Fix 404-URL in the XML Sitemap

Differentiate deleted and accidentally missing pages

A sitemap can contain an old product URL even though the product has been removed. First, clarify whether the page is finally dropped or can no longer be reached due to a technical error. In the first case, it should be removed from the sitemap; in the second case, the publication must be restored.

Example: Recognizing the Result

Illustrative example: The sitemap calls /product/expiration model/, this URL provides 404. The product was either deliberately removed or disappeared due to a routing error.

Limit cause and implement correction

Check the newly created sitemap and the response of the affected URL separately. A change in the CMS must also arrive in cached sitemap files. In addition, look for internal links to the old address. If a suitable successor exists, its relationship to the previous page should be comprehensible in terms of content.

What makes you recognize a suitable correction

Upon final removal, take the record from the sitemap selection. In the event of unintentional unreachability, restore the URL or set a suitable final destination.

Classification and boundaries

When is this indication not a clear error?

A deleted page may correctly deliver 404. The contradictory inclusion in the sitemap is the part to be checked here.

404-URL in the XML sitemap after CMS and cause

Many audit messages can be resolved faster if they are grouped by system, page type and technical cause. CMS indentations are only linked where 404 URL in the XML sitemap has a clear cause or fixed route in the respective system.

404-URL in the XML Sitemap in WordPressCheck theme, SEO plugin, page builder, cache plugin and media library. 404-URL in the XML sitemap in TYPO3Target TypoScript, Site Config, Fluid Templates, Extensions, Language Tree and Caches. 404-URL in the XML sitemap in ShopwareExamine experience worlds, category templates, product data, variants, sales channels and SEO URLs. 404 URL in the XML Sitemap in ShopifyTarget theme, collections, products, apps, metafields, markets and robots rules. 404-URL in the XML Sitemap in WooCommerceCheck WooCommerce templates, WordPress theme, SEO plugin, product data and cache specifically. 404-URL in the XML Sitemap in MagentoCheck catalog rules, layered navigation, product variants, store views, extensions and cache/indexer.

Frequent causes of this error

Sitemap generatorSitemap plugins, core sitemaps or shop sitemaps deliver URLs that are not indexable, redirected or obsolete. Relaunch and migration residuesAfter relaunch, domain change or CMS migration, old URLs, canonicals, redirects and internal links remain in the system. Cache and CDN RulesCaching, CDN, edge rules or minification deliver old, blocked or technically modified pages. Shop and product dataProduct status, variants, categories, prices or availability generate SEO errors on many shop URLs simultaneously.

Related SEO Errors

Sitemap not reachableA sitemap with error status cannot provide search engines with a reliable URL list Noindex in SitemapIf URLs are in the sitemap, but are excluded from the index via noindex Redirect in SitemapWhy Sitemaps Should Only Contain Final 200 URLs robots.txt blocks URLWhen Crawl Rules Exclude Important Sites or Resources

Appropriate Seitenreport checks

This error should not be checked in isolation. The following tools and clusters help to narrow down the cause faster and to cleanly prioritize the affected URL groups.

Indexability CheckerCheck indexability and conflicting signals.Open the check -> Sitemap Audit ToolCheck sitemap URLs for status code, canonical, and noindex.Open the check -> Robots.txt CheckerControl crawling rules and blockages.Open the check ->