A sitemap is a file that lists the pages on your site, so Google can find and crawl them faster. Submitting it to Google Search Console (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is one of the first things to do after launching a blog. It is free and takes about 5 minutes.
Step 1: Create Your Sitemap
If you use WordPress, you probably already have one:
| If you use | Your sitemap URL |
|---|---|
| Rank Math | yoursite.com/sitemap_index.xml |
| Yoast SEO | yoursite.com/sitemap_index.xml |
| All in One SEO | yoursite.com/sitemap.xml |
| No SEO plugin (WordPress core) | yoursite.com/wp-sitemap.xml |
Open the URL in your browser to make sure it works.
Step 2: Add Your Site to Google Search Console
- Go to Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
- Click Add property.
- Choose Domain (covers all versions of your site, verified through DNS) or URL prefix (easier, verified with an HTML tag or file).
- Follow the steps to verify ownership. SEO plugins like Rank Math and Yoast have a field where you paste Google’s verification code.
Detailed guide: how to verify your WordPress site in Search Console.
Step 3: Submit Your Sitemap
- In Search Console, select your property.
- Click Sitemaps in the left menu.
- Under Add a new sitemap, enter your sitemap path (for example, sitemap_index.xml).
- Click Submit.
The status should show Success within a few minutes to a few days. Google then reads the sitemap regularly, so you do not need to resubmit it when you publish new posts.
Fixing Common Sitemap Errors
- Could not fetch: check that the URL opens in your browser and is not blocked by a security plugin or robots.txt.
- Sitemap is HTML: you entered a normal page URL. Use the XML sitemap URL.
- Only submit one sitemap system. If you use an SEO plugin, do not also submit the core wp-sitemap.xml.
Also submit your sitemap to Bing: how to submit your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools. And see how to get your blog indexed by Google fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I submit my sitemap to Google?
In Google Search Console, under Sitemaps. Enter your sitemap URL and click Submit.
What is my WordPress sitemap URL?
It depends on your SEO plugin. Rank Math and Yoast use sitemap_index.xml. Without a plugin, WordPress uses wp-sitemap.xml.
Do I need to resubmit my sitemap after new posts?
No. Google rechecks submitted sitemaps automatically.
Does submitting a sitemap guarantee indexing?
No. It helps Google find your pages, but Google decides what to index based on quality and other factors.
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