A Jetpack sitemap is an XML file that lists the pages on your WordPress site, so search engines can find them more easily. Jetpack can build and update it for you, and the setup takes only a few clicks.
This guide shows how to turn on the Jetpack sitemap, find its address, submit it to Google Search Console, and fix common problems. It also explains how it differs from the sitemap that WordPress creates on its own.
Turn on “Generate an XML sitemap” in Jetpack, open your sitemap address, and submit it in Google Search Console. A sitemap helps search engines discover your pages, but it does not guarantee that they get indexed. WordPress also creates its own sitemap, so use only one sitemap source.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Jetpack can generate an XML sitemap, plus news, image and video sitemaps.
- The sitemap toggle needs “Allow search engines to index this site” to be on.
- Jetpack refreshes the sitemap about every 12 hours, and each file holds up to 1,000 URLs by default.
- Google says a sitemap helps discovery but does not guarantee that pages are crawled and indexed.
- WordPress 5.5 and later also creates its own sitemap at /wp-sitemap.xml.
What a Sitemap Does
Google describes a sitemap as a file where you list the pages, videos and other files on your site. Search engines read it to crawl your site more efficiently. It can also carry details such as when a page was last updated.
Do you need one? Google says that if your pages are properly linked, it can usually find most of your site. However, a sitemap can improve crawling for larger or more complex sites. It helps discovery, but it does not guarantee that every URL is crawled and indexed.
Step 1: Turn On the Jetpack Sitemap
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Jetpack, then SEO.
- Open the Settings tab.
- Turn on “Generate an XML sitemap”.
According to Jetpack’s documentation, this toggle works only when “Allow search engines to index this site” is on. If indexing is off, the sitemap toggle is disabled. On sites that have not switched to the SEO page, the setting sits under Jetpack, Settings, Traffic.
Step 2: Find Your Jetpack Sitemap Address
Jetpack builds a general sitemap for search engines, and also a news sitemap, an image sitemap and a video sitemap. The general sitemap lives at your domain followed by /sitemap.xml. Open that address in a browser to check that it loads.
The image and video sitemaps help search engines index media on your site. The news sitemap is different. Publishers must be pre-approved for Google News before Google will index a news sitemap, and it includes only posts from the last 48 hours.
Step 3: Submit the Sitemap to Google Search Console
First, add and verify your site in Google Search Console. You need that step before you can submit a sitemap. Then, open the Sitemaps report, enter the sitemap address, and submit it.
Jetpack notes that it updates the sitemap file about every 12 hours on the server, not on Google. If you want to update the sitemap in Search Console directly, make sure the XML file has been updated on the server first.
Step 4: Check the Result
Return to the Sitemaps report after a day or two. Look for a Success status and a count of discovered pages. If the status shows an error, open the sitemap address again. Then, check that it still loads.
Remember that a submitted sitemap does not force indexing. If pages stay out of the index, the cause is often content quality or weak linking. This guide on fixing “Crawled, currently not indexed” explains what to check.
Google Search Advocate John Mueller said, "search is never guaranteed," in response to a site owner asking why their content isn't indexed.
— SearchEngineJournal (@sejournal) November 8, 2022
Jetpack Sitemap vs the Built-In WordPress Sitemap
Since version 5.5, WordPress exposes a sitemap index at /wp-sitemap.xml. By default it covers public post types, taxonomies, author archives and the home page. A single sitemap there holds a filterable maximum of 2,000 entries, according to the WordPress core team.
| Feature | WordPress core sitemap | Jetpack sitemap |
|---|---|---|
| Address | /wp-sitemap.xml | /sitemap.xml |
| Extra sitemaps | None by default | News, image and video sitemaps |
| Entries per file | Up to 2,000 (filterable) | 1,000 by default (can be raised) |
| Needs a plugin | No | Yes, Jetpack |
So, use one sitemap source, so that you do not submit two lists of the same pages. If you use Jetpack, submit its sitemap. If you do not need news, image or video sitemaps, the built-in one may be enough.
Sitemap Size Limits
Jetpack limits each sitemap to 1,000 URLs to keep files within the 50 MB size limit. You can raise the limit with constants in your wp-config.php file, then switch the Sitemaps module off and on to rebuild. For safety, back up your site first, because large sitemaps can take time to generate.
Fixing Common Jetpack Sitemap Problems
If the sitemap shows a 404 error, is blank or keeps disappearing, Jetpack suggests a short list of checks:
- Go to Settings, Permalinks and click Save Changes.
- Deactivate and reactivate your plugins one by one to find a conflict.
- Check security features and server firewalls that may block the file.
- Turn the sitemap setting off and on again in Jetpack.
- Update or temporarily disable your caching plugin.
- Check redirection plugins and ask your host about rewrite rules.
The permalink step matters because sitemap addresses rely on your URL rules. For background, see this guide to WordPress permalinks.
Worked Example (Made-Up)
Imagine a small bakery site with 60 pages. The owner turns on the Jetpack sitemap and opens the sitemap address, which loads. They submit it in Search Console and see a Success status the next day.
Two weeks later, 8 of the 60 pages are not indexed. As a result, the owner checks those pages and finds that they are thin and have no links from other pages. They improve the text and add links. This bakery is made up. It shows that a sitemap is a first step, not the whole job.
Jetpack Sitemap Checklist
- Allow search engines to index the site.
- Turn on “Generate an XML sitemap” in Jetpack.
- Open /sitemap.xml and confirm that it loads.
- Submit the address in Google Search Console.
- Use one sitemap source only.
- Re-save permalinks and check plugins if the file shows an error.
Conclusion
A Jetpack sitemap is quick to set up and easy to maintain. Turn it on, check the address, submit it, and then watch the results in Search Console. Keep your pages linked and useful, since the sitemap only points the way.
For a wider review of crawling and indexing, technical SEO work usually starts with sitemaps, robots rules and internal links.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Jetpack Sitemap
Where is my Jetpack sitemap?
The general sitemap is at your domain followed by /sitemap.xml. Jetpack also creates news, image and video sitemaps.
How often does Jetpack update the sitemap?
Jetpack updates the sitemap file every 12 hours, or whenever content changes in the case of the news sitemap.
Do I need a sitemap for Google to find my pages?
Not always. Google says it can usually find properly linked pages. A sitemap can improve crawling for larger or more complex sites, but it does not guarantee indexing.
Why is my Jetpack sitemap toggle disabled?
The toggle needs “Allow search engines to index this site” to be on. If indexing is off, the sitemap setting is disabled.
Can I use both the Jetpack and the WordPress sitemap?
You can, but it is better to submit one. WordPress creates /wp-sitemap.xml by default, and Jetpack creates /sitemap.xml, so pick the one that fits your needs.
