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- Why mark a source as preferred on Google
- Which Google products respond to preferred sources
- How to add a preferred source — step-by-step
- Manage and fine-tune your followed sources
- Best practices for choosing preferred sources
- Troubleshooting common issues adding a source
- Privacy and notification settings to check
Want your favorite publisher to appear more often in Google? Setting a site as a preferred source helps shape your feed across Google News and Discover. The process is quick, and it gives you more control over what stories surface on your phone and desktop.
Why mark a source as preferred on Google
Designating a preferred source nudges Google toward showing you more content from that publisher. It affects recommendations in Google Discover, the Google News app, and sometimes search result carousels. For readers, this means fewer irrelevant stories and more coverage from outlets you trust.
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- Better personalization: Your feed reflects interests more accurately.
- Faster access: New articles from the source appear sooner in your stream.
- Source control: You can promote reputable outlets and limit low-quality sites.
Which Google products respond to preferred sources
Not every Google product treats preferred sources the same way. Knowing where your choice matters helps you target the effort.
Google Discover
Discover runs on the Google app and Android home feeds. It uses your activity, subscriptions, and selected sources to recommend stories.
Google News
The News app and news.google.com let you follow publications directly. Followed sources populate your “For you” tab.
Search and other surfaces
Search results may reflect your preferences when Google personalizes news modules. Preferences can also influence notification suggestions from Google.
How to add a preferred source — step-by-step
Below are the most common ways to add a preferred source. Interfaces change, but the core steps stay similar.
From the Google News website (desktop)
- Open news.google.com and sign in to your Google account.
- Search for the publisher or click an article from that source.
- On the article page, click the publisher name or logo to open its profile.
- Click the Follow or Add button on the profile page.
From the Google News app (Android / iOS)
- Open the Google News app and tap a story you like.
- Tap the publisher name at the top or the three-dot menu on the article card.
- Select Follow or Follow this topic.
- Confirm if prompted. The source is now prioritized in your feed.
From the Google app or Discover feed
- When you see an article in Discover, tap the three-dot menu beside it.
- Choose More stories from or Follow [publisher] if shown.
- If an explicit follow option isn’t shown, tap Manage interests in your Google app settings.
Manage and fine-tune your followed sources
Following a publisher is reversible. You can refine which sources affect your recommendations at any time.
- Open Google News or the Google app and go to Following.
- Unfollow any publisher if you see too many stories from them.
- Use Hidden or Not interested flags on individual articles to teach the algorithm.
- Adjust topic and location preferences for broader control.
Best practices for choosing preferred sources
Not all sources are equal. Pick outlets that match your needs for accuracy and perspective.
- Prefer recognized publishers with clear attribution and editorial standards.
- Diversify sources to avoid a narrow news diet.
- Regularly review your followed list to remove outlets that no longer serve you.
- Use the “About this source” panel when available. It offers context on ownership and reliability.
Troubleshooting common issues adding a source
Sometimes a follow action doesn’t stick. These fixes often resolve the problem.
- Make sure you are signed in to the correct Google account.
- Update the Google or News app to the latest version.
- Clear app cache or reload the web page if the follow button is unresponsive.
- If a publisher isn’t listed, search for its official website and follow from there.
Privacy and notification settings to check
Followed sources may trigger more suggestions and occasional alerts. Review settings to match your comfort level.
- In the Google app, check Settings > Notifications to enable or mute news alerts.
- Limit account personalization if you prefer less tailored recommendations.
- Review permissions for location and web activity to understand what influences suggestions.
