With the release of WordPress 5.5, a built-in sitemaps functionality was introduced. While this feature is beneficial for many, it can create conflicts with SEO plugins that offer more advanced sitemap options. Additionally, some users prefer to disable this feature for performance reasons or to avoid redundancy with their existing SEO tools.
Why Disable WordPress Sitemaps?
There are several reasons why you might want to disable the default sitemaps functionality:
- SEO Plugin Conflicts: Advanced SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack offer comprehensive sitemap features that may conflict with the default WordPress sitemaps.
- Performance: Disabling the default sitemaps can reduce server load and improve site performance, especially if you are already using a dedicated sitemap solution.
- Redundancy: If you are using an external or more customizable sitemap solution, the default sitemaps might be redundant and unnecessary.
How to Disable WordPress Sitemaps
Security Ninja Premium provides an easy way to disable the built-in sitemaps functionality. Navigate to the “Fixes” page and disable via a simple click.
Follow these steps to test sitemap functionality:
- Install Security Ninja: Ensure you have the Security Ninja plugin installed and activated on your WordPress site.
- Access Security Tests: Navigate to the Security Ninja dashboard and select the “Security Tests” tab.
- Run the Test: Find and run the “Disable WP Sitemaps” test.
Manual Method to Disable WP Sitemaps
If you prefer to disable WordPress sitemaps manually, you can add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file:
add_filter('wp_sitemaps_enabled', '__return_false');
Benefits of Disabling WordPress Sitemaps
- Improved Compatibility: Ensures better compatibility with SEO plugins that provide advanced sitemap features.
- Performance Optimization: Reduces server load by disabling redundant sitemap functionality.
Disabling the WordPress sitemaps functionality can help streamline your SEO efforts and improve your site’s performance, especially if you are using more advanced or customized sitemap solutions.