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# How to add llms.txt to BigCommerce

BigCommerce gives you no true root access (all stores on the platform share the root directory), and it does not generate an llms.txt for you. The working pattern uses a documented BigCommerce page type: create a web page set to "Contain raw HTML entered in the text area below" so it renders as plain text, and enter `llms.txt` in the Page URL field. The result serves at \[yourdomain.com\]/llms.txt, replacing yourdomain.com with your actual domain.

## Why BigCommerce is different

This is the only major platform whose own documentation tells you to fake a root file with a web page. The WebDAV route you will see in forums (upload via Settings \> File Access, then a 301 redirect from Server Settings \> 301 Redirects) also works, but it adds a redirect hop and BigCommerce's documented method needs none. Note the platform-specific catch from the same docs: on multi-storefront setups, robot files can be managed per storefront, so check you are editing the storefront you mean.

## The file you are publishing

The full format lives in our llms.txt guide. This is the file itself, from a sample outdoor gear store:

```
# Cedar and Pine Outfitters
> Cedar and Pine Outfitters sells outdoor apparel and camping gear from its Seattle storefront, shipping across the US. Runs an in-house tent repair service and publishes beginner backpacking guides.
## Shop
- [Tents](https://[yourdomain.com]/collections/tents): Two-person and family tents, described by season rating and packed weight.
- [Sleeping bags](https://[yourdomain.com]/collections/sleeping-bags): Down and synthetic bags, described by temperature rating.
- [Backpacks](https://[yourdomain.com]/collections/backpacks): Day packs and multi-day packs, listed with capacity in liters.
## Guides
- [Backpacking checklist](https://[yourdomain.com]/pages/backpacking-checklist): Complete gear list for a first overnight trip.
- [Tent care and repair](https://[yourdomain.com]/pages/tent-repair): How the in-house repair service works, turnaround and pricing.
## Policies
- [Shipping and returns](https://[yourdomain.com]/pages/shipping-returns): Free shipping over 75 dollars. 60-day returns on unused gear.
## Optional
- [Journal](https://[yourdomain.com]/blogs/journal): Trip reports and gear maintenance notes.
```

## Steps

1.  Check first. Open \[yourdomain.com\]/llms.txt in a browser. If you already have a page or redirect there from an earlier attempt, decide which method you are keeping before creating another one.

1.  Create the page. In the control panel go to Storefront \> Web Pages and create a new web page. Set the page type to "Contain raw HTML entered in the text area below," enter `llms.txt` in the Page URL field, and paste your file contents into the text area. What goes in it is covered in our llms.txt guide; this step is purely the publishing mechanism.

1.  Publish and verify. Open \[yourdomain.com\]/llms.txt and confirm your Markdown renders as plain text. If it renders inside your store's template instead, the page type was not set to raw HTML; go back and fix that.

1.  Developer alternative. If you have a developer, they can upload the file over WebDAV (Settings \> File Access) and point a 301 redirect at it from Server Settings \> 301 Redirects, or serve /llms.txt from an edge worker in front of the store. For most merchants the web page method is enough.

### The fundamentals

-   •What goes in the file: your name, one-paragraph summary, and curated links with one-line descriptions, see our [llms.txt guide](https://aizii.ai/learn/ai-search/how-to-write-a-good-llms-txt-file)
-   •Crawler permissions live in robots.txt, never in llms.txt; on BigCommerce robots.txt is editable under Settings \> Website in the Search Engine Robots section, see our [robots.txt guide](https://aizii.ai/learn/ai-search/how-to-write-robots-txt-for-ai-search)
-   •The structured data behind the pages you link, see our [product schema guide](https://aizii.ai/learn/ai-search/how-to-add-product-schema-markup-for-ai-search)

### A hypothetical example

Say you run a BigCommerce store selling guitar pedals. You create the raw HTML page with Page URL set to llms.txt and paste in your curated file. Later you add a new "Modulation" category. The file does not update itself; it is a static page, and nobody will remind you. A scan flags that the file points at a category list you changed last quarter. The maintenance rule on BigCommerce is the same as everywhere: revisit the file when your catalog changes, because the platform will not do it for you.

## What this guide does not cover

BigCommerce's built-in AI crawler handling (its robots.txt already throttles known crawlers, which is a separate topic). Keeping the file current as categories change. Monitoring whether AI crawlers fetch the file or cite your store.

## Frequently Asked Questions

How do I host llms.txt on BigCommerce without root server access?

Upload the file to WebDAV in the content folder, and create a 301 URL redirect from /llms.txt to the uploaded asset path.

Will BigCommerce CDN headers serve llms.txt with the correct content type?

Yes. Plain text files uploaded via WebDAV are served with text/plain or text/markdown headers, which AI parsers readily ingest.

Can I edit llms.txt directly inside the BigCommerce admin?

Not directly in the text editor. You should edit the markdown file locally on your computer and re-upload it via WebDAV when details change.

## Check your own brand now

Run the free scan at aizii.ai/aeo-scan. One click, no signup, and it shows how readable your store is to AI tools today.

[Run the free scan](https://aizii.ai/aeo-audit)