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Yoast SEO Sitemap

A Yoast SEO Sitemap is an XML file that lists the pages on your WordPress site so search engines like Google can find them more easily.

Level: BeginnerRead: 1 minUpdated: 27 Jul 2026By Vera Lindqvist

Key facts

  • Yoast SEO can generate XML sitemaps for a WordPress site, and the feature is typically enabled in the plugin settings.
  • In Yoast, sitemap controls are usually found under SEO/Settings, often in a Features or XML sitemaps section.
  • Yoast provides a sitemap index, which lists separate sitemaps rather than putting every URL into one file.
  • Users can open the sitemap from Yoast by using the built-in 'see/view the XML sitemap' option.

Also called

XML sitemap, sitemap index

Use it for

helping search engines discover and crawl site pages

Applies to

Google / Bing / other search engines

Where to Find and Turn On Yoast Sitemaps

In the Yoast SEO plugin, go to SEO → Settings. Look for a section called Features or XML sitemaps.

Toggle the switch to enable or disable the sitemap feature. If it is off, no XML sitemap is generated.

You can view your sitemap by clicking the 'See the XML sitemap' link in the settings page. The URL typically ends in /sitemap_index.xml.

  • Yoast also lets you exclude specific posts or pages via the Yoast meta box.
  • Use the 'Allow search engines to show this page in search results?' toggle to control visibility.

How to Submit to Google Search Console

Copy your sitemap URL from Yoast. Paste it into the Sitemaps section of Google Search Console.

Google will then fetch the file and use it to discover your site's pages. A sitemap does not force indexing.

For other search tools, the same URL can be submitted. seo tools often include a sitemap submission field.

  • Check if Google reports errors after submission; fix those before re-submitting.
  • Yoast updates the sitemap automatically as you add or remove content.

Editing Your Sitemap and Robots.txt

You cannot edit the actual XML file directly. Instead, control which content types appear in the sitemap via Yoast settings.

To edit robots.txt, go to SEO → Tools → File Editor. Add or remove lines there.

If you remove a page from search results in Yoast, it will also disappear from the sitemap.

  • Avoid including low-value pages like tag archives or attachment pages.
  • The same logic applies to Yoast SEO Features: you can fine-tune exposure.

Why Sitemaps Matter for WordPress Sites

A sitemap is one way for search engines to discover new or updated URLs. It complements internal links.

Using the Sitemap standard helps Google understand your site's structure.

The yoast plugin makes this simple, even for beginners. For other platforms like Magento, see Magento Sitemap XML.

For more context, the Yoast SEO Wordpress Plugin entry covers the full plugin.

The what yoast seo title means entry explains how to manage title tags.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the XML sitemap feature off in Yoast. Search engines may not receive the intended sitemap signal, hindering page discovery.
  • Submitting the wrong sitemap URL in Search Console. This can lead to failed processing or incomplete discovery of site pages.
  • Assuming a sitemap forces indexing. Pages may remain unindexed despite being in the sitemap, creating false confidence.

Questions

how to add sitemap to google search console

Copy your Yoast sitemap URL (usually /sitemap_index.xml). Go to Google Search Console, select your property, and click Sitemaps. Paste the URL and click Submit.

how to edit sitemap in yoast

You cannot edit the XML directly. Instead, control which content types (posts, pages) are included under Yoast → Settings → XML Sitemaps. Exclude individual pages via the Yoast meta box.

how to remove url from sitemap

Open the page or post in your WordPress editor. Scroll to the Yoast meta box. Set 'Allow search engines to show this page in search results?' to No. The URL will be removed from the sitemap automatically.

See also

Sources

  1. Yoast SEO Documentation: XML Sitemaps yoast.com
  2. Google Search Central: Sitemaps Overview developers.google.com
  3. Google Search Console Help: Submit a Sitemap support.google.com

Outbound links are unpaid and nofollow. If one has gone stale, tell me.

Vera Lindqvist

Vera Lindqvist has worked in SEO since 2014 — first in-house at an ecommerce retailer, then freelance for small teams that could not afford an agency. She writes GrowthPedia in her own time and pays for the hosting herself.

Written and maintained by one person. No ads, no affiliates, nothing for sale. Found an error? Tell me and I will log the correction publicly.