XML Sitemap Validator
Validate a sitemap.xml locally: XML syntax errors with line numbers, urlset and sitemap index structure, missing or invalid loc, lastmod, changefreq and priority values, and duplicate URLs. Paste XML or open a file.
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About the XML Sitemap Validator
XML Sitemap Validator checks the structure of a sitemap you paste or open from your device. It first parses the XML and reports syntax errors with the line and column the browser provides. It then recognises both standard formats — a <urlset> of <url> entries and a <sitemapindex> of <sitemap> entries — and checks every entry for a present, absolute http or https <loc>, a valid W3C date in <lastmod>, an allowed <changefreq> value and a <priority> between 0.0 and 1.0.
The report counts valid entries, entries with warnings and entries with errors, and lists each problem with its entry number and approximate line. It also flags duplicate URLs, mixed or incorrect root structures, non-standard child elements and missing namespaces. Everything happens in your browser: DOCTYPEs and external resources are never loaded, and the tool does not visit the URLs, so it cannot confirm that pages are reachable, indexed, submitted or accepted by any search engine.
How to use
- Paste your sitemap XML, or click Open .xml file to load one from your device.
- Click Validate sitemap.
- Read the summary of valid, warning and error counts.
- Review file-level issues and the table of entries with issues.
- Copy or download the report to share or keep.
Key features
- XML syntax errors with line and column where the browser provides them.
- Supports <urlset> sitemaps and <sitemapindex> files.
- Checks <loc>, <lastmod>, <changefreq> and <priority> values.
- Detects duplicate URLs, mixed entry types and wrong root elements.
- Valid / warning / error summary with entry numbers and approximate lines.
- Local file import, Copy Report and Download Report.
Best practices
- List only canonical, indexable URLs that you want search engines to find.
- Use full absolute URLs with the same protocol and host as your site.
- Keep <lastmod> accurate — only change it when the page really changes.
- Split very large sitemaps and list them in a sitemap index (at most 50,000 URLs per file).
- After fixing issues, submit the sitemap through each search engine’s own tools.
Benefits
- Find structural mistakes before search engines do.
- Clear entry-by-entry explanations of each problem.
- Works with large sitemaps and local files.
- Private: your sitemap is never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Does the validator check that my URLs work?
No. It checks the structure and format of the sitemap only. It never visits the URLs, so it cannot confirm that pages load, redirect correctly, are indexed or are accepted by a search engine.
Which date formats are valid in <lastmod>?
W3C Datetime formats such as 2026-11-01, 2026-11, 2026 or 2026-11-01T10:30:00+05:30 (a time needs a time zone, such as Z or +05:30). Impossible dates such as 2026-02-30 are reported as errors, and future dates as warnings.
What values are allowed for changefreq and priority?
changefreq must be one of always, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or never. priority must be a number from 0.0 to 1.0.
Can it check a sitemap index?
Yes. A <sitemapindex> is checked for <sitemap> entries with a valid <loc> and optional <lastmod>. Mixing <url> and <sitemap> entries in one file is reported as an error.
Why does it reject my file with a DOCTYPE?
Sitemaps should not contain a DOCTYPE, and for safety the tool does not process DOCTYPEs or entity definitions. Remove the DOCTYPE and validate again.
Are image, video or hreflang extensions checked?
Elements from other namespaces, such as image or xhtml link extensions, are counted and skipped. Only the core sitemap elements are validated.