Check your website’s XML sitemap

An XML sitemap lists URLs you want search engines to discover. It is useful supporting information, not a guarantee that every listed page will be indexed.

1. Find the sitemap

Check the platform’s sitemap location and any declaration in robots.txt. A scanner may miss a custom location, so verify before creating a duplicate.

2. Look at the listed URLs

Confirm that public, canonical pages appear and private or unwanted URLs do not. An old domain in the list may indicate a migration configuration problem.

3. Keep ownership clear

On WordPress, identify which tool generates the sitemap. On hosted platforms, check the platform’s output before adding another service.

4. Monitor discovery separately

A valid sitemap is one part of search visibility. Useful content, internal links and indexability still need attention.

When to ask for help

Stop if the change affects a critical workflow, requires access you do not have or produces a result you cannot explain. Keep the original evidence and a restorable backup. A short, well-defined repair request is easier to review than a series of speculative changes.

Related repair: request a scope review. Choose your platform on the request form; availability and price are confirmed before payment.