How to Create and Submit an XML Sitemap in WordPress : 3 Methods

If you want your WordPress website to rank better on Google, one of the first technical SEO tasks you should complete is creating and submitting an XML sitemap. An XML sitemap helps search engines discover your website’s pages, understand its structure, and crawl new or updated content more efficiently.

The good news is that WordPress makes sitemap creation easy. Whether you’re using the built-in sitemap feature or popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can generate a sitemap in just a few clicks.

In this guide, we’ll explain what an XML sitemap is, why it’s important, how to create one in WordPress, and how to submit it to Google Search Console.

What Is an XML Sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a file that lists the important URLs on your website in a format that search engines can easily read. It acts as a roadmap, helping Google and other search engines discover your pages and understand which content should be crawled.

A sitemap may include:

• Website pages 
• Blog posts 
• Product pages 
• Categories 
• Images (depending on configuration) 
• Videos (if supported) 

Although Google can find pages through internal links, an XML sitemap ensures that important content is easier to discover, especially on larger websites.

Why Is an XML Sitemap Important for SEO?

Submitting an XML sitemap offers several SEO benefits:

• Helps search engines discover new pages faster. 
• Improves indexing of updated content. 
• Supports websites with complex structures. 
• Helps identify important pages. 
• Makes it easier to monitor indexing through Google Search Console. 

While a sitemap does not directly improve rankings, it helps search engines crawl your website more efficiently, which can positively impact your overall SEO performance.

Does WordPress Automatically Create an XML Sitemap?

Yes. Since WordPress 5.5, every WordPress website includes a default XML sitemap.

You can usually access it by visiting:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml

This sitemap automatically updates whenever you publish new content.

However, many website owners prefer using SEO plugins because they offer more control over which pages are included in the sitemap.

Method 1: Create an XML Sitemap Using Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO is one of the most popular WordPress SEO plugins.

Steps

1. Install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin. 
2. Go to Yoast SEO → Settings. 
3. Open the Site Features section. 
4. Ensure XML Sitemaps is enabled. 
5. Click View XML Sitemap. 

Your sitemap will usually be available at:

https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml

Yoast automatically updates the sitemap whenever new content is published.

Method 2: Create an XML Sitemap Using Rank Math

Rank Math also generates XML sitemaps automatically.

Steps

1. Install Rank Math. 
2. Navigate to Rank Math → Sitemap Settings. 
3. Enable XML Sitemap. 
4. Configure the content you want included, such as:
   • Posts 
   • Pages 
   • Categories 
   • Products 
   • Custom post types 

Rank Math allows you to exclude unnecessary pages to improve crawl efficiency.

Method 3: Use the Default WordPress Sitemap

If you don’t want to install an SEO plugin, WordPress includes a basic sitemap by default.

Simply visit:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml

This option works well for smaller websites, although it offers fewer customization options than dedicated SEO plugins.

How to Check if Your Sitemap Is Working

Before submitting your sitemap, verify that it is accessible.

Open your sitemap URL in a browser.

A valid sitemap should display:

• Website URLs 
• XML formatting 
• No error messages 
• Recently published content 

If you receive a 404 error, ensure your SEO plugin is active and sitemap functionality is enabled.

How to Submit an XML Sitemap to Google Search Console

Once your sitemap is ready, the next step is submitting it to Google.

Follow these steps:

1. Sign in to Google Search Console. 
2. Select your website property. 
3. From the left menu, click Sitemaps. 
4. Enter your sitemap URL. 

For example:

sitemap_index.xml

or

wp-sitemap.xml

5. Click Submit. 

Google will begin processing the sitemap and periodically check it for updates.

Best Practices for XML Sitemaps

To maximize SEO benefits, follow these best practices:

• Keep your sitemap updated automatically. 
• Include only indexable pages. 
• Exclude duplicate URLs. 
• Remove pages blocked by robots.txt or noindex tags. 
• Avoid including unnecessary archive pages. 
• Use HTTPS URLs only. 
• Monitor sitemap errors in Google Search Console. 
• Update internal links regularly. 

A clean sitemap helps search engines focus on the most valuable pages of your website.

Common Sitemap Errors and How to Fix Them

1. Sitemap Not Found (404 Error)

Cause: Sitemap feature is disabled or permalink settings need refreshing.

Solution: Enable XML sitemaps in your SEO plugin and resave Settings → Permalinks.

2. Submitted URL Blocked by robots.txt

Cause: Important pages are blocked from crawling.

Solution: Review your robots.txt file and remove unnecessary restrictions.

3. Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’

Cause: Pages included in the sitemap have a noindex tag.

Solution: Remove noindex from pages you want search engines to index, or exclude them from the sitemap.

4. Sitemap Contains Redirects

Cause: Redirected URLs are still listed.

Solution: Update your sitemap so only the final destination URLs are included.

Tips to Improve Website Indexing

In addition to submitting a sitemap, you can improve indexing by:

• Publishing high-quality content consistently. 
• Building a strong internal linking structure. 
• Improving website speed. 
• Ensuring mobile-friendly design. 
• Fixing crawl errors in Google Search Console. 
• Updating older content regularly. 
• Earning quality backlinks. 

Together, these practices help search engines crawl and understand your website more effectively.

Conclusion

Creating and submitting an XML sitemap is one of the easiest yet most important technical SEO tasks for any WordPress website. It helps search engines discover your content faster, improves crawl efficiency, and provides better visibility into your site’s indexing status.

Whether you use WordPress’s default sitemap or an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, keeping your sitemap updated and submitting it to Google Search Console ensures your website is well-positioned for search engine discovery. Combined with quality content and strong on-page SEO, a properly maintained XML sitemap forms the foundation of a healthy SEO strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is an XML sitemap in WordPress?

An XML sitemap is a file that lists your website’s important URLs, helping search engines crawl and index your content more efficiently.

2. Does WordPress automatically generate an XML sitemap?

Yes. WordPress 5.5 and later versions include a built-in XML sitemap, though SEO plugins provide more customization options.

3. How do I submit my sitemap to Google?

Log in to Google Search Console, navigate to Sitemaps, enter your sitemap URL, and click Submit.

4. Should I use Yoast SEO or Rank Math for sitemaps?

Both plugins automatically generate XML sitemaps and offer advanced controls. The choice depends on your preferred SEO workflow and feature requirements.

5. How often should I update my XML sitemap?

If you’re using WordPress or an SEO plugin, your XML sitemap updates automatically whenever you publish, edit, or delete content, so no manual updates are typically required.