Where is my sitemap.xml?

Most sites publish their sitemap at /sitemap.xml, so try https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml first. If that is missing, look for a Sitemap line in your robots.txt file, check the Sitemaps report in Google Search Console, try common names such as /sitemap_index.xml or /wp-sitemap.xml, or look in your CMS or SEO plugin settings.

Why it matters

You need the exact address to submit the sitemap, to check it for errors and to confirm it lists the right pages. Guessing wrong can also lead you to believe a site has no sitemap when it simply uses another name.

How to find it

Open the default path in your browser, using the same host your site uses (with or without www):

https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml

Open your robots.txt file at https://www.example.com/robots.txt and look for lines that begin with Sitemap:. There can be more than one.
Sign in to Google Search Console, choose the property and open Sitemaps. Any sitemap already submitted is listed there with its status.
Try other common names:

/sitemap_index.xml
/wp-sitemap.xml
/sitemap.xml.gz
/sitemap/sitemap.xml

Check your platform. Hosted builders such as Shopify, Squarespace and Wix generate a sitemap for you, usually at /sitemap.xml. On WordPress, look in the settings of your SEO plugin, and remember that WordPress itself provides /wp-sitemap.xml. On a custom-built site, ask whoever maintains the code, or search the project for "sitemap".

Once you find it, the file should open as XML and list full addresses wrapped in loc tags. If the top-level element is sitemapindex, the file is an index that points to further sitemaps, and you should open those too.

Common mistakes

Checking only one host. The www and non-www versions can behave differently if a redirect is missing.
Confusing an HTML "site map" page for visitors with the XML file meant for crawlers.
Assuming the file exists because a plugin is installed. The plugin's sitemap feature may be switched off.
Submitting a sitemap that lists every address a plugin can produce, including ones you do not want indexed.
Reading a cached copy. Add a harmless query string or use a private window if the file looks out of date.

Frequently asked questions

What if I cannot find a sitemap at all?

Then your site probably does not have one yet. You can create one with your platform's built-in feature, a plugin or a generator, and then submit it.

Is a page called "Sitemap" the same thing?

No. A page for visitors is an HTML sitemap and helps people navigate. The XML sitemap is written for search engines and is not meant to be read as a page.

Can a site have more than one sitemap?

Yes. Large sites split their addresses across several files and list them in a sitemap index. You can also keep separate sitemaps for sections such as posts and products.

To see what a crawler finds on your site, Try the free website sample.