Installation

This guide will walk you through installing Better Robots.txt on your WordPress site.

Requirements

Before installing, ensure your WordPress site meets these requirements:

• WordPress version: 4.1 or higher
• PHP version: 7.4 or higher
• Access: Administrator access to WordPress dashboard
• Storage: 10MB free space for plugin files

Installation Methods

Method 1: WordPress.org Directory (Recommended)

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to Plugins → Add New
3. Search for "Better Robots.txt"
4. Click Install Now on the plugin by Pagup
5. Click Activate after installation completes

Method 2: Manual Upload

1. Download the plugin from WordPress.org
2. Unzip the downloaded file to your computer
3. Connect to your website via FTP or file manager
4. Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/
5. Upload the better-robots-txt folder
6. Log in to WordPress and activate the plugin

Method 3: Direct Download

1. Visit the Better Robots.txt WordPress.org page
2. Click Download button
3. Follow Method 2 steps 2-6

Post-Installation Setup

1. Initial Configuration

After activation, you'll see a new menu item:

1. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Better Robots.txt → Settings
2. The plugin will automatically detect your current setup and suggest optimal settings
3. Review the default configuration and make any desired changes
4. Click Save Changes

2. Freemius Setup (Optional)

Better Robots.txt uses Freemius for premium features:

1. You'll see an opt-in screen after activation
2. Free Version: Click "Skip" to continue with free features
3. Pro Version: Click "Allow & Continue" to unlock premium features

Why Opt-In?

Opting in allows us to:

• Provide automatic updates
• Offer priority support
• Send security notifications
• Share feature announcements

3. Verify Installation

To verify your robots.txt is working:

1. Visit https://yoursite.com/robots.txt
2. You should see the generated robots.txt content
3. Check that it contains the Better Robots.txt signature

# This robots.txt file was created by Better Robots.txt (Index & Rank Booster by Pagup) Plugin

Common Installation Issues

Plugin Installation Failed

Problem: WordPress shows "Installation failed: Could not create directory"

Solutions:

• Check WordPress file permissions
• Ensure /wp-content/plugins/ is writable (755 permissions)
• Try manual installation method

White Screen After Activation

Problem: Website shows white screen after plugin activation

Solutions:

1. Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php:

   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

2. Check PHP version - requires PHP 7.4+
3. Deactivate conflicting plugins
4. Switch to a default theme temporarily

robots.txt Not Found

Problem: yoursite.com/robots.txt returns 404 error

Solutions:

1. Check WordPress privacy settings:

   • Go to Settings → Reading
   • Ensure "Discourage search engines..." is unchecked

2. Verify permalink structure:

   • Go to Settings → Permalinks
   • Save settings (no changes needed)

3. Check .htaccess file:

   <Files robots.txt>
       Allow from all
   </Files>

Plugin Settings Not Saving

Problem: Changes in settings don't save

Solutions:

1. Clear WordPress cache
2. Check PHP version compatibility
3. Verify user permissions (must be Administrator)
4. Disable caching plugins temporarily

Uninstallation

If you need to remove Better Robots.txt:

Safe Removal

1. Backup your settings (screenshot or copy configuration)
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find "Better Robots.txt" and click Deactivate
4. Click Delete to remove completely

Preserve Settings During Removal

To keep your robots.txt configuration after deactivation:

1. Go to Better Robots.txt → Settings
2. Scroll to Advanced Options
3. Uncheck "Remove settings on uninstall"
4. Save changes before deactivation

Migration from Other Robots.txt Plugins

Switching from another robots.txt plugin? Better Robots.txt automatically:

• Detects existing robots.txt files
• Imports current settings when possible
• Backups original configuration
• Provides migration recommendations

Physical Files

If you have a physical robots.txt file in your root directory, the plugin will suggest removing it for virtual generation, or convert it for Pro version users.

Getting Help

If you encounter issues during installation:

• Support Forum: WordPress.org Support
• Documentation: Continue reading these guides
• Premium Support: Available for Pro version users
• Contact: Through the plugin's support page

Next Steps

After successful installation:

1. 📖 Read the Quick Start Guide
2. ⚙️ Configure your Basic Settings
3. 🚀 Explore Pro Features (if applicable)
4. 🎯 Check our Examples for common use cases

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Need help? Visit our Support Forum or check our Troubleshooting Guide.