WordPress doesn't have a native robots.txt editor in core, so you have three main options. First, if you're running Yoast SEO or Rank Math, navigate to Settings > Reading and scroll down to find their robots.txt editor. This creates a virtual robots.txt file that WordPress serves dynamically. It's the quickest method for most users and requires no FTP access. Second, you can create a physical robots.txt file and upload it to your site's root directory (the same folder as wp-config.php) using FTP, SFTP, or your hosting control panel's file manager. This file will override any virtual version generated by plugins. Third, some hosting providers like WP Engine or Kinsta have their own robots.txt management tools in their dashboards. The physical file method gives you complete control and works even if plugins fail, which is why we default to it at Ottawa SEO for client sites in the 500+ domain portfolio. Upload a plain text file named exactly "robots.txt" with no file extension issues. You can edit it directly through cPanel's File Manager text editor or download, edit locally, and re-upload. Critical point: if a physical robots.txt exists in your root directory, WordPress and all plugins ignore their virtual versions entirely. To check which one is active, visit yoursite.com/robots.txt in a browser. If you see outdated rules, you likely have a forgotten physical file overriding your plugin settings. Delete or edit that file via FTP. For sites we manage, we typically use the physical file approach because it's plugin-agnostic, survives migrations cleanly, and avoids surprises when a plugin updates. The virtual method works fine for single-site owners who want quick edits without technical access, but always verify what's actually being served by visiting the URL directly. Both methods are equally valid from Google's perspective as long as the file is accessible and properly formatted.