Robots.txt Generator

Free Robots.txt Generator for SEO: Create, Customize & Optimize Robots Rules

What Is a Robots.txt File?

A robots.txt file is a text file at your website's root. It tells search engine crawlers which pages or files to access or index. It's a key tool for technical SEO, controlling crawler behavior and protecting sensitive content.

Why You Need a Robots.txt File for SEO

A well-set up robots.txt file:

• Improves crawl efficiency by blocking irrelevant or duplicate content

• Prevents indexing of private files, admin pages, and dev environments

• Helps preserve crawl budget for large sites

• Supports SEO goals by focusing search engine bots on key pages

• Enhances website security by disallowing access to sensitive folders

Key Directives Used in Robots.txt Files

Directive	Purpose	Example
User-agent	Specifies the bot the rule applies to	User-agent: *
Disallow	Blocks access to a specific file or folder	Disallow: /admin/
Allow	Grants access to a specific file or path	Allow: /images/logo.png
Sitemap	Provides the URL of the XML sitemap	Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml
Crawl-delay	Limits how fast a bot can crawl	Crawl-delay: 10 (not supported by Google)

How to Use a Robots.txt Generator Tool

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Enter Your Site Details
   Input your domain (e.g., https://example.com) and select the user-agents (bots) you want to control.

2. Select Pages or Folders to Block
   Choose common directories like /admin/, /cgi-bin/, or custom folders to disallow.

3. Add Sitemap URL
   Improve crawling by including the direct URL of your sitemap.

4. Generate and Download the File
   Copy or download the robots.txt code generated.

5. Upload to Your Website’s Root Directory
   Place it in your root folder (https://example.com/robots.txt).

6. Test Your File with Google
   Use the robots.txt Tester in Google Search Console to check for issues.

Suggested Diagram: Robots.txt Rule Flow

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flowchart TD A[Search Engine Bot Requests Page] --> B[robots.txt Accessed] B --> C{Does Rule Exist for Bot?} C -- Yes --> D{Is Page Disallowed?} D -- Yes --> E[Page Not Crawled] D -- No --> F[Page Crawled and Indexed] C -- No --> F

Common Robots.txt Examples for SEO

Allow Everything (Default):

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User-agent: * Disallow:

Block Admin and Private Folders:

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User-agent: * Disallow: /admin/ Disallow: /login/

Block All Crawlers From Entire Site (Use With Caution):

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User-agent: * Disallow: /

Block Specific Bots Only:

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User-agent: Googlebot Disallow: /testing/ User-agent: Bingbot Disallow: /old-data/

Include Sitemap Location:

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User-agent: * Disallow: Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml

Best Practices for Robots.txt File Optimization

• ✅ Always test your file using Google’s robots.txt tester

• ✅ Use lowercase paths for consistency

• ✅ Don’t block important content accidentally

• ✅ Don’t use robots.txt to hide private data (use authentication or noindex)

• ✅ Include your sitemap URL for better indexing

• ✅ Avoid using wildcards unless necessary (e.g., Disallow: /*?ref=)

What Not to Do in Robots.txt

• ❌ Don’t block JavaScript or CSS folders (Google needs them to render your site)

• ❌ Don’t use it to deindex pages — use noindex in meta tags instead

• ❌ Don’t forget to update it when launching new sections

• ❌ Don’t mix up Allow and Disallow — order and specificity matter

Comparing Top Robots.txt Generator Tools

Tool	Features	Ideal For
SEOptimer Robots.txt Generator	Simple UI, pre-set directory options, free to use	Beginners & marketers
Yoast SEO (WordPress)	Dynamic robots.txt editing within WordPress	WordPress users
TechnicalSEO.com Generator	Wildcard & crawl-delay support, JSON preview	Technical SEOs
Screaming Frog	Robots.txt testing and simulation	Advanced SEOs
Google Search Console	Testing tool only	Robots behavior validation

Robots.txt in Action: Real-World Use Cases

1. eCommerce Store

Block checkout and cart pages from indexing:

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User-agent: * Disallow: /cart/ Disallow: /checkout/

2. Blog

Prevent duplicate tag archive pages:

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User-agent: * Disallow: /tag/ Disallow: /category/

3. Development Site

Block entire staging site from being crawled:

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User-agent: * Disallow: /

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Where should I place the robots.txt file?

A: In the root directory of your site: https://yourdomain.com/robots.txt

Q: Does robots.txt guarantee pages won’t be indexed?

A: No. Use noindex meta tags to ensure deindexing. Robots.txt only blocks crawling.

Q: Can I block images or PDFs?

A: Yes. Use:

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Disallow: /*.pdf$ Disallow: /images/

Q: How do I allow only one file in a folder?

A:

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Disallow: /private/ Allow: /private/allowed-file.html

Conclusion: Take Control of Crawlers with a Custom Robots.txt File

A well-crafted robots.txt file is key for SEO. It guides search engine crawlers and helps manage crawl budgets. It also stops indexing of content you don't want seen. With a free robots.txt generator, you can make your file in seconds and upload it to protect and enhance your website’s visibility.