Robots.txt Generator

Generate a custom Robots.txt file to guide search engine crawlers on your website.

User-agent

Choose which crawlers to target. 'All robots' is the most common choice.

Disallow Paths

Add paths you want to block for crawlers. Add one path per line.

Sitemap URL

Enter the full URL to your sitemap.xml file.

Generated Robots.txt

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a robots.txt file and why is it important?
A robots.txt file is a text file that tells search engine crawlers which pages or sections of your website should not be accessed or indexed. It's important because it helps you control search engine traffic to your site, prevents crawling of private or duplicate content, and can improve your site's SEO performance by guiding crawlers to your most important content.
Where should I upload the robots.txt file?
The robots.txt file must be placed in the root directory of your website (the main domain level). For example, if your website is www.example.com, the robots.txt file should be accessible at www.example.com/robots.txt. Most web hosting control panels and FTP clients allow you to upload files to the root directory easily.
Does robots.txt prevent pages from appearing in search results?
No, robots.txt only instructs crawlers not to crawl certain pages - it doesn't prevent them from being indexed if they're linked from other sources. To completely prevent pages from appearing in search results, use the "noindex" meta tag or the X-Robots-Tag HTTP header. For sensitive content, use proper authentication instead of relying on robots.txt.
What are common paths that should be blocked in robots.txt?
Common paths to block include: /admin/ (administrative areas), /private/ (private content), /tmp/ or /temp/ (temporary files), /cgi-bin/ (server scripts), /includes/ (internal files), and search result pages. Also consider blocking duplicate content pages, thank you pages, or any sections that don't provide value to search engine users.
How can I test if my robots.txt file is working correctly?
You can test your robots.txt file using Google Search Console's Robots.txt Tester tool, which shows how Googlebot interprets your file. Simply enter your website URL in the tool, and it will display any errors or warnings. You can also test specific URLs to see if they're allowed or blocked according to your robots.txt rules.