What is a hreflang sitemap?+
It is an XML sitemap where each URL lists its language alternates with xhtml:link elements. It is an alternative to placing hreflang tags in each page's HTML head, and is useful for large sites or pages you cannot easily edit.
Do I need hreflang in both the sitemap and the HTML?+
No. One method is enough. If you use both, the two sets must match exactly, otherwise search engines receive conflicting signals.
Why does every language URL get its own entry?+
Each language version must list itself and every other version. So a page in four languages produces four url entries, each with the same complete set of alternates.
How do I add hreflang alternates to a Next.js sitemap?+
In the App Router, return alternates.languages from app/sitemap.js, as the Next.js tab shows. Next.js renders those entries as xhtml:link elements in the generated sitemap.xml.
What does Import from live pages do?+
It reads the hreflang tags already present on up to 10 public pages and turns them into sitemap entries, so you can move an existing hreflang setup into a sitemap without retyping it.
Where do I submit the sitemap?+
Upload it to your site root, reference it in robots.txt with a Sitemap: line, and submit it in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.