If an old XML sitemap is deleted, Google may remember it for a while but will eventually stop attempting to crawl it if it is no longer accessible. However, it’s best to take proactive steps to inform Google that the sitemap has been removed.

Steps to Properly Delete an Old Sitemap

1. Remove Sitemap from Google Search Console:
   • Open Google Search Console and navigate to the property where the sitemap was submitted.
   • Go to the “Sitemaps” section.
   • Find the old sitemap in the list and select it.
   • Click on “Remove Sitemap” or “Delete” to inform Google that the sitemap should no longer be considered.
2. Update Robots.txt File:
   • If your old sitemap URL was listed in the robots.txt file, make sure to remove it.
   • This prevents Googlebot from attempting to access it through the robots.txt file.
3. Return a 404 or 410 Status Code:
   • Ensure that the URL of the old sitemap returns a 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone) HTTP status code. This helps Googlebot understand that the sitemap is permanently removed.
   • You can configure your server to return these status codes for the old sitemap URL.

Monitoring and Confirming Removal

1. Monitor Google Search Console:
   • After removing the sitemap, keep an eye on the “Sitemaps” section in Google Search Console to ensure it no longer appears in the list.
   • Check for crawl errors related to the old sitemap URL. If Googlebot attempts to access it, you will see these attempts listed.
2. Inspect URL:
   • Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to check the status of the old sitemap URL.
   • Confirm that it returns the expected 404 or 410 status code and is no longer being crawled.

Summary

• Remove Sitemap in Google Search Console: Explicitly remove the old sitemap from Google Search Console to inform Google about the change.
• Update Robots.txt File: Ensure the old sitemap URL is no longer listed in the robots.txt file.
• Return Proper Status Code: Configure the server to return a 404 or 410 status code for the old sitemap URL.
• Monitor for Changes: Keep track of the sitemap status and potential crawl errors in Google Search Console.

By following these steps, you can ensure that Google recognizes the old sitemap as deleted and eventually stops attempting to crawl it.