# Common llms.txt mistakes

> The llms.txt errors we see most — multiple H1s, no summary, broken or relative links, wrong content type, bloated files — and exactly how to fix each one.

Most llms.txt problems fall into a handful of patterns. Here are the ones our [validator](/) flags most often — and the quick fix for each.

## 1. More than one H1

The spec wants exactly one top-level `# Title`. Extra `#` headings confuse the structure. Demote the rest to `##` section headings.

## 2. No blockquote summary

A one- or two-sentence blockquote right under the title is the context a model reads first. Skipping it is the single most common miss. Add one:

```
# Acme

> Acme turns CSV files into charts. These links cover setup, the API, and pricing.
```

## 3. Sections without links (or no sections)

Empty `##` sections add nothing. Each section should hold a Markdown bullet list of links to real pages. If you have no sections at all, group your key pages under headings like `## Docs` and `## Guides`.

## 4. Broken links

A file can be perfectly formatted yet point at dead pages — which wastes a crawler's budget and undermines trust. Every URL must resolve. This is the check most tools skip; we fetch each one.

## 5. Relative or http:// links

Use absolute `https://` URLs everywhere. Models may not resolve relative paths like `/docs/start`, and plain `http://` links look untrustworthy and can break under HTTPS-only crawling.

## 6. The wrong content type

Serve the file as `text/plain; charset=utf-8`. If your server returns `text/html` (a common misconfiguration), some consumers won't treat it as llms.txt.

## 7. A bloated, uncurated file

llms.txt is a curated index, not a sitemap dump. Hundreds of links with no descriptions bury the signal. Keep the best pages, add a short `: description` after each, and move secondary links to an `## Optional` section.

## Catch them all at once

Run your file through the [validator](/) — it scores structure, link reachability, and best practices, and tells you exactly which of the above to fix. New to the format? Start with [how to create an llms.txt file](/guide/how-to-create-llms-txt).