XML sitemap missing or invalid

Medium priorityTechnical

We couldn’t find an XML sitemap at the location in robots.txt, /sitemap.xml, /sitemap_index.xml or /sitemap-index.xml, or it isn’t valid XML.

What triggers this issue

• No XML sitemap found.
• XML sitemap is not valid: it doesn’t contain a <urlset> or <sitemapindex>.

Why it matters

A sitemap lists the pages you want indexed and when they changed. It helps search engines find new and deep pages faster, especially on large or new sites with few links.

How to fix it

1. Generate a sitemap: most CMSs and frameworks have a built-in option or plugin.
2. Include only canonical, indexable URLs that return 200.
3. Reference it in robots.txt and submit it in Google Search Console.