Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Robots.txt can ask compliant crawlers not to fetch specified parts of a public website, but it cannot reliably stop every AI crawler or protect private content. It is a published crawler preference, not an access-control system. If you need to keep pages private, require authentication or enforce access restrictions at the application or network layer.
What does robots.txt actually control?
A site’s robots.txt file lives at its top-level path, such as https://example.com/robots.txt. It groups instructions by crawler identity and specifies URL paths that matching crawlers should or should not fetch. Under the Robots Exclusion Protocol, a crawler that successfully downloads the file is expected to follow its parseable rules.
RFC 9309, the Internet standard published in September 2022, is explicit: “These rules are not a form of access authorization.” A robots.txt entry does not authenticate visitors, prevent a noncompliant client from requesting a public URL, or control what happens to content a crawler has already obtained.
How matching works
A group starts with a User-agent line and is followed by Allow and/or Disallow path rules. A crawler looks for a matching product token without regard to capitalization; if it finds no specific group, it uses the * group if one exists. If no group applies, no rule applies.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
When rules overlap, the most specific matching path wins, measured by the number of octets in the match. If an Allow and Disallow rule are equally specific, the standard says to use Allow. The syntax also supports * as a wildcard and $ as an end-of-match marker. The robots.txt path itself is implicitly allowed.
What happens if the file cannot be read?
RFC 9309 distinguishes an unavailable file from an unreachable one. For an unavailable response such as a 4xx, a crawler may access resources. If server or network errors make the file unreachable, the standard says the crawler must assume complete disallow. It also says crawlers should generally not use a cached copy for more than 24 hours unless the file is unreachable. These are protocol requirements, not proof that every bot implements them identically.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
How do I write a robots.txt rule for AI crawlers?
First decide which crawler and which paths you mean. There is no universal “block AI” directive: providers use different tokens for model-related collection, search, and user-directed retrieval. A rule for one token does not automatically apply to another provider’s bots or to a provider’s other products.
For example, this file asks the named crawlers not to fetch any path on the site, while leaving other crawlers unaffected by these specific groups:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
User-agent: GPTBot
Disallow: /
User-agent: OAI-SearchBot
Allow: /
User-agent: Google-Extended
Disallow: /
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Disallow: /This is an illustration of syntax, not a universal recommendation. Check each provider’s current documentation and choose rules that match the intended use. If the goal is to exclude only a section, replace / with the relevant path, such as /members/. A broad Disallow: / tells a compliant matching crawler not to fetch the whole site.
Which AI crawler controls affect search or retrieval?
Provider controls differ in both purpose and effect. The names and behavior are subject to change; the distinctions below reflect the providers’ documentation available on October 7, 2026.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Provider token or agent | Documented purpose | What opting out means |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI: GPTBot | Content collection that may be used to train foundation models. | Disallowing GPTBot addresses this documented collection purpose; it is not the same control as blocking ChatGPT search crawling. |
| OpenAI: OAI-SearchBot | Crawling to surface websites in ChatGPT search features. | OpenAI says opting out removes a site from ChatGPT search answers, although it may still appear as a navigational link. The documentation says updates may take about 24 hours to affect search systems. |
| OpenAI: ChatGPT-User | Some requests initiated by ChatGPT users. | OpenAI says robots.txt rules may not apply to these user-initiated requests. |
| Google: Google-Extended | A standalone robots.txt product token governing whether crawled content may be used for specified Gemini model training and grounding purposes. | Google says this token does not affect inclusion in Google Search and is not a Google Search ranking signal. It is not a separate HTTP request user-agent. |
| Anthropic: ClaudeBot | Collection that could contribute to model training. | Anthropic says its bots honor robots.txt; disabling ClaudeBot addresses this documented collection use. |
| Anthropic: Claude-User | User-directed web retrieval. | Disabling it affects that retrieval use, rather than serving as a general private-content control. |
| Anthropic: Claude-SearchBot | Improving search results. | Disabling it affects the search-related use described by Anthropic. |
OpenAI documents separate controls for these agents, so a site can, for example, allow OAI-SearchBot while disallowing GPTBot. Google’s Google-Extended token is a product control rather than a distinct crawler identity making a separate HTTP request. Anthropic describes separate agents for collection, search, and user-directed retrieval and says its bots honor robots.txt. These distinctions are specific to each provider’s documented systems, not a shared industry-wide standard.
What can robots.txt not do?
- Keep a public page secret. A Disallow rule does not stop a person or an uncooperative bot from requesting a publicly accessible URL. RFC 9309 recommends using a valid application-layer security measure to control access.
- Guarantee compliance. The protocol sets expectations for crawlers that choose to honor it; the file itself cannot enforce those expectations on a client.
- Revoke content already collected. A crawl-time preference does not, by itself, establish how previously obtained material will be used later. The IAB AI-CONTROL Workshop report discusses the difficulty of carrying crawl preferences through later uses of training data and into inference; this is a workshop concern, not a legal conclusion.
- Express every author’s preference or follow copied content. The IAB report notes that a site-level file is usually controlled by the site administrator, may be too coarse for a large multi-author service, and does not automatically travel with content copied to another site.
- Cover every product route with one vendor token. The separate OpenAI and Anthropic agents illustrate why the specific token and use matter.
How should I choose between robots.txt and stronger restrictions?
Match the control to the outcome you need. A crawler preference can help reduce fetching by compliant bots; limiting search visibility is a separate decision; preventing public access requires an actual access control. Blocking or paywalling crawlers can also have collateral effects when the same crawl supports multiple uses, as the IAB workshop report notes.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesQuick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
- For a specific public path: Add a
Disallowrule for the relevant crawler token and path, then check that the group selection and path specificity do what you intend. - To retain a particular search presence: Identify the provider’s search-oriented token separately from any training-related token. For example, OpenAI documents OAI-SearchBot and GPTBot as separate controls; opting out of the former has a stated effect on ChatGPT search answers.
- For genuinely private material: Put the content behind authentication or another effective application- or network-layer restriction. Do not rely on robots.txt. A Disallow entry is publicly visible and can reveal the path you hoped to hide.
- For active bot restrictions: Consider selective network- or application-layer blocking, such as bot-management controls, while accounting for the care needed to identify traffic and avoid blocking wanted services.
- For changing vendor behavior: Verify the current token names and consequences in the provider’s own documentation before changing rules. Google’s documentation lists a last-updated date of July 14, 2026, and Anthropic’s crawler guidance is dated April 7, 2026; OpenAI’s crawler guidance was accessed October 7, 2026.
What to check before publishing a robots.txt change
- Confirm the file is served from the site’s top-level
/robots.txtpath. - Use the exact product token documented by the provider, and account for any other agents with a different purpose.
- Check that the path rule is no broader than intended and that overlapping Allow/Disallow rules resolve as expected.
- Decide whether the goal is reduced fetching, a change in search visibility, or access restriction; these are not interchangeable outcomes.
- Remember that robots.txt is public and does not secure the listed paths.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
