How to Submit a WordPress Sitemap to Google: Step-by-Step Guide
Submitting a WordPress sitemap to Google is an important part of setting up technical SEO. A sitemap helps Google discover URLs on your website and provides a structured way to communicate which pages are available for crawling.
WordPress can generate an XML sitemap automatically, while SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO can provide their own sitemap systems. After finding the correct sitemap URL, you can submit it through Google Search Console.
This guide explains how to find, verify, and submit a WordPress sitemap to Google, along with common problems and best practices.
What Is a WordPress Sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a file that contains URLs from your website in a format that search engines can process.
For example:
https://example.com/wp-sitemap.xmlDepending on your WordPress setup or SEO plugin, your sitemap may instead use a sitemap index such as:
https://example.com/sitemap_index.xmlA sitemap can help Google discover pages, particularly on large, new, or frequently updated websites.
However, submitting a sitemap does not guarantee that Google will crawl or index every URL in it.
Why Submit a Sitemap to Google?
Google can often discover WordPress pages through internal links, but submitting a sitemap gives Google another source for discovering your URLs.
Submitting a sitemap can help you:
- Make important URLs easier for Google to discover
- Provide Google with a structured list of website URLs
- Monitor sitemap processing through Search Console
- Identify potential sitemap-related issues
- Support the discovery of new or updated content
A sitemap should complement—not replace—good internal linking and a well-organized website.
Step 1: Make Sure Your WordPress Website Is Live
Before submitting a sitemap, make sure your website is publicly accessible.
For example:
https://example.com/If your website is still under development, verify that you aren’t unintentionally blocking search engines.
In WordPress, go to:
Settings → Reading
Look for the option:
Discourage search engines from indexing this site
If the website is ready for search engines, make sure this setting isn’t enabled.
Step 2: Find Your WordPress Sitemap
The sitemap URL depends on how your website generates its sitemap.
WordPress Built-In Sitemap
Modern WordPress installations generally provide a sitemap at:
https://example.com/wp-sitemap.xmlReplace example.com with your domain.
Yoast SEO Sitemap
If you’re using Yoast SEO, the sitemap index is generally available at:
https://example.com/sitemap_index.xmlOther SEO Plugins
Other SEO plugins may use different sitemap URLs.
Check the plugin’s settings or sitemap documentation to identify the correct URL.
Step 3: Open the Sitemap in Your Browser
Before submitting your sitemap to Google, open the URL directly.
For example:
https://example.com/wp-sitemap.xmlor:
https://example.com/sitemap_index.xmlThe sitemap should load successfully.
Depending on the sitemap system, you may see a list of individual sitemap files.
For example:
post-sitemap.xml
page-sitemap.xml
category-sitemap.xmlDon’t worry if the sitemap doesn’t look like a normal webpage. XML files are designed for machines rather than ordinary website navigation.
Step 4: Check the Sitemap Before Submitting It
Review the sitemap to make sure it contains appropriate URLs.
Important URLs may include:
- Blog posts
- Pages
- Product pages
- Service pages
- Important category pages
Avoid intentionally including unnecessary URLs such as:
- Broken pages
- Duplicate URLs
- Private content
- Unwanted utility pages
- URLs that shouldn’t be indexed
Ideally, the sitemap should contain URLs that you want Google to discover and potentially index.
Step 5: Create or Access Google Search Console
To submit a sitemap, you need access to Google Search Console for your website.
Sign in to your Google account and open Search Console.
You must add and verify ownership of your website property before you can manage its sitemap submissions.
Step 6: Select Your WordPress Website
After opening Google Search Console, select the property that corresponds to your WordPress website.
Make sure you select the correct property.
For example, these can represent different configurations:
https://example.com
https://www.example.comA Domain property can cover multiple protocol and host variations, while URL-prefix properties are more specific.
Step 7: Open the Sitemaps Section
In Google Search Console, find:
Sitemaps
Depending on the current Search Console interface, it may appear under the indexing-related section.
You should see a field where you can submit a sitemap.
Step 8: Enter Your Sitemap URL
You generally don’t need to enter the entire domain if Search Console has already identified the website property.
For example, if your sitemap is:
https://example.com/wp-sitemap.xmlyou can enter:
wp-sitemap.xmlIf you’re using Yoast SEO and the sitemap is:
https://example.com/sitemap_index.xmlenter:
sitemap_index.xmlMake sure you submit the sitemap generated by your actual WordPress configuration.
Step 9: Click Submit
After entering the sitemap path, click:
Submit
Google will attempt to access and process the sitemap.
If the submission is successful, Search Console will display the sitemap in your submitted sitemap list.
Step 10: Check Sitemap Status
After submission, monitor the sitemap in Google Search Console.
You may see information such as:
- Sitemap status
- Last read
- Number of discovered URLs
- Errors
- Warnings
The exact information displayed can change as Google updates Search Console.
If Google reports that the sitemap was successfully processed, the basic submission is complete.
Does Submitting a Sitemap Guarantee Indexing?
No.
This is an important distinction.
A sitemap helps Google discover URLs, but it doesn’t force Google to index them.
Google evaluates pages using many factors, including:
- Content quality
- Relevance
- Accessibility
- Website structure
- Duplicate content
- Canonical signals
- Technical configuration
- Search demand
Therefore, having a URL in your sitemap doesn’t guarantee that it will appear in Google search results.
How to Check Whether a WordPress Page Is Indexed
Google Search Console’s URL Inspection feature can help you investigate individual URLs.
Enter the URL of the page you want to check.
For example:
https://example.com/wordpress-seo-guide/Search Console can provide information about Google’s current understanding of that URL and whether it has been indexed.
If the page isn’t indexed, inspect the reported reason instead of repeatedly submitting the sitemap.
How to Request Indexing for a New Page
If you have published an important new page, you can use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console.
Enter the page URL and inspect it.
If the page is eligible and you want Google to revisit it, Search Console may provide a Request Indexing option.
Use this for individual URLs when appropriate.
A sitemap submission is different: it provides Google with a broader list of URLs.
How Often Should You Submit Your Sitemap?
You generally don’t need to submit the same sitemap every time you publish a new WordPress post.
Once Google knows your sitemap, it can revisit it periodically.
If your WordPress sitemap updates automatically, newly published content can appear in the sitemap without requiring a new manual submission.
You may need to take action if:
- Your sitemap URL changes
- You switch SEO plugins
- Your website structure changes significantly
- Your sitemap stops working
- Search Console reports sitemap errors
How to Submit a Yoast SEO Sitemap
If you’re using Yoast SEO, the process is straightforward.
1. Open Your Sitemap
Visit:
https://example.com/sitemap_index.xml2. Verify It
Make sure the sitemap index loads and contains your relevant sitemap files.
3. Open Google Search Console
Select your verified website.
4. Open Sitemaps
Go to the Sitemaps section.
5. Submit
Enter:
sitemap_index.xmlThen click Submit.
How to Submit the Default WordPress Sitemap
If you’re using WordPress’s built-in sitemap:
Sitemap URL
https://example.com/wp-sitemap.xmlIn Search Console
Enter:
wp-sitemap.xmland submit it.
You don’t need to install an SEO plugin simply to generate an XML sitemap if the built-in WordPress sitemap meets your requirements.
Common Sitemap Submission Errors
1. Couldn’t Fetch
Google may be unable to access your sitemap.
Possible causes include:
- Server errors
- Incorrect sitemap URL
- DNS problems
- Firewall restrictions
- Authentication requirements
- Temporary connectivity problems
Open the sitemap yourself and check whether it is accessible publicly.
2. Sitemap Is Not Found
If Search Console reports a 404 error, verify the sitemap URL.
For example, you may have submitted:
sitemap.xmlwhen your actual sitemap is:
wp-sitemap.xmlor:
sitemap_index.xml3. Sitemap Contains Errors
Check the sitemap directly and inspect the URLs it contains.
Look for:
- Invalid URLs
- Incorrect domains
- HTTP URLs when HTTPS is preferred
- Redirected URLs
- Broken URLs
- Unexpected
noindexpages
4. Sitemap Is Blocked
Check your robots.txt configuration and server security settings.
A sitemap needs to be publicly accessible to Google.
Also make sure important website sections aren’t unintentionally blocked.
5. Sitemap Contains Too Many Unwanted URLs
If your sitemap includes large numbers of low-value or irrelevant URLs, review your WordPress SEO settings.
Depending on your website, this may involve reviewing:
- Categories
- Tags
- Author archives
- Date archives
- Custom post types
- Other taxonomy archives
Don’t remove content from the sitemap simply because it isn’t ranking. First determine whether the URLs should be indexable and useful.
Sitemap Best Practices for WordPress
Use One Primary Sitemap System
If your SEO plugin generates a sitemap, avoid unnecessary duplicate sitemap systems.
Keep URLs Consistent
Use your preferred:
- HTTPS version
- Domain version
- URL structure
Keep canonical and sitemap URLs consistent.
Include Important URLs
Your sitemap should primarily contain URLs that you want Google to discover and potentially index.
Keep Content Accessible
Google should be able to access sitemap URLs without requiring login or special permissions.
Maintain Internal Links
Don’t rely entirely on the sitemap. Important pages should also be connected through useful internal links.
Monitor Search Console
Check Search Console periodically for sitemap errors and indexing issues.
WordPress Sitemap Submission Checklist
Before submitting your sitemap, verify:
- Website is publicly accessible
- HTTPS is working
- WordPress sitemap is enabled or an SEO plugin generates one
- Sitemap URL loads successfully
- Important URLs are included
- Unwanted URLs aren’t unnecessarily included
- Sitemap isn’t blocked
- Google Search Console property is verified
- Correct sitemap URL is submitted
- Sitemap status is monitored
- Important URLs are checked through URL Inspection when necessary
Final Thoughts
Submitting a WordPress sitemap to Google is a straightforward technical SEO task. First, identify the sitemap generated by your WordPress installation or SEO plugin. Then verify that it is accessible and contains appropriate URLs before submitting it through Google Search Console.
For a standard WordPress installation, the sitemap is commonly:
https://example.com/wp-sitemap.xmlFor websites using Yoast SEO, it is commonly:
https://example.com/sitemap_index.xmlOnce submitted, you can use Google Search Console to monitor sitemap processing and investigate indexing issues.
Remember that a sitemap is primarily a discovery mechanism. It can help Google find your URLs, but successful organic visibility also depends on useful content, proper technical configuration, internal linking, website accessibility, and other search-related factors.