How the core XML sitemap helps discovery and what to check when it is missing or disabled.
Why this check matters
An XML sitemap gives search engines a machine-readable list of eligible content. It does not guarantee rankings, but it removes a basic discovery problem for many sites.
How to review it
- Open the sitemap index while logged out.
- Check that published content appears and drafts do not.
- Review robots rules and canonical URLs together.
- Let an SEO plugin own the sitemap if it deliberately replaces core behavior.
Keep the change safe
Do not submit duplicate or private sitemaps. A sitemap should describe the public site you actually want indexed.
How WPVitals uses this signal
WPVitals checks this setting locally and reports the result in the WordPress dashboard. The check is a maintenance signal, so review the site context before changing a setting and test the visitor experience afterwards.