WordPress
Self-hosted WordPress has provided a built-in sitemap index since version 5.5, normally at /wp-sitemap.xml. Plugins or site configuration can change or replace this output. Start by checking that address and the Sitemap reference in your robots.txt.
On WordPress.com, check /sitemap.xml. Open the index and one child sitemap, then look for a recently published public page. If it is absent, inspect visibility settings and the active sitemap provider before adding another plugin.
Shopify
Shopify automatically generates /sitemap.xml and updates it as store content changes. The index links to separate files for content such as products, collections, pages and blog posts.
- Open your primary storefront domain followed by
/sitemap.xml. - Follow a child sitemap link and check a public product or page.
- Publish and submit the platform’s existing sitemap as appropriate; do not replace it with a manually maintained snapshot by default.
Static websites and custom hosting
First check whether your build system already creates a sitemap. If it does, make sure it uses your production domain and runs on every publication. A reliable build-generated file usually needs less manual maintenance.
If none exists, crawl your public website here, review the selected URLs and download the XML. Place it in the directory your host serves at the site root, redeploy, and open https://your-domain.example/sitemap.xml. On a Worker serving static assets, that means including the file in the configured assets directory.
When this generator helps
Use it for a small custom site without sitemap support, a one-off inventory or a comparison with your platform’s output. A crawl only sees reachable links and has a 1,000-attempt limit; your platform may know about pages a crawl misses.
A second sitemap is not automatically an improvement. Keep one clear maintenance process and use the after-download checklist to verify what is actually published.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed 2 November 2026. Platform behaviour can change; consult the linked documentation for your setup.