WordPress and Robots.txt: A Perplexing Guide

WordPress is a popular content management system that is used by millions of websites worldwide. With a plethora of features and functionalities, WordPress grants its users the ability to create and manage a robots.txt file. The robots.txt file communicates with search engines and informs them which pages of the website should be crawled and indexed and which ones should not be. In some cases, you may need to remove the robots.txt file from your WordPress site. This article will guide you through the process of removing the robots.txt file from your WordPress site.

The Mystery of Robots.txt Unveiled

Robots.txt is a file that is inserted into the root directory of your website. Its primary function is to notify search engines which pages should be crawled and indexed while blocking pages that are not meant to be seen by the public. For instance, pages that are exclusively for members only. By using the robots.txt file, search engines are restricted from accessing such content.

Reasons for Removing Robots.txt

Although the robots.txt file is essential, there are incidences where you may need to remove it from your WordPress site.

• You want search engines to crawl and index all pages on your site
• The robots.txt file is impeding crucial pages that need to be crawled and indexed
• You want to test how search engine indexing works on your site
• You want to remove outdated content from your website

How to Remove Robots.txt from WordPress

If you need to remove the robots.txt file from your WordPress site, follow the steps below:

Step 1:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard

The first step is logging into your WordPress dashboard. From here, you can access your website files and settings. To log in, visit yourwebsiteurl.com/wp-admin/ and enter your login credentials.

Step 2:

Access the Root Directory of Your Website

Once you have logged into your WordPress dashboard, you need to access the root directory of your site. The root directory is the primary folder that accommodates all the site files and folders. To access the root directory, you can use an FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck. Once connected to your website via the FTP client, navigate to the root directory.

Step 3:

Locate the Robots.txt File

In the root directory of your website, locate the robots.txt file. If you cannot see the file, it may be hidden. To view hidden files in FileZilla, go to Server > Force Showing Hidden Files. In Cyberduck, go to View > Show Hidden Files.

Step 4:

Download a Backup Copy of the Robots.txt File

Before removing the robots.txt file from your WordPress site, make a backup copy of the file. This will ensure that you can restore the file if necessary. To download the backup copy of the file, right-click on it and select “Download.”

Step 5:

Delete the Robots.txt File

After making a backup copy of the robots.txt file, you can proceed to delete it from your WordPress site. To delete the file, right-click on it and select “Delete.”

Step 6:

Check Your Website for Indexing Errors

After removing the robots.txt file from your WordPress site, it is advisable to check for indexing errors. Use Google Search Console to confirm whether your site is being correctly indexed by search engines. If there are any indexing errors, you may need to make adjustments to your website to ensure that it is properly indexed.

Conclusion

Removing the robots.txt file from your WordPress site can sometimes appear to be perplexing. However, by following the steps provided in this guide, you can remove it without any difficulties. If you find the task too challenging, then don’t hesitate to seek assistance from a seasoned developer or WordPress expert.