What if no sitemap is found?

Table of Contents

If the Sitemap Checker can’t find your sitemap automatically, here’s what’s happening and how to fix it:

Why this happens:

What the tool checks: The tool automatically searches these common locations:

It also checks your robots.txt file for sitemap declarations.

How to fix it:

If you have a sitemap with a custom location:
- Enter the full sitemap URL directly (e.g., https://example.com/custom/my-sitemap.xml)
- The tool will analyze it immediately
If you’re not sure if you have a sitemap:
- Check with your CMS or SEO plugin (Yoast, Rank Math, etc.)
- Look in your robots.txt file at https://example.com/robots.txt
- Most modern websites generate sitemaps automatically
If you don’t have a sitemap:
- WordPress: Install an SEO plugin (Yoast SEO, Rank Math)
- Other platforms: Check your CMS documentation
- Custom sites: Use a sitemap generator tool or plugin

Best practice: Declare your sitemap location in robots.txt:

Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml

Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml

This helps both search engines and tools like ours find your sitemap easily.

General questions