XML sitemaps for online stores: how to check and submit yours
An XML sitemap lists your store pages so search engines can find them. See what it should contain, how to check it and how to submit it to Google.
2 min read
Area
Store discovery
Severity
Medium
Fix effort
Small
Stores failing
17%
Of 35 stores we scanned where this check applies, 17% fail it and 83% pass. See all benchmarks.
An XML sitemap is a file that lists the pages you want search engines to find: products, collections, content pages. It does not guarantee indexing, but it helps crawlers discover new and updated pages. This check confirms that your store has one.
Why it matters
Stores add and remove products constantly. A sitemap keeps search engines aware of what is current, which matters most for large catalogues and new stores that few sites link to yet. Hosted platforms create one automatically, so a failure here often points to a plugin or custom setup that broke it.
What the audit looks at
The audit checks that your store has an XML sitemap that loads and lists its pages.
What usually causes it
- An SEO plugin that was deactivated or misconfigured on a self-hosted store
- A sitemap that exists but returns an error or is empty
- Noindexed or redirected pages listed in the sitemap
- A sitemap not referenced in robots.txt
How to fix it
Publish an XML sitemap and submit it in Google Search Console. The effort is small, usually a setting or a paste and under 30 minutes.
- Generate a sitemap.xml that lists products, collections and key pages, and reference it from robots.txt.
- Submit the address in Google Search Console under Sitemaps.
On Shopify
- Shopify publishes /sitemap.xml automatically. If it is not found, check the store is not password-protected and the domain is the primary one, then submit it in Search Console.
On WooCommerce
- Turn on the sitemap in Yoast SEO or Rank Math (SEO > General > Features), then submit /sitemap_index.xml in Search Console.
How to check it yourself
- Open yourstore.com/sitemap.xml and confirm it lists real products and collections.
- Submit it in Google Search Console under Sitemaps and read the status.
- Check that the page count roughly matches your catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a sitemap update?
Platform and plugin sitemaps update automatically when you add or change products. You do not need to resubmit it each time.
Should I list every page?
List the pages you want in search. Leave out cart, checkout, account and filter pages.
Related checks
- Is your store online? How to check it loads for every visitor
- Is your store indexable? Noindex tags, canonical URLs and how to check them
- Product structured data: how to add price and availability for Google
Further reading
Check your own store
See whether your store passes this check
Paste your store URL. The audit loads your pages in a real browser and shows the result for this check with the evidence behind it.