IndexNow
The IndexNow tool lets you submit your sitemap URLs directly to search engines that support the IndexNow protocol. It automatically fetches your sitemap, lists all discovered URLs, and allows you to submit them instantly with your IndexNow API key. This makes it easy to keep your website content fresh and indexed across search engines without leaving DevKnife.
Using the Tool
Section titled “Using the Tool”Learn how to use the IndexNow tool to connect your website and submit URLs effortlessly. This section walks you through entering your sitemap URL, managing submissions, and ensuring your site stays indexed efficiently.
Obtaining the API Key
Section titled “Obtaining the API Key”To submit URLs with IndexNow, you need to verify ownership of your website by creating a small key file on your server. You can generate the API key yourself — it is simply a unique string that identifies your site to search engines.
Create a text file named {your-key}.txt that contains only the key value, and place it in the root directory of your website. For example:
https://www.example.com/2c28a6ec9d8f460a88560bf2cdcafbfc.txtThe content of this file should be:
2c28a6ec9d8f460a88560bf2cdcafbfcSearch engines will use this file to verify that you control the domain.
Once the file is accessible, copy the same key into DevKnife’s IndexNow tool. The app will automatically include it when submitting your sitemap URLs.
Tip: Generate a Key in Terminal
Section titled “Tip: Generate a Key in Terminal”You can quickly generate a random key directly from your terminal using the following command:
openssl rand -hex 16Submitting Your Sitemap
Section titled “Submitting Your Sitemap”Once your API key is ready, you can use DevKnife’s IndexNow tool to fetch and submit your sitemap URLs.
Enter your sitemap URL and API key into the fields at the top of the window, then click Refresh Sitemap. DevKnife will automatically download the sitemap (or multiple sitemaps if the first file is a sitemap index) and list all discovered URLs in the table below.
Each URL entry displays its status, the last modification date, and the last submission date. When the sitemap loading is complete, simply click Submit URLs to send them to search engines through the IndexNow protocol.
DevKnife handles all submissions in the background and updates the table as the process completes. Successfully submitted URLs will show an updated status and timestamp, making it easy to keep track of your indexing progress.