How to Check XML Sitemap Errors

To check XML sitemap errors, submit your sitemap URL to a sitemap validation tool that scans the file for broken links, incorrect formatting, and missing pages. A clean sitemap ensures search engines can discover and crawl every important page on a site, while an error-filled sitemap can cause important pages to be skipped during indexing.

This guide covers the most common sitemap errors, how to check for them, and how to fix each one.

What an XML Sitemap Does

An XML sitemap is a file that lists every URL a site wants search engines to crawl and index. It acts as a roadmap for search engine bots, particularly useful on larger sites where internal linking alone may not surface every page. A sitemap does not guarantee indexing, but it improves the odds that a page gets discovered and crawled promptly.

Common XML Sitemap Errors

How to Check XML Sitemap Errors

1. Locate the Sitemap URL

Most sitemaps sit at a predictable path, such as yoursite.com/sitemap.xml. Some sites split content across multiple sitemap files linked from a sitemap index file.

2. Run a Sitemap Validation Scan

Use a Free Sitemap Checker to validate the file’s XML format, scan every listed URL for broken links, and confirm the sitemap follows the correct structure. A validation scan returns a summary that flags each error type separately rather than requiring a manual page-by-page review.

3. Cross-Check Against Actual Site Pages

Compare the sitemap’s URL list against the site’s actual page count. A sitemap missing recently published pages means new content may take longer to get crawled and indexed.

4. Confirm the Sitemap Is Referenced in Robots.txt

Search engines look for a sitemap reference inside the robots.txt file. A sitemap that exists but is not linked from robots.txt may be discovered later than intended.

How to Fix Common Sitemap Errors

Broken URLs must be removed from the sitemap or corrected to point to the working page, since submitting dead links wastes crawl budget on pages that return no content.

• Non-canonical URLs: Replace redirected or duplicate URLs with the final canonical version.
• Missing pages: Regenerate the sitemap after publishing new content, or configure automatic sitemap updates if using a content management system.
• Invalid XML format: Check for unclosed tags, incorrect encoding, or missing namespace declarations at the top of the file.
• Oversized sitemap: Split the URL list into multiple sitemap files, linked through a single sitemap index file.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an XML sitemap used for?

An XML sitemap lists a site’s URLs for search engines, helping them discover and crawl pages more efficiently, especially on larger sites.

How often should I check my sitemap for errors?

Checking a sitemap after any major site update, content migration, or new page publish catches errors before they affect crawling.

What happens if my sitemap has broken URLs?

Broken URLs in a sitemap waste crawl budget and can signal poor site maintenance to search engines, though they do not directly harm rankings.

Where do I find my site’s XML sitemap?

Most sitemaps are located at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml, though some sites use a sitemap index file linking to multiple smaller sitemaps.

Does a sitemap guarantee my pages get indexed?

No, a sitemap improves the chances of discovery and crawling, but indexing still depends on content quality and other ranking factors.

How many URLs can one sitemap file contain?

A single sitemap file can contain up to 50,000 URLs or 50MB in size, whichever limit is reached first.

Do I need to submit my sitemap to search engines manually?

Referencing the sitemap in the robots.txt file and submitting it through tools like Google Search Console both help ensure timely discovery.

Reviewed and published by Sidra Azeemi for DomainAgeChecker, a UK-based platform providing free SEO and content tools for webmasters and digital marketers. Read more on the About Us page.