📌 Quick Answer
Search Atlas does not currently generate sitemap files. A sitemap is created and hosted on your own website, so the best way to get one is through your content management system (CMS) or a sitemap plugin. Most platforms can do this automatically in a few minutes. This article shows you how.
🗺️ What Is a Sitemap?
A sitemap is a file, usually located at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml, that lists the important pages on your website. Search engines like Google and Bing use it to find and understand your pages faster.
A sitemap is especially helpful if your site is new, large, or has pages that are not well linked to each other.
❓ Why Doesn't Search Atlas Generate Sitemaps?
A sitemap has to live on your website's server and stay up to date as you add, remove, or change pages. Your CMS or hosting platform is the right place to manage that, because it knows exactly what is published on your site at any moment. Using your CMS or a plugin means your sitemap updates on its own and stays accurate.
🛠️ How to Create a Sitemap by Platform
Find your platform below and follow the matching steps. Menu names can change slightly over time, so look for similar options if yours differs.
- WordPress: Recent versions create a basic sitemap automatically at yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml. For more control, use an SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO. Enable the XML sitemap feature in the plugin settings.
- Shopify: A sitemap is created automatically at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. No setup is needed.
- Wix: A sitemap is created automatically at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. You can review it in your Wix SEO settings.
- Squarespace: A sitemap is created automatically at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
- Webflow: Open your Project Settings, go to the SEO tab, and turn on auto-generate sitemap. Then publish your site.
- Custom-built or other sites: Ask your developer to generate one, or use a reputable online sitemap generator tool. Upload the file to the root of your website.
✅ How to Check That Your Sitemap Works
- Open a new browser tab.
- Type your domain followed by /sitemap.xml (or /wp-sitemap.xml for default WordPress).
- Confirm you see a list of your page URLs.
- Make sure the pages listed are the ones you want search engines to find.
If you see a 404 error, the sitemap may be turned off or saved at a different address. Check your CMS or plugin settings.
🚀 How to Submit Your Sitemap to Search Engines
Once your sitemap is live, tell search engines where to find it.
- Sign in to Google Search Console and select your website.
- Open Sitemaps in the left-hand menu.
- Enter your sitemap address, for example sitemap.xml, and click Submit.
- Repeat the process in Bing Webmaster Tools if you want to be found on Bing.
You can also add a line to your robots.txt file that reads Sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. This helps search engines find it on their own.
💡 Best Practices
- Include only pages you want to appear in search results.
- Leave out pages marked noindex, redirected pages, and duplicate pages.
- Use only one main sitemap or sitemap index to avoid confusion.
- Keep your sitemap automatic so it updates when you publish new content.
- Resubmit only if the sitemap address changes. Search engines recheck it regularly.
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Sitemap shows a 404 error: Make sure the sitemap feature is enabled and save your permalink or site settings again.
- Search Console says it could not fetch the sitemap: Check that the address is correct and that the file is not blocked by robots.txt or a security plugin.
- Pages are missing: Check that those pages are published and not set to noindex in your CMS or SEO plugin.
- Two sitemaps appear: This is common on WordPress when a plugin and the default sitemap are both on. Turn off the one you don't need.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be instantly connected with a member of our team.