How do I block AI bots like ChatGPT, GPTBot, or ClaudeBot?
Select the AI bots you want to block from our comprehensive list (including GPTBot, ClaudeBot, Google-Extended, CCBot, and more). The builder automatically uses the correct user-agent identifiers for each bot. You can block all AI bots or select specific ones.
What's the difference between 'Allow' and 'Disallow'?
Disallow blocks crawlers from accessing specified paths, while Allow creates exceptions within broader Disallow rules. For example, you might disallow /private/ but allow /private/public/ to make a specific subfolder accessible.
Should I use 'User-agent: *' or specific bot names?
Use 'User-agent: *' for rules that apply to all bots. For AI bots or specific crawlers you want to treat differently, use their specific user-agent names. Our builder handles both approaches - select bots from the list for specific targeting.
How do I add my sitemap to robots.txt?
Use the Sitemaps section in the builder to add your sitemap URLs. You can add multiple sitemaps (e.g., sitemap.xml, sitemap-news.xml, sitemap-images.xml). Format: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
What is crawl-delay and when should I use it?
Crawl-delay sets the minimum time (in seconds) between requests from a crawler. Use it to prevent aggressive crawlers from overloading your server. Note: Major search engines like Google ignore this directive, but many other crawlers respect it.
Can I import my existing robots.txt file?
Yes! Use our Robots.txt Validator to check your existing file, then click 'Enrich with Builder' to import it. You can then modify, enhance, or add more rules using the visual builder interface.
Where do I upload the robots.txt file?
Upload robots.txt to your website's root directory so it's accessible at https://yourdomain.com/robots.txt (not in subfolders). Most web servers and hosting platforms allow you to upload files to the root via FTP, cPanel, or their file manager.
Will blocking AI bots affect my SEO?
Blocking AI training bots (like GPTBot, CCBot, Google-Extended) does NOT affect your search engine rankings. These are separate from search engine crawlers like Googlebot and Bingbot. You can block AI bots while keeping search engines active.