--- title: Why Doesn't diib Recognize My Sitemap? description: Learn why diib may not detect your sitemap, how to verify it exists, and what steps to take to ensure proper installation in standard locations. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/why-doesnt-diib-recognize-my-sitemap#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![Frame 1707478394.png\]](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%201707478394.png?height=40&name=Frame%201707478394.png)](https://www.diib.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Go to diib.com](https://www.diib.com/) [Go to diib.com](https://www.diib.com/) Welcome to diib's Knowledge Base! - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [FAQs and Troubleshooting](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en) 3. [Sitemap](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#sitemap) # Why Doesn't diib Recognize My Sitemap? ## Learn why diib may not detect your sitemap, how to verify it exists, and what steps to take to ensure proper installation in standard locations. ### Overview When diib scans your website, it checks for the presence of an XML sitemap to help search engines index your content more effectively. However, you may receive a notification that your sitemap was not detected, even though you know it exists on your site. This article explains why this happens and how you can verify that your sitemap is properly installed. ### Why diib May Not Detect Your Sitemap #### Standard Path Locations diib looks for sitemaps in what are called "standard paths." These are the most common locations where websites place their XML sitemaps. The standard paths include: - **Root directory:** `yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml` - **Root directory with variations:** `yourwebsite.com/sitemap-index.xml` or `yourwebsite.com/sitemap1.xml` - **Specified in robots.txt:** A reference to your sitemap location within your `robots.txt` file When a sitemap is placed in these standard locations, our software can easily identify and verify its existence. If your sitemap is located elsewhere on your website—such as in a subdirectory, under a different name, or in a non-standard format—diib may not be able to detect it during its scan. #### Non-Standard Path Example Some websites place their sitemaps in locations that are similar to, but not exactly matching, the standard paths. For example, a sitemap located at `yourwebsite.com/sitemap_index.xml` (using an underscore instead of a hyphen) would be considered a non-standard path. While this naming convention is close to the standard `sitemap-index.xml`, it is not recognized as a standard location by diib or most search engines. If your sitemap is at a non-standard path like this, diib will not be able to detect it through a standard scan. However, you can still ensure search engines find your sitemap by referencing it in your `robots.txt` file with a `Sitemap:` directive, as described in Step 2 of the verification process below. #### XML Sitemaps Only It's important to note that diib only scans for **XML sitemaps**. We do not detect or scan for HTML sitemaps. XML sitemaps are the format that search engines like Google and Bing use to crawl and index your website more efficiently. If you only have an HTML sitemap on your site, diib will not identify it. ### How to Verify Your Sitemap Exists If you believe your sitemap is installed but diib has not detected it, follow these steps to confirm its existence: #### Step 1: Check the Standard Locations Open your web browser and try accessing your sitemap directly by typing these URLs into your address bar (replace `yourwebsite.com` with your actual domain): - `yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml` - `yourwebsite.com/sitemap-index.xml` If your sitemap exists in one of these locations, you should see an XML file displayed in your browser (it may show as raw code or a formatted view, depending on your browser). #### Step 2: Check Your robots.txt File Your sitemap location may be referenced in your `robots.txt` file. To view this file, navigate to: - `yourwebsite.com/robots.txt` Open this file and look for a line that starts with `Sitemap:` followed by a URL. For example:  ``` Sitemap: https://yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml ``` If you see this line, your sitemap exists at the location specified. #### Step 3: Verify the File Content Once you've found your sitemap file, verify that it contains actual content. A valid XML sitemap will show a structured format with `` entries, each containing information about pages on your website. It should look similar to this:  xml ``` https://yourwebsite.com/page1 https://yourwebsite.com/page2 ``` ### What to Do If You Confirm Your Sitemap Exists If you've successfully verified that your XML sitemap exists and is accessible at a standard location or referenced in your robots.txt file, you can safely ignore the diib notification about a missing sitemap. Your sitemap is properly installed and functioning. However, if your sitemap is located in a non-standard path that diib cannot detect, we recommend considering moving it to one of the standard locations listed above. This will ensure that not only does diib detect it, but search engines can also more reliably find and use your sitemap for indexing your site. #### Summary - **diib detects XML sitemaps only**, not HTML sitemaps - **diib looks in standard locations**: the root directory and references in robots.txt - **You can verify your sitemap exists** by accessing it directly in your browser or checking your robots.txt file - **Once confirmed**, you can ignore the diib notification if your sitemap is properly installed - [Getting Started](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Get Started Here](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#get-started-here) - [How to Use diib's Features](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#how-to-use-diibs-features) - [Dashboard Widgets](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#dashboard-widgets) - [Boosts and Services](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/boosts-and-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [LocalBoost](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/boosts-and-services?hsLang=en#localboost) - [diib Handshake](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/boosts-and-services?hsLang=en#diib-handshake) - [CityBoost](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/boosts-and-services?hsLang=en#cityboost) - [Billing and Account Management](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/billing-and-account-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Billing](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/billing-and-account-management?hsLang=en#billing) - [Your Account](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/billing-and-account-management?hsLang=en#your-account) - [FAQs and Troubleshooting](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Dashboard](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#dashboard) - [General SEO](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#general-seo) - [Website Traffic](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#website-traffic) - [Google Analytics](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#google-analytics) - [Website Errors](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#website-errors) - [Core Vitals](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#core-vitals) - [Google Business Profile](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#google-business-profile) - [Sitemap](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#sitemap) - [Backlinks](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#backlinks) - [YouTube](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#youtube) - [Local Businesses & Local SEO](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#local-businesses-local-seo) - [Keywords](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#keywords) - [AI](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#ai) - [Content](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#content) - [Website Speed](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/faqs-and-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#website-speed) - [diib Dashboard Widgets](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/diib-dashboard-widgets?hsLang=en) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://knowledgebase.diib.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-Nov-15-2024-07-22-54-5317-PM.png?width=44&height=24&name=logo-Nov-15-2024-07-22-54-5317-PM.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://diib.com/) diib.com Knowledge Base Copyright © 2026, diib.com