What Is LLMs.txt A Guide to Its Role and Generation Process
If you own a website or manage digital content, there’s a new file you should probably know about — LLMs.txt.
Don’t worry, it’s not some technical gimmick or another search engine trend. It’s a straightforward way to protect your content from being used by companies that train large-scale language models. In a digital world where your blog posts, service pages, and product descriptions are increasingly at risk of being copied or repurposed, this small file can offer you a bit of control — and a lot of peace of mind.
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
So, What Exactly Is LLMs.txt?
LLMs.txt is a plain-text file you place on your website to tell content-hungry bots what they can and can’t use from your site.
Think of it like setting boundaries. Not for search engines like Google or Bing — that’s what robots.txt does — but for crawlers that belong to companies building language-based tools, assistants, and data models.
For example, OpenAI (the team behind ChatGPT) and Google’s Gemini have bots that crawl the web to collect publicly available information. With LLMs.txt, you can now say:
“Hey, you can crawl this section of my website — but stay out of the rest.”
Or even:
“No thanks, I don’t want my content being used at all.”
Simple. Direct. Effective.
Why Should You Care?
Here’s the reality: your content is valuable. Whether you’ve written a 3,000-word product guide, a deeply researched blog post, or unique service descriptions — it took time, energy, and creativity.
Without LLMs.txt, your site might be crawled by third-party bots, and your content could end up feeding tools or platforms without your consent or credit.
Using LLMs.txt doesn’t stop every crawler out there, but it sends a clear message to the ones that respect digital rights — and that’s a good place to start.
Where Does This File Go?
Just like robots.txt, the LLMs.txt file lives in the root directory of your website.
For example:
This location ensures that bots can easily find and read your rules before crawling your content.
What Goes Inside LLMs.txt?
The syntax is refreshingly simple.
You list the name of the bot (also called a “user agent”) and whether you want to allow or disallow them from accessing your site.
Sample LLMs.txt:
In this example:
You’re telling GPTBot (used by OpenAI) to stay away.
But giving Google-Extended the green light.
You can customize this for each crawler based on your comfort level and digital strategy.
Major Bots That Currently Respect LLMs.txt
Here are some of the most recognized language model crawlers you can control:
| Bot Name | Used By | User-Agent |
|---|---|---|
| GPTBot | OpenAI | GPTBot |
| Google-Extended | Google-Extended | |
| ClaudeBot | Anthropic | ClaudeBot |
| CCBot | Common Crawl | CCBot |
| YouBot | You.com | YouBot |
| CohereBot | Cohere | CohereBot |
Why LLMs.txt Is Different From Robots.txt
You might be thinking — wait, don’t I already use robots.txt?
Yes, but they’re not the same thing. Here’s the difference:
| Feature | robots.txt | llms.txt |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Controls search engine crawlers | Controls language model/data crawlers |
| Affects SEO? | Yes | No (unless misused) |
| Example Use Case | Hiding admin pages from Google | Blocking data collection by GPTBot |
| File Location | /robots.txt | /llms.txt |
Bottom line: they work together, not against each other.
How to Create and Upload an LLMs.txt File
No fancy software or coding required. Just follow these steps:
Open Notepad or any text editor
Type your directives (as shown above)
Save the file as
llms.txtUpload it to the root folder of your website
If you’re using WordPress, this can be done via FTP or File Manager in your hosting panel.
Double-check the URL:
It should be accessible like this:https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt
That’s it. You’re done.
Does This Really Work?
It depends on who you’re trying to block.
Reputable companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are respecting LLMs.txt as part of broader industry discussions around digital ethics and copyright.
That said, not every bot will follow your rules — just like not every spam email ends up in the junk folder. But implementing LLMs.txt is a strong step forward. And in many cases, it will be enough to prevent your content from being used without your permission.
SEO Isn’t Dead — It’s Evolving
There’s a lot of chatter online about “SEO being dead.” But let’s be real: SEO isn’t dying — it’s evolving fast. Traditional search engine optimization is shifting from just ranking on Google to optimizing for AI responses (AEO), voice search, geo-targeted results, and multimodal platforms.
If you’re still only focusing on 10 blue links, you’re missing where attention is really going.
Smart marketers today are retooling their strategies to match this new landscape — and LLMs.txt is part of that shift.
It’s time to optimize not just for search, but for visibility across platforms that summarize, suggest, and surface content in new ways.
Final Thoughts
The internet is changing. It’s no longer just about search visibility — it’s also about data responsibility.
LLMs.txt gives website owners, marketers, and content creators a voice in how their content is used beyond traditional SEO. Whether you want to share your content freely or protect it from being used to train language-based platforms, the power is finally in your hands.
And in the world of digital strategy, control is everything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
❓ What is LLMs.txt used for?
LLMs.txt is a file you add to your website to control how large language model bots (like those from Google, OpenAI, or Anthropic) interact with your content. It allows you to allow or block specific bots from crawling your site.
❓ Does LLMs.txt affect my Google rankings?
No, LLMs.txt does not affect your SEO or search rankings. It works independently of robots.txt and is used to control access by AI-related crawlers — not traditional search engine bots.
❓ Is it mandatory to use LLMs.txt?
No, it’s optional. But if you’re serious about content rights, brand control, or ethical data usage, it’s a smart and proactive choice.
❓ Where do I upload the LLMs.txt file?
Upload it to the root directory of your domain — the same place as robots.txt. It should be accessible at:
❓ Which bots can I block with LLMs.txt?
You can block crawlers like:
GPTBot (OpenAI)
Google-Extended (Google)
ClaudeBot (Anthropic)
CohereBot (Cohere)
YouBot (You.com)
…and more, depending on who is crawling your site.
❓ Can LLMs.txt prevent all bots from using my content?
No. It only works with bots that respect the protocol. Some third-party or unethical crawlers may ignore it, so additional server-level protections may be needed in high-risk cases.