Google Ends Robots.txt Rule for Auto-Translated Pages

Google has recently updated its documentation by removing the recommendation to use robots.txt to block automatically translated web pages. This revision brings the technical guidance in line with Google’s broader spam policies that were introduced more than a year ago.

Previously, website owners were advised to prevent auto-translated pages from appearing in search results using robots.txt. However, Google now places greater importance on whether content offers value to users, rather than how it was created.

According to the updated guidance, website owners should now consider using meta tags, such as “noindex”, to prevent low-quality translations from being indexed—rather than blocking all automatically translated pages by default.

This shift reflects Google’s evolving approach to web content, emphasising quality and usefulness over technical restrictions. The tech giant has made it clear in its Search Central changelog that this is strictly a documentation change, and there has been no alteration in how its systems behave.

The adjustment encourages website operators to focus on improving the standard of translated content rather than hiding it altogether. This approach also opens the door for high-quality translations to be included in search results, as long as they meet the necessary standards.

Ultimately, Google’s updated stance aims to support useful multilingual content while discouraging the use of automatically generated pages that provide little to no value to users.

Why This Matters

While the recent removal of a few lines from Google’s documentation might appear insignificant, it actually signals a shift in the company’s attitude towards automated content.

The guidance was taken down because it no longer reflects Google’s current approach, particularly after the introduction of its “scaled content abuse” policies last year. These updated policies assess content based on the value it offers to users, rather than the method used to produce it.

This change has important implications for websites that publish content in multiple languages.

Previously, the recommendation was to block auto-translated pages using robots.txt and avoid letting such content appear in search results. This default stance assumed that machine translations were of lower quality.

Now, the focus has moved to assessing the quality of translations individually. Instead of applying blanket rules, site owners are encouraged to use more targeted tools—such as meta robots tags—to manage which pages are indexed.

It’s worth noting that Google never explicitly labelled all machine-translated content as spam. However, earlier guidance did lean towards restricting it entirely. The new policy encourages a more balanced, thoughtful approach that considers whether the content is actually helpful to readers.

In short, Google’s latest move promotes better multilingual content by supporting quality over the method of creation.

What to Do Now

Although Google isn’t advising website owners to change how they operate, it may still be wise to take a few practical steps in response to its latest update.

First, take a fresh look at your robots.txt file. If there are old rules blocking automatically translated content that could actually benefit users, consider removing them.

Next, focus on quality. Not every machine translation is accurate or helpful, so it’s important to set a standard. Keep high-quality translations live, and consider using the noindex tag for pages with poor or confusing translations.

Above all, think from the user’s perspective. Is your translated content genuinely useful for international visitors, or is it simply being used to boost search rankings with more keywords?

Lastly, aim to manage these decisions at the page level. Using meta tags like noindex gives you more control than blanket exclusions through robots.txt, helping you protect your SEO while still serving valuable content.

The Takeaway

Although the change to Google’s documentation might appear minor, it highlights how the company’s stance can evolve over time.

For SEO specialists managing multilingual websites, it serves as a timely reminder to remain flexible and prioritise strategies that genuinely benefit users.