XML sitemaps help search engines discover and understand the pages on your website. If you use WordPress, the All in One SEO plugin, commonly called AIOSEO, is one of the most popular ways to create them. A frequent question from site owners is whether AIOSEO automatically submits those sitemaps to search engines or whether additional steps are needed. The answer is nuanced: the plugin automatically generates and updates sitemaps and helps search engines find them, but submitting them in Google Search Console is still a step worth doing yourself. This guide explains exactly how it works.
Technical SEO Setup by AAMAX.CO
Sitemaps are only one piece of a healthy technical foundation. AAMAX.CO is a full-service digital marketing company offering web development, digital marketing, and SEO services worldwide. Their team configures WordPress SEO plugins properly, connects Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, resolves indexing issues, and ensures sitemaps include only the pages that should rank. Their search engine optimization work turns plugin settings into measurable gains.
What AIOSEO Does Automatically
- Generates XML sitemaps: Once enabled, AIOSEO creates a sitemap index, typically at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml, with child sitemaps for posts, pages, categories, and other content types.
- Updates dynamically: When you publish, update, or delete content, the sitemap reflects those changes automatically.
- Adds the sitemap to robots.txt: AIOSEO can include the sitemap location in your robots.txt file, which helps search engines discover it.
- Supports IndexNow: AIOSEO offers IndexNow integration, which notifies participating search engines such as Bing and Yandex when content changes.
- Creates additional sitemaps: Depending on your plan, it can generate video sitemaps, news sitemaps, and an HTML sitemap for visitors.
Does It Submit Sitemaps to Google Automatically?
Google deprecated its sitemap "ping" endpoint in 2023, meaning plugins can no longer notify Google about sitemap updates through that method. Google discovers sitemaps through robots.txt references and through direct submission in Search Console. AIOSEO handles the robots.txt reference automatically, so Google can eventually find your sitemap. However, manual submission in Search Console gives you visibility into processing status, errors, and indexed page counts, and it is the most reliable way to ensure Google knows about your sitemap.
How to Submit Your AIOSEO Sitemap to Google
- In WordPress, go to All in One SEO > Sitemaps and confirm the sitemap is enabled.
- Click Open Sitemap to view the URL, usually /sitemap.xml.
- Log in to Google Search Console and select your property. If you have not verified your site, AIOSEO's Webmaster Tools settings can add the verification code.
- Open the Sitemaps report from the left menu.
- Enter "sitemap.xml" in the field and click Submit.
- Check back later to confirm the status reads "Success."
How to Submit to Bing
Bing Webmaster Tools works similarly. Add and verify your site, open the Sitemaps section, and submit your sitemap URL. You can also import your site directly from Google Search Console to save time. With IndexNow enabled in AIOSEO, Bing receives instant notifications when content changes, which helps new pages get discovered quickly.
Configuring Sitemaps for Better SEO
A sitemap should list only pages you want indexed. Review AIOSEO's sitemap settings to:
- Exclude thin or low-value archives, such as tag pages or author archives on single-author blogs.
- Exclude specific posts or pages that are set to noindex.
- Include custom post types that matter, such as products or portfolio items.
- Avoid including redirected, broken, or duplicate URLs.
Troubleshooting Common Sitemap Issues
- "Couldn't fetch" in Search Console: Clear caches, ensure the sitemap loads in a browser, and check that security plugins or firewalls are not blocking Googlebot.
- 404 errors: Resave permalinks under Settings > Permalinks to refresh rewrite rules.
- Conflicting sitemaps: Disable sitemaps from other plugins and WordPress core's default sitemap if duplicates exist. AIOSEO typically handles the core sitemap automatically.
- Pages not indexed: Being in a sitemap does not guarantee indexing. Check the Page Indexing report for reasons such as duplicate content or low quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to resubmit my sitemap every time I publish?
No. Once your sitemap is submitted in Search Console, Google revisits it periodically and picks up changes automatically. AIOSEO keeps the sitemap updated, so a single submission is enough unless the sitemap URL changes.
Can I use AIOSEO and another SEO plugin at the same time?
It is not recommended. Running two SEO plugins can produce duplicate sitemaps, conflicting meta tags, and confusing signals. Choose one plugin and deactivate the other after migrating your settings.
How can I get a new page indexed faster?
Link to it from relevant existing pages, make sure it appears in the sitemap, and use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to request indexing. For Bing, IndexNow notifications from AIOSEO help speed up discovery.
Conclusion
All in One SEO automatically generates, updates, and advertises your XML sitemaps through robots.txt, and its IndexNow integration notifies Bing and other participating engines of changes. However, Google no longer accepts automated pings, so submitting your sitemap in Google Search Console remains an important manual step. Do it once, monitor the report periodically, and keep your sitemap clean, and you will give search engines the clearest possible map of your website.
Want to publish a guest post on aamconsultants.org?
Place an order for a guest post or link insertion today.