Google AIO SEO

Good GEO is good SEO !

llms.txt

llms.txt file

llms.txt is a file proposed at a site’s root to steer LLMs toward the content considered relevant. It is an unofficial standard that Google Search ignores, as its May 15, 2026 guide states: John Mueller had already said in June 2025 that no AI system used it.

Standalone definition · 47 words

Category: GEO & AI engines · Published on October 16, 2026 · Updated on October 17, 2026 · By Aslane Samai, SEO & GEO consultant

What is llms.txt and where does it come from?

The proposal, published at llmstxt.org, describes a Markdown file at the site root that lists important pages with short descriptions. Unlike robots.txt, it does not control access: it guides. No major provider has announced reading it for search.

What do Google and the data say?

Mueller wrote on Bluesky on June 17, 2025 that no AI system used llms.txt, and Gary Illyes said Google did not support it. Google’s official guide “Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search” (May 15, 2026, updated July 10) lists it among the tactics to ignore: Google Search does not use these files, which neither help nor harm visibility. Log analyses relayed by trade press show very few requests for this file. It should not be confused with a visibility lever.

Should you create one?

Not for visibility in AI search engines: low cost, unproven benefit. It may be of interest for technical documentation consumed by coding assistants or agents. Time is better spent on HTML accessibility and standalone passages.

Frequently asked questions

Does llms.txt replace robots.txt?

No. robots.txt controls access, llms.txt is a proposal for guidance.

Does llms.txt improve citations?

No public evidence. Google says Google Search ignores these files: they neither help nor harm visibility (Search Central guide, May 15, 2026).

Can it hurt?

Not in itself, but it adds a file to maintain with no demonstrated effect.