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Want your favorite news outlet to appear more often in Google News and Discover? Google lets users prioritize sources so content from trusted publishers surfaces first. Below you’ll find clear steps, tips, and troubleshooting to make a news source a preferred one in Google’s ecosystem.
Why choose a preferred source in Google
Setting a preferred source helps tailor the articles and updates you see. Google uses this signal to rank and surface content in Discover and News.
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- More visibility: Posts from your chosen publisher appear more frequently.
- Better relevance: You get stories aligned with your interests.
- Control over recommendations: It refines the algorithm’s suggestions.
How to add a preferred source in the Google app
The steps vary by device. Below are the most common paths for Android and iOS.
On Android
- Open the Google app and tap your profile icon.
- Go to Settings > News or Discover settings.
- Find the section for Sources or Preferences.
- Search for the publisher name and tap to follow or mark as preferred.
On iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Google app and open Settings from the profile menu.
- Choose News or Discover settings.
- Use the Source controls to add or prioritize outlets.
- Confirm your selection to save the preference.
How Google uses your preferred sources
Adding a preferred source is one signal among many. Google still evaluates timeliness, relevance, and quality.
- Preferred sources get a boost in Discover feeds.
- They can influence the type of stories shown in News tabs.
- But Google balances this with personalization and content freshness.
Best practices for picking reliable publishers
Choose sources that are accurate, transparent, and consistent. Here are selection tips.
- Pick outlets with clear authorship and editorial standards.
- Prefer publishers with a strong track record of factual reporting.
- Include a mix of local and national sources for balanced coverage.
Managing and editing your preferred sources
You can update or remove preferences any time through the Google app. Keep your list current.
- Open Settings > News or Discover.
- Review your saved sources and reorder or remove them.
- Refreshing your list helps Google refine future recommendations.
Common problems and how to fix them
If a source won’t stick as preferred, try these quick fixes.
- Sign out and sign back into the Google app.
- Clear app cache or update the Google app.
- Ensure the publisher is indexed by Google News.
- Verify location settings if regional editions differ.
Privacy and personalization notes
Choosing preferred sources affects only the recommendations you see. It does not change how Google indexes the public web.
- Your preferences are stored in your Google account.
- You can disable personalization if you prefer neutral results.
