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- How to mark a publisher as preferred on Google
- Why choose a preferred source: benefits for readers
- What publishers need to do to appear as a choice
- Troubleshooting when the option doesn’t appear
- Privacy and personalization: what you should know
- Tips to get the most from preferred sources
- How this impacts discovery and traffic for publishers
If you want Google to surface more stories from a specific outlet, you can tell the platform to prioritize that publisher. Many readers and publishers now use this setting to shape what appears in Google Discover and Google News. The process is simple, but it varies by device, account, and publisher status.
How to mark a publisher as preferred on Google
Adding a preferred source is done inside Google’s apps and services. The exact steps change across Android, iOS, and desktop. Below are the common paths you can follow.
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- Google News app: Open an article, tap the three-dot menu or the publisher name, and choose the option to follow or add as preferred.
- Google app (Discover): When you see a story, tap the three dots next to the card and select the preference option.
- Search results: Some news results display a “More from this source” or “Add as preferred source” control. Click it when available.
Step-by-step on mobile
- Open the Google News or Google app.
- Find an article from the outlet you want to prioritize.
- Tap the menu icon near the article or source name.
- Select “Follow,” “Add as preferred,” or a similar command.
- Confirm the choice if prompted.
Why choose a preferred source: benefits for readers
Setting preferred sources makes Google tailor the content you see. It helps surface more news, features, and updates from outlets you trust. This affects:
- Google Discover feed personalization.
- News story ranking in Google News.
- Suggested stories in the Google app and sometimes in Search results.
Preferred sources improve relevance and reduce the effort of hunting for trusted reporting.
What publishers need to do to appear as a choice
Being selectable as a preferred source is not just user-side. Publishers should meet Google’s quality and technical standards.
- Register with Google News and claim your publisher profile.
- Maintain clear author and publisher metadata.
- Use structured data and valid sitemaps for articles.
- Publish reliable, well-sourced reporting to build authority.
Verification and consistency make it easier for Google to recognize your brand and offer it as a preferred option.
Technical actions publishers should prioritize
- Implement NewsArticle schema markup.
- Ensure fast page loads and mobile-friendly design.
- Keep a clean robots.txt and functioning feed URLs.
- Monitor Search Console for indexing and coverage issues.
Troubleshooting when the option doesn’t appear
Sometimes users cannot find the “add as preferred” control. Common reasons are account, device, or regional limits.
- Make sure you are signed into your Google account.
- Update the Google or News app to the latest version.
- Check whether the feature is available in your country.
- Clear app cache or try a different device.
If issues persist, review Google’s support pages or contact the app help center.
Privacy and personalization: what you should know
Choosing preferred sources affects personalization data. Google uses your selections to refine recommendations and ad experiences.
- You can manage preferences in your Google account settings.
- Turning off personalization limits how much your selections shape the feed.
- Google documents how preferences influence results in its help pages.
Control remains with the user: you can change or remove preferred sources at any time.
Tips to get the most from preferred sources
- Choose multiple outlets to balance perspectives.
- Follow niche publishers for deeper coverage on topics.
- Regularly review and update your preferred list.
- Combine preferences with search alerts for breaking news.
How this impacts discovery and traffic for publishers
Being a preferred source can increase visibility across Google products. That leads to more clicks and recurring readers.
- Higher placement in Discover cards.
- Greater chance to appear in topical news clusters.
- Improved chances of being recommended to users who follow similar outlets.
Consistent quality and technical health are the primary drivers of sustained benefit.
