Google-Extended robots.txt: Control Gemini Use Without Blocking Search

Google-Extended is a standalone robots.txt control token for Gemini model training and grounding. Blocking it does not block Googlebot, remove pages from Google Search, or act as a Google Search ranking signal.

Public content remaining available to web search while a separate Gemini training and grounding route is blocked

Copy-paste robots.txt example

User-agent: Googlebot
Allow: /

User-agent: Google-Extended
Disallow: /

What Google-Extended controls

Google-Extended is a standalone robots.txt product token. Publishers can use it to manage whether content Google crawls may be used for training future Gemini models and for grounding Gemini experiences with content from the Google Search index.

It is not a separate crawler with its own HTTP user-agent string. Google explains that crawling is performed with existing Google user agents, while Google-Extended acts as the control token inside robots.txt. That is why you should not expect to find a distinct Google-Extended bot string in server logs.

Block Gemini use without blocking Google Search

The example below keeps Googlebot allowed while disallowing Google-Extended. Google states that a Google-Extended preference does not affect inclusion in Google Search and is not used as a Google Search ranking signal.

This makes Google-Extended useful when your policy is: keep normal search visibility, but opt out of the specified Gemini training and grounding uses. For a broader multi-agent configuration, see the allow search, block AI training template.

Do not block the wrong token

User-agent: Googlebot controls Google Search crawling. User-agent: Google-Extended controls the separate Gemini-related uses described by Google. Replacing Google-Extended with Googlebot would be a materially different decision and could prevent Google from crawling affected pages for Search.

A broad User-agent: * rule can also override your intended selective policy. Run the final file through the checker and inspect the live response at /robots.txt.

Whole-site and path-level rules

Use Disallow: / to apply the preference to the whole host, or specify selected directories when only part of the site should be excluded. Remember that robots.txt is scoped per host, protocol, and port, so subdomains require their own files.

Operational notes

  • Do not search your access logs for a separate Google-Extended crawler string.
  • Keep Googlebot rules explicit when search visibility matters.
  • Use the Google-Extended template for a simple opt-out.
  • Read Google-Extended vs Googlebot before changing an existing Google group.

FAQ

Does blocking Google-Extended block Google Search?

No. Google states that Google-Extended does not affect a site’s inclusion in Google Search and is not used as a Search ranking signal.

Is Google-Extended a separate crawler in server logs?

No. Google says it has no separate HTTP user-agent string; existing Google user agents perform the crawling and Google-Extended acts as a robots.txt control token.

What products are affected by Google-Extended?

Google documents it as a control for content use in training future Gemini models and for grounding in Gemini Apps and the Vertex AI API for Gemini.

Can I block only part of my site from Google-Extended?

Yes. Use path-specific Disallow directives under the Google-Extended group instead of blocking the entire host.

Do subdomains need separate Google-Extended rules?

Yes. Robots.txt applies to a specific host, protocol, and port, so each relevant subdomain needs its own robots.txt file.

Related tools

Related pages

Google Search route remaining open while a separate Google-Extended AI use route is blocked Block Google-Extended robots.txt Template

Add a Google-Extended Disallow group to restrict eligible content from Gemini model training and grounding uses. Google-Extended is a control token rather than a separate HTTP crawler, and Google states that blocking it does not affect inclusion or ranking in Google Search.

Google Search crawling remaining open while a separate Gemini content-use route is disabled Google-Extended vs Googlebot: Search and Gemini Control

Googlebot is the crawler used for Google Search and related search features. Google-Extended is a standalone robots.txt control token, not a separate HTTP crawler identity; it governs whether Google-crawled content may be used for Gemini model training and grounding. You can allow Googlebot while disallowing Google-Extended without opting out of Google Search.

Website blocking selected AI training and dataset routes while keeping search discovery open robots.txt for AI Training: Build a Selective Opt-Out

To restrict AI training access, identify each provider’s exact training or dataset token and disallow it in a dedicated robots.txt group. Keep search crawlers in separate allowed groups, treat product-control tokens such as Google-Extended according to their documentation, and use authentication or server-side controls when access must be enforced.

Website allowing an AI search discovery route while blocking a separate model-training route How to Allow AI Search but Block AI Training

Use separate User-agent groups for each purpose: allow AI search crawlers such as OAI-SearchBot and Claude-SearchBot, while disallowing training-oriented crawlers such as GPTBot and ClaudeBot. These controls are independent, so do not block an entire provider when your goal is only to opt out of training.

Robots.txt generator controls and a generated rules document AI Robots.txt Generator

Choose a policy mode, enter your website and sitemap, add any path or crawler overrides, then generate and download a robots.txt file. Publish it at the root of the correct host and verify the live rules with the checker before relying on them.