Don't use Google-Extended to control Search; it only governs Gemini training and grounding
| Impact | Evidence | Applies to | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Official guidance | Google, Gemini | Oct 30, 2026 |
Why it matters
Google states that Google-Extended does not affect inclusion in Google Search and is not a ranking signal. It controls whether crawled content is used to train Gemini models and for Gemini grounding. AI Overviews and AI Mode are governed by Googlebot access, snippet controls and the Search Console generative AI setting instead.
How to do it
- Disallow Google-Extended only if you want out of Gemini training and grounding
- To limit AI Overviews and AI Mode, use nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet or the Search Console generative AI control
- Keep Googlebot allowed for anything you want in Search
Sources
- Google's common crawlers · Google Search Central
- AI features and your website · Google Search Central, Dec 10, 2025
Change history
| Date | Change | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 | Added | Added to the rulebook. |
Checked against its sources every Monday. Only content changes are listed.