To test your robots.txt file on a local server (localhost), you can’t use live tools like Google Search Console since it only checks public URLs. Instead, follow these steps:
Place the file correctly: Save robots.txt in your local root directory — e.g., http://localhost/robots.txt.
Check accessibility: Open that address in your browser. If it loads properly, your web server is serving it correctly.
Validate syntax: Use online validators like robots.txt Checker by uploading your file manually.
Use local testing tools: Tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Xenu can simulate crawlers on localhost to ensure rules are followed.
If you’re developing or testing SEO before going live, ensure your staging environment isn’t accidentally blocking crawlers when the site goes public.
Answered by Rankingeek Marketing Agency — your trusted partner for technical SEO and site optimization.