Why does my sitemap fail validation with an ampersand in a URL?

Because a raw `&` opens an entity reference in XML. A URL like `?a=1&b=2` has to be written `?a=1&b=2` inside a ` ` element or the document isn't well-formed and the whole sitemap is rejected. This tool escapes them for you, which is most of its value.

How many URLs can one sitemap hold?

50,000, or 50MB uncompressed, whichever comes first. Past that you split it into several files and list them in a sitemap index — an XML file that points at your sitemaps rather than at pages. There's no limit on how many sitemaps a site can have.

Where do I put the sitemap once I've made it?

At your site root, usually /sitemap.xml, then reference it from robots.txt with a `Sitemap:` line and submit it in Google Search Console. A sitemap is a hint about what exists, not a guarantee of indexing — it helps most on large sites and on pages that aren't well linked internally.

XML Sitemap Generator

Paste your URLs, one per line, and get a valid XML sitemap back. It escapes the ampersands that make a sitemap invalid — the single most common reason Search Console rejects one — removes duplicate URLs, and warns you if the list is over the 50,000 URL limit for a single file. Changefreq and priority are off by default, because Google has publicly said it ignores both.

Your text

Change frequency

Priority

Last modified

Applied to every URL. Only set this if it's true — a lastmod that is always today teaches Google to ignore it.

Result

Nothing is uploaded — this tool runs inside your browser, so your files never leave your device.

Help us improve

Why use this tool

Escapes & to & so the XML actually parses
Removes duplicate URLs and tells you how many it dropped
Rejects relative URLs, which a sitemap may not contain
Warns at the 50,000 URL limit for a single sitemap file

How it works

1Paste your URLs, one per line, each with the full https:// address.
2Leave changefreq and priority out unless you have a reason to include them.
3Copy or download the result as sitemap.xml and upload it to your site root.

XML Sitemap Generator — frequently asked questions

Because Google ignores both, and has said so plainly. They were part of the 2005 sitemap protocol and never carried the weight people assumed. The one field that still matters is lastmod, and only when it's honest — a lastmod that reads today's date on every URL every day is treated as noise and discarded.

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