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- Why mark a source as preferred on Google
- How to add a preferred source in Google Discover and Google News
- What changes when you add a preferred source
- Managing and removing preferred sources
- How to pick trustworthy publishers for your feed
- Steps publishers can take to become a preferred source
- Common questions and quick fixes
Google lets you shape the news that reaches you. By marking outlets as preferred, you can boost the chances their stories appear in Google Discover and Google News. Below you’ll find clear steps, smart tips, and practical guidance for adding, managing, and choosing trusted sources so your feed reflects what matters to you.
Why mark a source as preferred on Google
Choosing a preferred source helps Google prioritize content from publishers you trust. It can make your feed more relevant and reduce noisy or low-quality stories.
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- Improves personalization: Google uses signals from preferred sources to refine recommendations.
- Favors reliable outlets: Your selection nudges the algorithm toward sources you value.
- Saves time: You see more useful stories and fewer irrelevant results.
How to add a preferred source in Google Discover and Google News
The process is quick. Options vary slightly by device, but the core steps are similar: locate the publisher, select preferences, and confirm.
On Android or iOS (Google app)
- Open the Google app and go to the Discover feed.
- Tap the three-dot menu on a story from the outlet you want to prefer.
- Select More stories from this publisher or Follow, depending on the prompt.
- Confirm by choosing Add as preferred source if shown.
On desktop (Google News)
- Visit news.google.com and search for the outlet name.
- Click the publication card or top result for that publisher.
- Look for a Follow or More button and choose to add it to your preferences.
What changes when you add a preferred source
Adding a preferred source signals Google to give that publisher more weight in your personalized feed. It does not guarantee every story will appear, but it increases visibility.
- Higher likelihood in Discover: Stories from preferred outlets appear more often.
- Priority in topic clusters: Coverage from preferred publishers may be shown first in related story groups.
- No absolute exclusivity: Algorithms still balance recency, relevance, and diversity.
Managing and removing preferred sources
You can update your choices at any time to fine-tune the feed.
- Open the Google app settings or Google News preferences.
- Find the Following or Sources section.
- Use the remove or unfollow option to delete a preferred source.
- Reorder or add new sources as your interests change.
How to pick trustworthy publishers for your feed
Not all outlets are equal. Use these criteria to select sources that improve your news experience.
- Reputation: Choose well-known, fact-checked publishers.
- Transparency: Prefer outlets that cite sources and correct errors.
- Topical fit: Follow specialized publishers for niche interests.
- Diversity: Balance viewpoints to avoid echo chambers.
Steps publishers can take to become a preferred source
Publishers that want higher visibility should focus on quality and discoverability.
- Publish accurate, timely reporting and clear bylines.
- Use structured data and metadata to help Google index content.
- Encourage readers to follow the outlet in Google News and the Google app.
- Keep site performance high on mobile and desktop.
Common questions and quick fixes
If you don’t see an effect after adding a preferred source, try these checks.
- Confirm you followed the outlet in the right Google product.
- Clear app cache or sign out and back in to refresh preferences.
- Ensure the publisher uses standard news markup and is indexed by Google.
- Remember personalization can take time as the algorithm learns your preferences.
