Web Dev Tools
Robots.txt Generator
Generate robots.txt file for your website with common rules. Control search engine crawlers, block directories, set crawl delays, and add sitemap URLs. Essential SEO tool for webmasters.
Use Robots.txt Generator to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
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About this tool
The robots.txt file is a critical SEO component that tells search engine crawlers which pages and directories they can and cannot access on your website. Placed in your website's root directory, it's the first file crawlers check before indexing your site. A properly configured robots.txt improves crawl efficiency, protects sensitive areas, and helps search engines focus on your important content.
Every website should have a robots.txt file. Without one, search engines may waste crawl budget on unimportant pages like admin panels, duplicate content, or staging directories. This can hurt your SEO by preventing search engines from efficiently indexing your valuable content. Our generator creates valid, properly formatted robots.txt files following the Robots Exclusion Protocol standard.
Common use cases include: blocking admin and login pages from search results, preventing indexing of duplicate content, protecting private directories, controlling crawl rate on bandwidth-limited servers, and guiding crawlers to your sitemap for complete site discovery.
The tool supports all major search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yandex) and allows you to set specific rules for different user agents, add multiple disallow rules, specify crawl delays, and include multiple sitemap URLs for comprehensive site coverage.
Usage examples
Block Admin Directory
Prevent crawling of admin pages
User-agent: *\nDisallow: /admin/\nDisallow: /wp-admin/
Allow Specific Bot
Googlebot access everything
User-agent: Googlebot\nAllow: /\n\nUser-agent: *\nDisallow: /private/
Set Crawl Delay
Limit crawler speed
User-agent: *\nCrawl-delay: 10\nDisallow: /search/
Add Sitemap
Guide crawlers to sitemap
User-agent: *\nSitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml
Complete robots.txt
Full configuration example
Common setup: block admin, set delay, add sitemap - ready for production
How to use
- Enter the user agents you want to control (or use * for all).
- Specify directories to allow or disallow crawling.
- Add optional crawl delay to prevent server overload.
- Include your sitemap URL for better indexing.
- Generate the robots.txt file with proper syntax.
- Download and upload to your website root directory (yoursite.com/robots.txt).
Benefits
- Generate valid robots.txt in seconds
- Control search engine crawler access
- Improve SEO crawl budget efficiency
- Block sensitive directories from indexing
- Set crawl delays to protect server resources
- Add sitemap URL for better discoverability
- Support for all major search engines
- Prevent duplicate content issues
- Protect admin and private pages
- Follow Robots Exclusion Protocol standards
- Essential for every website
- Copy-ready code for immediate use
FAQs
What is robots.txt and why do I need it?
Robots.txt is a text file placed in your website root (yoursite.com/robots.txt) that tells search engine crawlers which pages they can access. It's essential for SEO - it prevents wasting crawl budget on unimportant pages, protects sensitive areas, blocks duplicate content from indexing, and guides crawlers to your sitemap.
Where should I put my robots.txt file?
Always place robots.txt in your website's root directory. It must be accessible at http://yoursite.com/robots.txt (not in subfolders). Search engine crawlers always check this exact URL first before crawling your site. If it's in the wrong location, it won't work.
What does "User-agent: *" mean?
User-agent: * means the rules apply to all search engine crawlers (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.). You can target specific crawlers like "User-agent: Googlebot" or "User-agent: Bingbot" to apply different rules to different search engines.
What's the difference between Allow and Disallow?
Disallow tells crawlers NOT to access specific paths (e.g., Disallow: /admin/ blocks the admin folder). Allow explicitly permits access, useful for allowing specific files in a blocked directory. If nothing is specified, crawlers can access everything by default.
Should I block pages I don't want in search results?
Be careful! Disallow in robots.txt only prevents crawling, not indexing. Pages may still appear in search results without descriptions. For pages you want completely removed from search, use robots.txt AND noindex meta tags, or use password protection.
What is crawl delay and should I use it?
Crawl-delay tells crawlers to wait X seconds between requests, preventing server overload. Only use it if you have limited bandwidth or your server struggles with crawler traffic. Google ignores crawl-delay (use Search Console instead), but Bing and other crawlers respect it.
How do I add my sitemap to robots.txt?
Add "Sitemap: https://yoursite.com/sitemap.xml" anywhere in your robots.txt file (conventionally at the end). You can list multiple sitemaps. This helps crawlers discover all your pages faster, improving indexing efficiency.
Can robots.txt block malicious bots?
No. Robots.txt is a gentleman's agreement - only well-behaved crawlers follow it. Malicious bots, scrapers, and hackers ignore robots.txt. To block bad bots, use .htaccess rules, server-level blocking, or WAF (Web Application Firewall) solutions.
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