https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101505 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:24:49 +0000 Hi @le-bear,

We have checked the URL, as it is in the Screenshot you provided, and the page works.

Just note if you have done any manipulations, please bring them back to default(not to get any problems).

]]> How-to and Troubleshooting - wpForo 2.0 Chris https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101505 RE: Sitemap.xml show an error "error on line 2 at column 6: XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document." https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101447 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 11:53:00 +0000 Actually, I don't think Total cache is guilty here. Here is the source:

 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="//lebearcnc.com/wp-content/plugins/wpforo/assets/css/wpforo-sitemap.xsl"?>
<sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
	<sitemap>
		<loc>https://lebearcnc.com/forums/topic-sitemap1.xml</loc>
	</sitemap>
	<sitemap>
		<loc>https://lebearcnc.com/forums/topic-sitemap2.xml</loc>
	</sitemap>
	<sitemap>
		<loc>https://lebearcnc.com/forums/profile-sitemap1.xml</loc>
	</sitemap>
	<sitemap>
		<loc>https://lebearcnc.com/forums/profile-sitemap2.xml</loc>
	</sitemap>
	<sitemap>
		<loc>https://lebearcnc.com/forums/profile-sitemap3.xml</loc>
	</sitemap>
	<sitemap>
		<loc>https://lebearcnc.com/forums/forum-sitemap.xml</loc>
	</sitemap>
</sitemapindex>
<!-- XML Sitemap generated by wpForo SEO -->
<!--
Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https://www.boldgrid.com/w3-total-cache/

Mise en cache objet de 0/74 objets utilisant redis
Mise en cache de page à l’aide de redis (Requested URI is rejected) 
Chargement lent
Mise en cache de la base de données utilisant redis  (Request-wide modification query)

Served from: lebearcnc.com @ 2023-03-31 13:34:22 by W3 Total Cache
-->

Should not this line be the first ?

<!-- XML Sitemap generated by wpForo SEO -->

If you confirm, and tell me where this is generated, I guess I can fix this.

Thnaks for your help.


]]> How-to and Troubleshooting - wpForo 2.0 Le Bear https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101447 RE: Sitemap.xml show an error "error on line 2 at column 6: XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document." https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101444 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 11:43:22 +0000 Opeing the source, i see the page has been "optimized" by W3 total cache. I am going to exclude it, and report here.

]]> How-to and Troubleshooting - wpForo 2.0 Le Bear https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101444 Sitemap.xml show an error "error on line 2 at column 6: XML declaration allowed only at the start of the document." https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101443 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 11:41:01 +0000 What can I do to fix this ?

]]> How-to and Troubleshooting - wpForo 2.0 Le Bear https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/sitemap-xml-show-an-error-error-on-line-2-at-column-6-xml-declaration-allowed-only-at-the-start-of-the-document/#post-101443