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• Why mark a publisher as your preferred source on Google
• Step-by-step: How to add a preferred source on Google
  • Mobile vs. desktop differences
• How to manage or remove preferred sources
• Choosing reliable sources: practical advice
• Privacy and algorithm effects to consider
• Troubleshooting common problems
• When preferred sources won’t change your feed

If you want your favorite news outlet to appear first when you search on Google, you can now mark it as a preferred source. This setting helps tailor search results and news feeds to highlight outlets you trust. Below is a practical guide to adding, managing, and removing preferred sources on Google, plus tips for choosing reliable publishers.

Why mark a publisher as your preferred source on Google

Marking a preferred source changes how Google surfaces content for you. It nudges the algorithm to show articles from that publisher more prominently in Search and Google News. For people who follow specific outlets, this feature can reduce noise and surface more relevant reporting.

• Personalized results: Favored outlets get higher visibility in your feed.
• Faster access: Stories from your selected sources appear sooner in breaking-news situations.
• Control: You choose which publishers influence your search and news experience.

Step-by-step: How to add a preferred source on Google

Adding a preferred source can be done in a few clicks. The exact path varies by device and app version.

1. Open Google Search or the Google News app on your device.
2. Search for the publisher or find an article from that outlet.
3. Tap the three-dot menu next to the article or the publisher name.
4. Select Add as preferred source or a similar option.
5. Confirm your choice if prompted.

Mobile vs. desktop differences

• Mobile apps often show an inline option next to stories.
• On desktop, look for publisher controls within Google News or the search results card.
• If you don’t see the option, update the Google app or clear browser cookies and try again.

How to manage or remove preferred sources

You can update your selections anytime from Google settings. This is useful if your preferences change.

• Open Google app settings or visit news.google.com/preferences.
• Find the section for preferred or followed sources.
• To remove a source, click or tap the “remove” or “unfollow” option.
• To add more, repeat the add flow from the previous section.

Choosing reliable sources: practical advice

Not all publishers are equal. Use a few simple checks before marking any outlet as preferred.

• Look for transparency: Clear ownership, editorial staff, and contact information are good signs.
• Check reputation: Trusted outlets often have a track record for corrections and accountability.
• Compare coverage: See how multiple outlets report the same event.
• Watch for bias: Be mindful of editorial slants and choose a mix of perspectives if you want balance.

Privacy and algorithm effects to consider

When you add a preferred source, Google uses that preference to personalize results. This personalization is local to your account.

• Your choices become part of the signals that shape your feed.
• Google links preferences to your account and device settings.
• You can clear personalization by removing sources or adjusting privacy controls.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the preferred source option is missing or not working, try these fixes.

• Update the Google app and your device OS.
• Sign out and sign back into your Google account.
• Clear cache, cookies, or the app data and relaunch the app.
• If issues persist, check Google’s help center or the publisher’s support page.

When preferred sources won’t change your feed

Preferred sources improve relevance but do not guarantee exclusive visibility. Google still weighs timeliness, relevance, and diversity of coverage. Expect preferred outlets to be prioritized, not to replace all other results.

• Breaking news may still surface from multiple outlets.
• Local results and topics you don’t follow may rely on broader signals.
• Some regions and content types restrict personalization due to policy.