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How to disable WordPress sitemaps?

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Sitemaps are great for helping search engines index your website, but they can also be a security risk if they’re not properly configured.

A lot of WordPress themes come with a sitemap feature that allows you to easily create a list of all the pages and posts on your website. However, sometimes you may want to disable this feature because it can be unnecessary or even harmful to your website.

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to easily disable your WordPress sitemap so you can keep your site safe and secure.

First, let’s talk about what a sitemap is and why you might want to disable it.

A sitemap is an XML file that contains a list of all the pages and posts on your website. This file is used by search engines to help them index your site so people can find it when they do a search. However, if your sitemap is not properly configured, it can be a security risk because it can give hackers access to information about your website that they shouldn’t have.

Now that we’ve covered what a sitemap is and why you might want to disable it, let’s get into how you can actually do that. Disabling your WordPress sitemap is actually pretty easy. All you need to do is add a few lines of code to your functions.php file.

How to Delete WordPress Sitemaps?

There are two methods you can use to disable your WordPress sitemap. The first method is to simply delete the file from your server. The second method is to add a line of code to your robots.txt file. We’ll show you how to do both methods below.

#1: Use SEO Plugins

The default WordPress sitemap function will be disabled and replaced with more robust alternative if you use one of the most popular WordPress SEO plugins.
For WordPress, nothing compares to All in One SEO. 
Delete wordpress sitemaps- AISEO
To put it simply, it simplifies the process of making your WordPress site search engine and social media friendly. 
Our site is one of over million that use AIOSEO.
When you enable All in One SEO, its Sitemap feature will automatically be activated, replacing the default WordPress sitemaps.
Once the AIOSEO plugin is turned on, it needs to be set up. 
If you need help, you can look at our step-by-step guide to installing All in One SEO correctly in WordPress.
Then, go to the All in One SEO » Sitemaps page from the WordPress admin dashboard to check your sitemap settings.
Next, go to the tab called “General Sitemap.”  Make sure that the “Enable Sitemap” switch is turned on.
This will turn off the sitemap in WordPress by default.

#2: Delete file from server

The next method is the simplest way to disable your WordPress sitemap. All you need to do is delete the file from your server. You can do this using an FTP client or your hosting control panel. Once you’ve found the file, simply delete it and that’s it! Your WordPress sitemap will be disabled.

Using FTP client in WordPress

#3: Use Code Snippet

Likewise, the WordPress sitemap can be disabled via code. The functions.php file of your theme is where you should paste the code.

However, adding code to the functions.php file is risky because even a small mistake could bring down your site.

The free WPCode plugin must be installed and activated initially. If you’re interested in learning more about installing plugins for WordPress, be sure to read our detailed guide.

Click the new Code Snippets link in the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard. Follow this link to access the collection of “All Snippets.”

Conclusion

In most cases, a WordPress sitemap is a great way to help search engines index your website. However, there are some situations where you might want to disable your sitemap.

For example, if you have a very large website with thousands of pages, your sitemap might slow down your website. Thankfully, disabling your WordPress sitemap is easy to do. Simply follow the steps outlined in this article, and you’ll have it disabled in no time!

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Diksha Dutt

A graduate of the IIMC, Diksha enjoys talking about self-growth and online learning platforms. Diksha has a passion for education and entrepreneurship, and she has been involved in both fields for over a decade. She aims to help others make more informed decisions about the best online resources, courses, and education platforms. She writes about online learning platforms and online courses on Megablogging.org, where she reviews and recommends the best resources for different skill levels and goals. When Diksha is not working, she enjoys reading books, playing chess, and traveling with her husband and two kids. You can follow her on LinkedIn and FaceBook.

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