Submit and check a Rank Math sitemap in Google Search Console

Give Google the sitemap index that Rank Math already creates for your WordPress site, then record whether Google could read it. A sitemap lists page addresses; a sitemap index links to the separate lists for your pages, posts, or products. Submission does not guarantee that those pages will appear in search results.

• Outcome: SEO delivery
• Tools: Google Search Console, WordPress, Web Browser, Rank Math Seo
• Responsible: WordPress site owners or site assistants who need to submit an existing Rank Math sitemap and read its Google Search Console status.
• Estimated time: 10 minutes

Scope

This SOP covers:

• Find the existing sitemap index URL in Rank Math settings
• Submit that sitemap to the matching verified Search Console property if it is not already listed
• Read and record the sitemap processing status and any reported details

This does not cover:

• Installing or configuring Rank Math or another SEO plugin
• Creating or editing sitemap files, robots rules, or website settings
• Repairing sitemap errors or requesting indexing for individual pages
• Promising that submitted or listed pages will be indexed or appear in Search results

Requirements

• Access to the WordPress dashboard for the site, with Rank Math already installed and its sitemap index enabled.
• Owner access to the verified Google Search Console property for the same site.

Related SOPs

• SOP 032: Audit the on-page SEO of a page
• SOP 030: Check a page’s indexing and canonical URL in Google Search Console

01. Find the sitemap Rank Math generated

Rank Math provides a sitemap index link in its settings. Use the link shown for this site instead of guessing a sitemap address.

1. Open the sitemap link shown in Rank Math and record its full address.

   1. Sign in to the WordPress dashboard. In the left menu, open Rank Math SEO, then Sitemap Settings. In the General panel, find “Your sitemap index can be found here:” and open that link. If that link is missing or the index will not open, stop and ask the site maintainer to check the existing sitemap setup.

      • Resource: Rank Math: Configure Sitemaps (Read Rank Math's explanation of its sitemap index if needed.)

   2. Copy the full sitemap index address from the browser address bar into a note titled Sitemap submission check. Add these labels: Website, Sitemap index URL, Search Console property, Date submitted, Report status, Details, and Next action. Enter the website and sitemap index URL now.

02. Submit the sitemap and read Google's result

Search Console reports whether it could fetch and read a submitted sitemap. That report is separate from whether its individual pages are indexed.

1. Open Google Search Console and select the verified property that contains the sitemap URL.

   1. Open Google Search Console. Use the property selector at the upper left to choose your website. For a URL-prefix property, the sitemap index address must start with the complete property address: a property ending in /blog/ does not cover a sitemap elsewhere on the site. A Domain property named example.com covers that whole domain, including www.example.com. Record your choice beside Search Console property. If none covers the sitemap index URL, ask a property owner for access.

2. Open Sitemaps and either inspect the existing row or submit the sitemap index once.

   • Resource: Google Search Console Help: Sitemaps report (See Google's instructions and explanations for the Sitemaps report.)
   • Resource: Rank Math: Submit Your Sitemap to Google (Review Rank Math's method for submitting its existing sitemap index.)

   1. In the left menu, open Indexing, then Sitemaps. Look for the sitemap index URL from your note. If its row is already listed, open that row and continue to check its status; do not submit a duplicate.

   2. If the sitemap index is not listed, use Add a new sitemap. If part of the address is already shown, enter only the rest. For example, after https://www.example.com/, enter sitemap_index.xml. Together, the shown text and your entry must match Sitemap index URL in your note. If the field is empty, paste the full address. Select Submit once. If no row appears, refresh once; if it is still missing, record No result yet and check this report later.

      • Warning: A submission is a request for Google to read the sitemap, not a promise that pages will be indexed.

3. If the report row is visible, record its current status and details in your note. If it is still missing after one refresh, record that no result is visible yet.

   • Warning: A Success status means Google fetched and processed the sitemap; it does not mean every listed page is indexed.

   1. When the row is visible, record its Submitted date and Status, such as Success, Has errors, or Couldn't fetch. If the row has no status yet, record “No result yet.” If it has details or an error count, open it and copy the exact message into Details.

   2. Fill Next action in your note:

      • No result yet: write “Check the same report again later.”
      • Has errors or Couldn't fetch: write “Ask the site maintainer to review this,” followed by the exact message and Sitemap index URL. Use your normal team process to pass along the note.
      • Success: write “Google read the sitemap.” Check individual pages separately when you need to know whether they are indexed.