---
title: What if the tool says “Invalid XML”?
description: "This means your sitemap file exists but has formatting errors. **Common causes:** - Broken XML syntax (missing closing tags, special characters) - File isn't actually XML (HTML error page instead) - Corrupted file - Character encoding issues **How to fix:**…"
url: "https://ssh-assistant.com/docs/what-if-the-tool-says-invalid-xml/"
updated: "2025-12-10"
category: Site Load Tester / Sitemap Checker
---

# What if the tool says “Invalid XML”?

This means your sitemap file exists but has formatting errors.

**Common causes:**

- Broken XML syntax (missing closing tags, special characters)
- File isn't actually XML (HTML error page instead)
- Corrupted file
- Character encoding issues

**How to fix:**

1. Visit your sitemap URL directly in a browser
2. Check if it displays as XML or shows an error
3. Use an XML validator tool to check syntax
4. If using a plugin, try regenerating the sitemap
5. Contact your web developer if the issue persists