Noindex URLs in a sitemap

An XML sitemap normally represents URLs you want search engines to discover as indexable pages. A noindex directive communicates the opposite intent.

If the page should stay noindexed

Remove it from the sitemap at the CMS, plugin or sitemap-generator source. Examples can include private utility pages or intentionally excluded archives.

If the page should rank

Investigate why the noindex directive exists before removing the URL from the sitemap. It may have been added accidentally by a CMS setting, template or HTTP header.