diff --git a/src/check-project/files/.github/dependabot.yml b/src/check-project/files/.github/dependabot.yml
index d401a7746..0fac67c8e 100644
--- a/src/check-project/files/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/src/check-project/files/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 version: 2
 updates:
 - package-ecosystem: npm
-  directory: "/"
+  directories:
+    - "/"
+    - "/benchmarks/*"
+    - "/docs/*"
+    - "/examples/*"
+    - "/interop/*"
+    - "/packages/*"
   schedule:
     interval: daily
     time: "10:00"
@@ -9,3 +15,17 @@ updates:
   commit-message:
     prefix: "deps"
     prefix-development: "deps(dev)"
+  groups:
+    helia-deps: # group all deps that should be updated when Helia deps need updated
+      patterns:
+        - "*helia*"
+        - "*libp2p*"
+        - "*multiformats*"
+    store-deps: # group all blockstore and datastore updates (interface & impl)
+      patterns:
+        - "*blockstore*"
+        - "*datastore*"
+    kubo-deps: # group kubo, kubo-rpc-client, and ipfsd-ctl updates
+      patterns:
+        - "*kubo*"
+        - "ipfsd-ctl"