Watch our step by step tutorial on how to install a valid sitemap on your Wordpress:

How to Install a Sitemap on WordPress Using Yoast SEO

If the Site Optimizer feature is having trouble crawling your website, it’s often because your sitemap is missing or invalid. Follow this guide to install a valid and functional sitemap using the Yoast SEO plugin.

1: Install the Yoast SEO Plugin

Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
Click on Plugins > Add New.
Search for “Yoast SEO”.
Click Install Now, then click Activate.

2: Complete the Yoast Setup (First-Time Use)

After activation, Yoast may guide you through a setup wizard.
Follow the prompts to complete the initial configuration.
Once finished, you’ll be redirected to the Yoast Dashboard.

Step 3: Enable XML Sitemaps

From the WordPress Dashboard, go to Yoast SEO > Settings.
In the settings, either: Use the search bar to look for “sitemap”, or scroll down to find “XML sitemaps” under the settings.
Toggle the XML sitemaps option to Enabled.
The setting is saved automatically.

4: View and Confirm Your Sitemap

After enabling, click “View the XML sitemap” to confirm it’s working.
The sitemap URL will look like: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml

This sitemap is valid and generated by Yoast SEO. It’s now ready for use with any SEO tools, including the Site Optimizer.