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XML Sitemap Checker

Check your sitemap.xml file — count URLs, detect sitemap index, lastmod, changefreq

How does a sitemap help indexing?

A sitemap.xml helps Google discover and index pages faster. The tool auto-probes common paths, counts URLs and checks the structure.

A sitemap.xml is the "map" that helps Google discover every page on your website — especially important for large sites, new sites, or pages with few internal links. A good sitemap helps pages get indexed faster and more completely. The XML Sitemap Checker auto-probes common paths (/sitemap.xml, /sitemap_index.xml), counts the total URLs, and distinguishes a sitemap index (a parent file pointing to several child sitemaps) from a sitemap leaf (containing URLs directly). It also checks whether the structure includes lastmod tags (telling Google when content changed so it re-crawls) and changefreq. If a sitemap exceeds 50,000 URLs — Google's per-file limit — the tool warns you to split it into a sitemap index.

  • Auto-probes /sitemap.xml, /sitemap_index.xml
  • Counts URLs and detects sitemap index vs leaf
  • Checks for lastmod and changefreq
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How to use in 3 steps

  1. 1Enter your website URL (the tool probes common sitemap paths).
  2. 2Click "Check Sitemap" to fetch and analyze the structure.
  3. 3See the URL count, sitemap type and improvement tips (lastmod, size).

Frequently asked questions

Is a sitemap required for SEO?
Not required, but highly recommended — especially for new, large, or deep sites. A sitemap helps Google discover and index pages faster and more completely.
How many URLs can one sitemap hold?
Google limits each sitemap file to 50,000 URLs and 50MB. Beyond that, split into child sitemaps and use a sitemap index to group them.
Does the lastmod tag matter?
Yes. lastmod tells Google when a page last changed, helping the bot prioritize re-crawling updated pages instead of re-scanning old ones.
Where do I submit a sitemap?
In Google Search Console under Sitemaps, paste the sitemap URL and submit. You should also declare the Sitemap line in your robots.txt.