Does blocking Google-Extended remove my site from Gemini citations?

Yes. Per Google's official docs, the Google-Extended robots.txt token controls both Gemini model training and grounding in Gemini Apps and Vertex AI, so blocking it also removes your pages from Gemini's grounding sources. It does not affect inclusion or ranking in Google Search.

Are Gemini and Google AI Overviews the same thing?

No. AI Overviews and AI Mode are features inside Google Search results, while Gemini is a separate assistant app. The controls differ too: AI Overviews follow existing search controls like nosnippet and noindex, whereas Gemini grounding is governed by the Google-Extended token.

What sources does Gemini cite in its answers?

The Gemini app grounds its answers with Google Search, so the pages it cites are public web pages from Google's search index. Grounded answers show a Sources button and inline links to the supporting pages. To be a candidate, your page must be indexed in Google Search and must not block the Google-Extended token in robots.txt.

Updated 2026-07-12

Frequently asked questions

What sources does Gemini cite in its answers?: Gemini grounds its answers with Google Search, so public web pages in Google's search index are its citation candidates. Grounded answers show a Sources button and inline links to the supporting pages, though not every response includes sources.
Does blocking Google-Extended remove my site from Gemini citations?: Yes. Per Google's official docs, the Google-Extended robots.txt token controls both Gemini model training and grounding in Gemini Apps and Vertex AI, so blocking it also removes your pages from Gemini's grounding sources. It does not affect inclusion or ranking in Google Search.
Are Gemini and Google AI Overviews the same thing?: No. AI Overviews and AI Mode are features inside Google Search results, while Gemini is a separate assistant app. The controls differ too: AI Overviews follow existing search controls like nosnippet and noindex, whereas Gemini grounding is governed by the Google-Extended token.