Robots.txt Generator
Create a simple robots.txt file for your website and copy the result instantly.
Free Online Robots.txt Generator
Our robots.txt generator helps website owners create a basic robots.txt file without manually formatting every directive. Enter a user-agent, add paths you want crawlers to avoid or allow, optionally include your XML sitemap URL, and generate a clean file that you can review before adding it to your website.
What Is a Robots.txt File?
A robots.txt file is a plain-text file placed at the root of a website. It communicates crawl preferences to search engine robots that support the Robots Exclusion Protocol. Common directives include User-agent, Disallow and Allow. A Sitemap line can also point crawlers toward an XML sitemap.
How to Use This Robots.txt Generator
Start with the user-agent. An asterisk targets all compatible crawlers. Add each Disallow path on its own line, such as /admin/ or /private/. If you need exceptions, add Allow paths. Enter a complete sitemap URL if your site has one, then click Generate Robots.txt. Review the output carefully before deploying it.
Robots.txt Example
User-agent: * Disallow: /private/ Allow: /public/ Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml
Important Robots.txt SEO Considerations
Robots.txt controls crawling behavior; it is not a reliable method for keeping sensitive information private and it does not necessarily prevent a URL from appearing in search results. Pages containing confidential information should be protected with appropriate authentication or access controls. For search indexing decisions, use supported indexing controls where appropriate.
Where Should Robots.txt Be Located?
The file normally belongs at the root of the hostname, for example example.com/robots.txt. Rules apply to the specific protocol, hostname and port where the file is hosted, so make sure you edit the robots.txt file for the correct site version.
Common Robots.txt Directives
| Directive | Purpose |
|---|---|
| User-agent | Identifies the crawler the rule group targets. |
| Disallow | Requests that matching paths not be crawled. |
| Allow | Allows a path within an otherwise restricted area for crawlers that support it. |
| Sitemap | Provides the location of an XML sitemap. |
Robots.txt Generator Best Practices
Keep rules as simple as possible, test important changes, use exact paths, and avoid blocking CSS or JavaScript resources that search engines may need to understand a page. Remember that robots.txt is publicly accessible, so never place passwords, private tokens or confidential data inside it.
Related SEO Tools
After creating crawl rules, review your snippets with our Meta Title Checker and Meta Description Checker. Website owners can also inspect domains with our DNS Lookup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does robots.txt prevent indexing?
Not necessarily. A blocked URL can sometimes still appear in search results if search engines discover it through other links. Robots.txt primarily manages crawling.
Can robots.txt protect private pages?
No. Use authentication and proper access controls for private or sensitive content.
Can I include my sitemap in robots.txt?
Yes. A Sitemap directive can provide the absolute URL of an XML sitemap.
What does User-agent: * mean?
The asterisk represents all crawlers that follow the applicable robots.txt rules.
Is this robots.txt generator free?
Yes. It is free to use and the file is generated directly in your browser.
For authoritative guidance, see Google Search Central’s robots.txt documentation.
How to Use the Robots.txt Generator
Create robots.txt directives that tell compliant search-engine crawlers which areas of a site they may or may not crawl. Generate the rules, review them carefully and place the file at the root of your domain.
Practical Example
A rule such as User-agent: * followed by Disallow: /private/ asks compliant crawlers not to crawl URLs under the /private/ path.
Factors That Affect the Result
Directive syntax, path matching, crawler support, sitemap references and conflicting rules can affect behavior. Robots.txt controls crawling, not guaranteed indexing or access control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does robots.txt block visitors?
No. It is a crawler instruction file and is not a security mechanism.
Can a blocked URL still appear in search results?
Yes. A search engine may discover and index a URL from external links even if crawling is disallowed.
Where should robots.txt be placed?
It should normally be available at the root path of the site, such as example.com/robots.txt.