How to use the sitemap validator
Paste the contents of your sitemap.xml into the box, or use Load a sitemap file to read one from your computer — the file's text drops straight into the box. The validator runs as you type: it parses the XML, confirms the root is a <urlset> or <sitemapindex>, and checks that every <loc> is an absolute http(s) URL, that any <lastmod>, <changefreq> and <priority> values are valid, and that the file stays within the 50,000-URL limit. A big PASS or FAIL badge, a URL count, and a checklist show exactly what passed, with any errors and warnings listed underneath.
This validates structure and syntax only, locally in your browser — it does not fetch or crawl the URLs, and it does not check that the pages exist or are indexable. Need to build a sitemap first? Use the sitemap generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this validator check?
It checks that your file is well-formed XML, uses a correct <urlset> or <sitemapindex> structure, that each <url> has exactly one valid absolute <loc>, that any <lastmod>, <changefreq> and <priority> values are valid, and that the file stays within the 50,000-URL limit. Every check is shown with a pass or fail mark, along with any errors and warnings.
Does it crawl or fetch my URLs?
No. It only checks the file's structure and syntax locally in your browser. It does not fetch or crawl the URLs inside the sitemap, and it does not verify that those pages exist, respond, or are indexable. Nothing you paste or upload is sent to any server.
What are the sitemap size limits?
A single sitemap file can hold up to 50,000 URLs and must stay under 50MB uncompressed. If your site is larger, split the URLs across several sitemap files and reference them from a sitemap index file. The validator flags files that pass the 50,000-URL limit as an error and warns if the pasted text is very large.
Can it read a sitemap index?
Yes. The validator recognises a <sitemapindex> root as well as a <urlset> root. For a sitemap index it checks that each <sitemap> entry has a valid absolute <loc> and that any <lastmod> value is a valid W3C date, and it counts the referenced sitemaps.