How to fix: Sitemap.xml not found

Updated on December 20th, 2024 at 05:35 pm

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Issue: Without a sitemap.xml file, search engines can’t easily find and index all the URLs on your site, potentially missing important pages and updates.

Fix: Create a sitemap.xml file, upload it to your website, and notify search engines about it. 

How to Fix for Beginners 

1. Generate a Sitemap: Use free tools like XML Sitemap Generator or your CMS to create a sitemap.xml file.
   • Example: The sitemap will include your site’s important URLs, like https://example.com/page1.
2. Upload to Your Site: Place the generated sitemap.xml file in your website’s root directory (e.g., https://example.com/sitemap.xml).
3. Add to robots.txt: Update your robots.txt file to include the location of the sitemap.
   • Example: Add Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml to the file.
4. Submit to Google Search Console: Use the “Sitemaps” tool in Google Search Console to test and submit your sitemap for indexing.
5. Monitor and Update: Keep your sitemap updated as you add or remove pages on your site.

Tip: A sitemap improves crawl efficiency and helps search engines quickly discover new content.

More articles relating to Sitemaps:

• How to fix: Sitemap.xml files are too large
• How to fix: Incorrect pages found in sitemap.xml
• How to fix: Format errors in sitemap.xml files
• How to fix: Sitemap.xml not indicated in robots.txt
• How to fix: Sitemap.xml not found
• How to fix: HTTP URLs in sitemap.xml for HTTPS site
• How to fix: Orphaned pages (in sitemap)