Nayan Dhumal
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages on your site, so Google can find them more easily. Submitting it takes about two minutes in Google Search Console. This guide shows you where to find your sitemap on WordPress, how to submit it, and how to check that Google has read it.
If your blog is new, Google may not know most of your posts exist yet. A sitemap is one of the simplest ways to point Google to all of them at once.
It is not a magic button. Google calls a sitemap submission “merely a hint”, and it does not guarantee that every page will be crawled or indexed. But for a new blog with few links from other sites, it is one of the first things worth doing.
Key takeaways
- A sitemap lists the pages you want search engines to find.
- WordPress and SEO plugins like Rank Math create one for you automatically.
- You submit it once in the Sitemaps report in Google Search Console.
- Google treats a sitemap as a hint. It does not guarantee crawling or indexing.
- Check the Sitemaps report for a “Success” status and the number of discovered pages.
- Use URL Inspection to request indexing for your most important new posts.
What a sitemap is
A sitemap is an XML file that lists the URLs on your website. Search engines read it to discover pages, especially pages that are new or not yet linked from other sites.
You will not see it on your site as a normal page, and readers do not need it. It is written for search engines.
Step 1: Find your sitemap URL
You almost certainly already have a sitemap. Where it lives depends on how your site is set up.
| Set-up | Typical sitemap address |
|---|---|
| Rank Math | yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml |
| Yoast SEO | yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml |
| WordPress with no SEO plugin | yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml |
To check, type the address into your browser. If you see a list of links to other sitemaps, such as one for posts and one for pages, you have found it.
In Rank Math, you can also go to Rank Math, then Sitemap Settings, where the sitemap address is shown at the top.
Step 2: Make sure Search Console is set up
You need your site added and verified in Google Search Console first. Google offers two types of property:
- Domain property: covers every version of your site, including http, https and subdomains. It can only be verified with a DNS record at your domain provider.
- URL-prefix property: covers one exact address, such as https://yourdomain.com/. It can be verified with an HTML file, an HTML tag, Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager.
If you have not done this yet, my Google Search Console guide for beginners walks through it.
Step 3: Submit the sitemap
- Open Google Search Console and select your site.
- In the left menu, click Sitemaps under Indexing.
- In the “Add a new sitemap” box, type the end of your sitemap address, for example sitemap_index.xml.
- Click Submit.
That is it. You only need to do this once. Your SEO plugin keeps the sitemap updated as you publish new posts, and Google re-reads it over time.
Pro tip
Submit the main sitemap index, not each small sitemap separately. The index file links to all the others, such as posts, pages and categories, so Google finds them all from one submission.
Step 4: Check that it worked
After submitting, stay on the Sitemaps page. Under “Submitted sitemaps” you will see a row for your file with:
- Status: “Success” means Google could read the file. “Couldn’t fetch” or “Has errors” means something needs fixing.
- Last read: when Google last read the file.
- Discovered pages: how many URLs Google found in it.
The status may show as pending for a short while. Check back later in the day or the next day.
What to do if the sitemap has errors
- Couldn’t fetch: open the sitemap address in your browser. If it does not load, check that the sitemap is enabled in your SEO plugin and that a security or caching plugin is not blocking it.
- Wrong address: make sure you typed exactly the address that loads in your browser.
- Pages you do not want indexed: if the sitemap includes things like tag archives or test pages, change the sitemap settings in your SEO plugin to exclude them.
Step 5: Request indexing for your key posts
A sitemap helps Google find all your pages over time. For your most important new posts, you can also ask Google directly.
- Copy the full URL of the post.
- Paste it into the search bar at the top of Search Console.
- Wait for the inspection result.
- Click Request indexing.
Google says indexing can take a day or so, sometimes longer, and that requesting it does not guarantee the page will be indexed. There is also a daily limit on requests, so use it for your best posts rather than every page.
Another way: add the sitemap to robots.txt
Google also finds sitemaps listed in your robots.txt file, with a line like this:
Sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
Many SEO plugins add this line automatically. You do not need it if you have already submitted the sitemap in Search Console, but it helps other search engines find it too.
After submitting: what to expect
For a new blog, do not expect every page to be indexed immediately. In the Page indexing report you may see statuses like these:
- Discovered, currently not indexed: Google knows the URL but has not crawled it yet. New sites see this a lot. It usually improves with time and links.
- Crawled, currently not indexed: Google visited the page but decided not to index it for now. Check that the page is useful, not a near-duplicate of another page, and linked from your other posts.
If your blog is still missing from Google after a few weeks, open the Page indexing report in Search Console and click each reason to see which pages are affected. My Search Console guide shows where to find it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to submit a sitemap for a small blog?
It is not required, but it is quick and helps Google discover new pages, especially on a new site with few links from elsewhere.
How often do I need to resubmit my sitemap?
Usually never. Your SEO plugin updates the sitemap automatically and Google re-reads it over time.
Does submitting a sitemap guarantee indexing?
No. Google describes a sitemap as a hint. It helps discovery but does not guarantee crawling or indexing.
What is the difference between sitemap_index.xml and wp-sitemap.xml?
sitemap_index.xml is created by SEO plugins like Rank Math and Yoast. wp-sitemap.xml is the built-in WordPress sitemap used when no SEO plugin provides one.
Why does Search Console show fewer indexed pages than my sitemap?
Google does not index every page it discovers. New sites often see a gap that narrows over time as Google crawls more pages.