How To Create A Sitemap In WordPress
The good news is that you do not need coding skills to create a sitemap in WordPress. WordPress can generate a basic XML sitemap automatically, while SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math offer additional sitemap settings.
In this guide, you will learn how to find your existing WordPress sitemap, create one using an SEO plugin and submit it to Google Search Console.
What Is A Sitemap?
A sitemap is a file that lists the URLs of pages, posts and other content on a website that search engines may want to discover. It can also provide additional information about the content, depending on the sitemap format.
The most common type for search engines is an XML sitemap. It is designed primarily for search engine crawlers rather than human visitors.
For example, a sitemap may include your homepage, blog posts, pages and category archives. It helps search engines discover these URLs, although including a URL in a sitemap does not guarantee that Google will index it.
How To Find Your WordPress Sitemap
Before installing a plugin, check whether WordPress has already generated a sitemap for your website.
WordPress has included a built-in XML sitemap feature since version 5.5. It is generally available automatically unless it has been disabled or affected by your website's configuration.
To check your sitemap:
- Open a web browser.
- Enter your website's address followed by
/wp-sitemap.xml. - For example, if your website is
example.com, visithttps://example.com/wp-sitemap.xml. - Press Enter to open the address.
If the sitemap is available, your browser should display an XML document containing links to sitemap files or website content.
If the page returns an error or does not display a sitemap, check your WordPress version, website settings and any plugins that may affect sitemap generation.
How To Create A Sitemap Using Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that can generate an XML sitemap automatically. If you already use it, you may not need another sitemap plugin.
Follow these steps to check your sitemap:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Plugins and select Add New Plugin if Yoast SEO is not already installed.
- Search for Yoast SEO, then install and activate the plugin.
- Open the Yoast SEO settings.
- Find the XML sitemap setting under the plugin's site features or equivalent settings section.
- Make sure the XML sitemap feature is enabled.
- Open the sitemap link provided by Yoast SEO to view the generated sitemap.
Yoast SEO generates and updates its sitemap as your website's content changes. The exact settings layout may differ between plugin versions.
The sitemap index is commonly available at /sitemap_index.xml. You can check this address by adding it to your website's domain.
How To Create A Sitemap Using Rank Math SEO
Rank Math SEO is another WordPress plugin that generates XML sitemaps without requiring you to create the file manually.
If Rank Math is already installed on your website, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Rank Math SEO and select Sitemap Settings.
- Review the sitemap settings for posts, pages and other public content types.
- Ensure the content you want search engines to discover is included in the sitemap.
- Save any changes you make.
- Open your sitemap index to confirm that it loads correctly.
Rank Math commonly uses /sitemap_index.xml as its sitemap address. You can enter this path after your domain name to check it.
The exact options available depend on your website's content and plugin configuration. You do not need to install both Rank Math and Yoast SEO just to create an XML sitemap. If you already use one of them, use its existing sitemap feature.
How To Submit Your WordPress Sitemap To Google Search Console
Creating a sitemap is only one part of the process. You can also submit its address through Google Search Console to help Google discover the URLs listed in it.
Follow these steps:
- Open Google Search Console and select your website property. If you have not added your website, complete the property setup and verification first.
- Select Sitemaps from the navigation menu.
- Find the field labelled Add a new sitemap.
- Enter the sitemap path. For a standard WordPress sitemap, use
wp-sitemap.xml. If you use Yoast SEO or Rank Math, the path is commonlysitemap_index.xml. - Click Submit.
- Check the sitemap status to see whether Google could fetch and process it.
Use the sitemap address generated by your website rather than submitting several sitemap addresses that contain the same URLs unnecessarily.
A successful submission does not guarantee that Google will index every page. Google decides which URLs to crawl and index based on its own systems and other signals.
How To Check If Your Sitemap Is Working
After creating your sitemap, open its address in a browser to confirm that it loads. You should see an XML document containing URLs or links to individual sitemap files.
If you have submitted it to Google Search Console, review the Sitemaps report for any fetching or processing errors.
If the sitemap does not open, check the following:
- Confirm that the sitemap URL is correct.
- Make sure the relevant sitemap feature is enabled in your SEO plugin.
- Check whether another SEO plugin or sitemap plugin is interfering with the existing one.
- Review your website's visibility settings to ensure search engines are not being discouraged from indexing the site.
- If the problem continues, check your caching, security or hosting configuration.
Do not assume that a sitemap is broken simply because it displays XML code instead of a normal webpage. XML is the expected format for an XML sitemap.
Do You Need A Sitemap For WordPress?
A sitemap is particularly useful for websites with many pages, a large archive of posts or pages that are not easily reached through internal links. It can also help search engines discover newly published or updated content.
WordPress already generates a basic XML sitemap, so installing an SEO plugin is not compulsory. However, plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math provide additional options for controlling which content types appear in the sitemap.
For most WordPress websites, the simplest approach is to use the sitemap feature already provided by WordPress or an existing SEO plugin, check that the sitemap works and submit its address to Google Search Console.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does WordPress automatically create a sitemap?
Yes. WordPress has a built-in XML sitemap feature that is generally enabled by default. You can usually find it by visiting yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml.
2. Do I need a plugin to create a sitemap in WordPress?
No. WordPress generates a basic XML sitemap automatically. However, plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math offer additional settings for controlling which content appears in your sitemap.
3. How do I submit a WordPress sitemap to Google?
Open Google Search Console, select your website property and click Sitemaps. Enter your sitemap URL and click Submit.
4. Does submitting a sitemap guarantee that Google will index my pages?
No. A sitemap helps Google discover your website's URLs, but Google decides which pages to crawl and index. Submitting a sitemap does not guarantee that every page will appear in search results.







