Yoast SEO
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10M+ installs 4.8★ (27,819)
Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap
Fixes XML declaration errors in sitemaps and RSS by removing leading whitespace. Just activate, no setup required.
The facts
- Rating
- 5★ from 3
- Active installs
- 300+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 14 Jun 2026
- Added
- Aug 2025
- Requires WP
- 5.2
- Tested up to
- WP 7.0.4
- Requires PHP
- 7.2
- Downloads
- 2,140
Our analysis
AI-assistedWhitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap is a WordPress plugin that removes unwanted spaces or blank lines before the XML declaration in your site's output. This helps to prevent errors in XML feeds that can occur due to whitespace, ensuring that your sitemaps and RSS feeds are valid and readable by search engines.
The plugin works automatically without any configuration, making it suitable for users who want a simple solution to maintain the integrity of their XML outputs. It is compatible with popular SEO tools like Rank Math and Yoast SEO, as well as any WordPress theme or hosting environment.
Best for: This plugin is best for WordPress users looking to ensure their XML sitemaps and RSS feeds are error-free.
What it does well
- ✓Automatically removes leading whitespace from XML output
- ✓Fixes 'XML declaration not at start' errors
- ✓Compatible with Rank Math, Yoast SEO, and other sitemap plugins
- ✓No configuration required; just activate and use
- ✓Works with any WordPress theme or hosting
Where it falls short
- •Limited information available on additional features
- •No settings page for user adjustments
Verdict
Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap provides a straightforward solution for maintaining valid XML outputs, though it offers limited user control.
From the developer
Turbo Addons's own description of Whitespace Fixer for XML Sitemap, lightly tidied.
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.
Tagged as
platform
Yoast & Rank Math
quality
SEO
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