WordPress creates an XML sitemap for you automatically – but Google does not know it exists until you say so. This guide shows you exactly where your WordPress sitemap lives, how it changes depending on which SEO plugin you run, and how to submit it to Google Search Console the right way in 2026.
Where Is My WordPress Sitemap?
The answer depends on your setup, and this is where most beginners get stuck. There are three common situations:
1. Plain WordPress (no SEO plugin)
Since version 5.5, WordPress ships with a native sitemap at yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml. It splits posts, pages, taxonomies, and users into child files of up to 2,000 URLs each. It works, but it offers no controls – you cannot exclude content types without code.
2. Yoast SEO installed
Yoast disables the core sitemap and serves its own at yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml. It adds last-modified dates, image entries, and settings to exclude specific post types or taxonomies. Find it under Yoast SEO → Settings → APIs → XML sitemaps.
3. Rank Math installed
Rank Math also uses yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml, with per-post-type toggles under Rank Math → Sitemap Settings. It can include featured images, which helps your visuals surface in Google Images.
Not sure which applies to you? Just try the URLs. Open yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml first; if that 404s, try /wp-sitemap.xml. Whichever loads is the one you will submit.
Before You Submit: A 60-Second Health Check
- Open the sitemap URL in an incognito browser window – it must load without a login.
- Click into one child sitemap and spot-check a few URLs. Every one should load with a 200 status, not redirect.
- Make sure your site is not discouraging search engines: Settings → Reading → “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” must be unchecked.
- Confirm the sitemap uses https if your site does – mixed protocols cause “URL not allowed” errors later.
Step-by-Step: Submitting to Google Search Console
Step 1: Verify your site
Go to search.google.com/search-console and add your site as a property. The fastest path for WordPress users: choose “URL prefix”, pick the HTML tag method, and paste the verification code into your SEO plugin. In Yoast it lives under Settings → Site connections; in Rank Math under General Settings → Webmaster Tools. Save, then click Verify.
Step 2: Open the Sitemaps report
In the left sidebar, under Indexing, click Sitemaps. You will see a field labeled “Add a new sitemap” with your domain pre-filled.
Step 3: Enter the sitemap path
Type only the path – sitemap_index.xml for Yoast or Rank Math, wp-sitemap.xml for plain WordPress – and click Submit. Do not paste the full URL with https; Google already has your domain.
Step 4: Check the result
Within a few minutes the status should read “Success” and Google will list the child sitemaps it found. Click the entry to see discovered URL counts for each child file.
Fixing Common WordPress Sitemap Problems
The sitemap URL returns a 404
Flush your permalinks: go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes without editing anything. This rebuilds rewrite rules, which fixes the majority of sitemap 404s. If it persists, check that only one plugin generates sitemaps – running Yoast and Rank Math together causes conflicts.
“Couldn’t fetch” in Search Console
A security plugin or your host firewall may be blocking Googlebot. Whitelist Googlebot in Wordfence or your CDN, then click the sitemap entry and hit resubmit.
Sitemap shows old content or missing posts
A caching plugin is usually serving a stale copy. Exclude sitemap URLs from page caching in LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket, or W3 Total Cache. Most SEO plugins ship exclusion rules automatically, but custom cache configs can override them.
Hundreds of tag and archive URLs in the sitemap
Thin archive pages dilute crawl budget. In Yoast or Rank Math, disable sitemaps for tags, formats, and author archives unless those pages genuinely serve searchers.
Should You Also Submit to Bing?
Yes – it takes two minutes and covers Bing, DuckDuckGo, and increasingly AI search experiences. Sign in to Bing Webmaster Tools, and use the option to import your site directly from Google Search Console. Your sitemap comes along automatically.
FAQ
Do I need a plugin to have a sitemap in WordPress?
No. WordPress 5.5 and later generates wp-sitemap.xml natively. A plugin like Yoast or Rank Math simply gives you more control – exclusions, image data, and cleaner formatting.
Which is better for sitemaps: Yoast or Rank Math?
Functionally they are nearly identical for sitemaps. Both output a sitemap index Google reads perfectly. Choose based on the rest of the feature set, not the sitemap.
How do I exclude a page from the WordPress sitemap?
Set the page to noindex in your SEO plugin (in the post editor sidebar). Both Yoast and Rank Math automatically drop noindexed content from the sitemap.
My sitemap shows fewer URLs than I have posts. Why?
Drafts, private posts, noindexed content, and excluded post types are left out by design. Only public, indexable URLs belong in a sitemap.
Do I resubmit the sitemap when I publish a new post?
No. Google refetches your sitemap regularly, and your SEO plugin updates it the moment you publish. Submission is a one-time task.
With the sitemap handled, most WordPress indexing problems trace back to plugin and archive settings – our guide to fixing crawled – currently not indexed in WordPress covers the exact configuration, and Rank Math vs Yoast helps if you are still choosing an SEO plugin.
Final Thoughts
Submitting your WordPress sitemap is a one-time, five-minute job that pays off for the life of your site. Verify your property, submit sitemap_index.xml or wp-sitemap.xml, fix any fetch errors, and let WordPress handle the rest automatically. Once the Sitemaps report shows Success, your job shifts to the part that actually earns rankings: publishing content people search for.