The llm.txt file goes in your website's root directory

The llm.txt file is a text file that tells AI language models and search engines what your website is about and how they should interact with it. It sits in the same folder as your homepage — the root directory — so that any crawler looking for it can find it at a predictable path: yoursite.com/llm.txt.

If your website runs on a typical hosting provider, the root directory is usually called public_html, www, or htdocs, depending on your host. You upload the llm.txt file there the same way you would upload an index.html or any other file to your website.

The file must be named exactly llm.txt — not llm.html, not LLM.txt, not llm-file.txt. The exact name and lowercase spelling matter because web servers are case-sensitive on most systems.

Key Takeaways

  • Upload llm.txt to your website's root directory so it appears at yoursite.com/llm.txt with no folder path in between.
  • The root directory is usually called public_html, www, or htdocs depending on your hosting provider — check your host's documentation if you are unsure.
  • Use FTP, SFTP, or your hosting control panel's file manager to upload the file, the same way you would upload any other website file.
  • The filename must be exactly llm.txt in lowercase; capitalization and spelling variations will not work.
  • Once uploaded, test that the file is accessible by visiting yoursite.com/llm.txt in your browser — you should see the file contents, not a 404 error.

How to find your root directory

Most hosting providers give you access to your files through a control panel like cPanel, Plesk, or a custom dashboard. Log in to your hosting account and look for a file manager or file browser option. This tool shows you the folder structure of your website.

The root directory is the top-level folder — the one that contains your homepage and any main folders like /images, /css, or /blog. If you see a folder called public_html or www, that is your root. If you see a folder called htdocs, that is your root. Some hosts label it differently, so check your host's documentation or contact their support if you cannot find it.

If you prefer to upload files using FTP or SFTP (a more direct method), connect to your server using an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck. The root directory is the first folder you see when you connect — the one that does not have a parent folder above it.

Uploading the llm.txt file using your hosting control panel

Most people find it easiest to use their hosting provider's built-in file manager. Log in to your hosting account, open the file manager, and navigate to the root directory. Look for an Upload button or option to create a new file.

If your control panel lets you create a file directly, select that option, name it llm.txt, and paste your content into the text editor. Save the file and you are done. If you must upload a file you created on your computer, click Upload, select your llm.txt file, and confirm.

After uploading, refresh the file manager view to confirm the file appears in the root directory. The file should show as llm.txt with a size in bytes — usually a few hundred to a few thousand bytes depending on how much content you included.

Uploading the llm.txt file using FTP or SFTP

If you use FTP or SFTP, download and install an FTP client like FileZilla (free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux). Open the client and enter your hosting provider's FTP credentials — usually your username, password, and server address. Your host provides these in your account dashboard or welcome email.

Once connected, you will see two panels: your local computer on the left and your server on the right. Navigate to the root directory on the right side (the top-level folder). On the left side, find your llm.txt file on your computer. Drag it from the left panel to the right panel, or right-click and select Upload.

The file will transfer to your server. Once the transfer completes, you should see llm.txt in the root directory on the right panel. Disconnect from the FTP server and test the file by visiting yoursite.com/llm.txt in your browser.

Testing that your llm.txt file is in the right place

After uploading, open a web browser and go to yoursite.com/llm.txt (replace yoursite.com with your actual domain). If the file is in the correct location, your browser will display the contents of the file as plain text. If you see a 404 error or a blank page, the file is either in the wrong folder or has the wrong filename.

If you get a 404 error, go back to your file manager and confirm that llm.txt is in the root directory, not in a subfolder like /public or /website. Check the filename spelling and capitalization — it must be exactly llm.txt. If the file is in the right place and has the right name, wait a few minutes and try again, as some servers take a moment to recognize newly uploaded files.

Some hosting providers cache files, which means your browser might show an old version of the file even after you upload a new one. If you update the file and the changes do not appear, clear your browser cache or open the URL in a private or incognito window to see the fresh version.

What to do if you cannot access your root directory

If your hosting control panel does not show a file manager or you cannot find the root directory, contact your hosting provider's support team. They can tell you the exact folder path and may be able to upload the file for you. Most hosts respond to support requests within a few hours.

If you use a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com (the hosted version), you may not have direct access to the root directory. In that case, check your platform's documentation for where to place custom files. Some builders have a specific section for adding files to your site root, while others may not support llm.txt at all.

If you run WordPress on your own hosting (WordPress.org, not WordPress.com), upload llm.txt to the same folder that contains wp-config.php and the wp-content folder. This is your WordPress root directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my website is in a subfolder, not the root?

If your website is at yoursite.com/myblog instead of yoursite.com, place llm.txt in the /myblog folder, not the main root. The file should be accessible at yoursite.com/myblog/llm.txt. Check your hosting documentation to confirm where your website files actually live.

Do I need to change file permissions after uploading?

Usually no. Most hosting providers set the correct permissions automatically when you upload a text file. If visitors see a 403 Forbidden error instead of the file contents, the permissions may be too restrictive. Set the file permissions to 644 using your file manager or FTP client, which makes it readable by everyone but editable only by you.

Can I put llm.txt in a subfolder like /files or /docs?

No. Search engines and AI crawlers look for llm.txt specifically at yoursite.com/llm.txt. If you place it in a subfolder, they will not find it. It must be in the root directory with no folder path between the domain and the filename.

What happens if I upload the file but forget to make it public?

If the file is not publicly readable, visitors and crawlers will see a 403 Forbidden error or a 404 error. Use your file manager to check the file's permissions and make sure it is set to be readable by the public. The exact steps depend on your hosting provider, but most file managers show a Permissions or Properties option.

How often should I update my llm.txt file?

Update it whenever your website's purpose, content focus, or interaction guidelines change. There is no set schedule. Most sites update it once and leave it alone unless their business model or content strategy shifts significantly. Crawlers check for updates regularly, so changes take effect within days.