Google: Sitemaps Should Contain URLs Of Pages You Want Indexed, Not Variations

Dec 13, 2016 - 7:48 am 6 by

Chalkboard9 Google 1900px

Google's John Mueller said in a Google Webmaster Help thread that you should only include the URLs you want Google to index in your sitemap file, not the other variations. This is probably obvious to many of you, but nowadays I what I think is obvious, isn't always obvious to me.

So, don't include your HTTP and your HTTPS, if you are on HTTPS, just submit your HTTPS URLs in your sitemap file. Don't include both the WWW and non WWW, pick one. The final canonical version of what you want Google to index is what you should include in your sitemap, the rest, 301 redirect to the main canonical URL.

John wrote, "we recommend just submitting a sitemap for the URLs that you want to have indexed, not for all variations."

Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: September 15, 2025

Sep 15, 2025 - 10:00 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Search Console Reporting Change Since 100 Results Broke

Sep 15, 2025 - 7:51 am
Bing Search

Bing Places Update Coming Soon: Navigation, Experience & More

Sep 15, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

PSA: Most Third Party Google Search Tracking Tools Are Broken

Sep 15, 2025 - 7:31 am
Search Engine Optimization

Structured Data Does Not Help With Visibility In AI Search

Sep 15, 2025 - 7:21 am
Google News

FTC Investigating Google Over Ad Pricing & Terms On Websites

Sep 15, 2025 - 7:11 am
 
Previous Story: Google Maypole Dancers At Holiday Party