Show summary Hide summary
- Why add a preferred source to your Google feed
- How to add a preferred source on mobile (Google app)
- How to add a preferred source on desktop (Google News)
- Practical tips to make preferred sources work better
- How to remove or edit preferred sources
- Troubleshooting: when preferred sources don’t appear
- Privacy and control: what Google does with preferences
- Common questions people ask about preferred sources
Google lets you shape the news and stories that appear in your feed. Adding a preferred source helps surface content you trust and makes Google Discover and News more relevant. Below are clear steps, tips, and troubleshooting advice to help you add and manage preferred sources across devices.
Why add a preferred source to your Google feed
Choosing a preferred source changes what Google shows you. When you mark a publisher or site as preferred, Google is more likely to surface their articles in Discover and News.
Hilary Swank’s husband Philip Schneider: inside the businessman behind the star
Polska pregnant and betrayed by a close friend: she is very, very shocked
- Better relevance: You see more content that matches your interests and trust.
- Faster access: Top stories from your preferred outlets appear sooner in the feed.
- Publisher support: Following a source signals interest that can help creators reach loyal readers.
How to add a preferred source on mobile (Google app)
Most users add preferred sources from the Google app on Android or iOS. The process is quick and gives immediate results.
- Open the Google app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the search bar and type the name of the publisher or website.
- From the results, tap the publisher profile or the news article from that outlet.
- Look for a Follow or Add as preferred button near the publisher name and tap it.
- Confirm if prompted. The source will be prioritized in Discover and News.
Alternative mobile path via Google News
- Open the Google News app.
- Search for the publisher or browse the For you tab until you spot the desired source.
- Tap the publisher card, then tap Follow.
How to add a preferred source on desktop (Google News)
On a computer, use Google News or search to follow publishers and refine your feed.
- Go to news.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
- Search for the publication or click into an article from the site.
- On the publisher’s profile or article header, click Follow.
- Manage followed sources under the Following tab on the left.
Practical tips to make preferred sources work better
Small adjustments increase the impact of preferred sources on your feed.
- Follow a mix: Add both general outlets and niche sites to get diverse but relevant content.
- Tune topics: Follow topics as well as publishers to refine subject-level recommendations.
- Use “Don’t show”: Hide specific stories or publishers that still appear unwanted.
- Sync across devices: Sign in with the same Google account everywhere to keep preferences consistent.
How to remove or edit preferred sources
Preferences are reversible. You can unfollow or change settings at any time.
- Open Google News or the Google app and go to Following.
- Find the source to remove and click Following again to unfollow.
- On mobile, you can also tap the publisher profile and select Unfollow.
Troubleshooting: when preferred sources don’t appear
If you don’t see expected results, try these checks.
- Confirm you’re signed into the same Google account on all devices.
- Allow a few hours for changes to propagate across Google services.
- Clear the app cache or refresh the web page to force a feed update.
- Ensure the publisher still publishes content that matches your followed topics.
Privacy and control: what Google does with preferences
Your choices influence personalization, but Google includes tools to manage data and privacy.
- Activity controls: Visit your Google Account to review search and app activity.
- Manage interests: Edit topics and sources under the Discover and News settings.
- Opt out: You can pause web and app activity to reduce personalization.
Common questions people ask about preferred sources
- Will following a source block others? No. Following adds priority but does not block other outlets.
- Can multiple people share the same preferences? Preferences are tied to each Google account.
- Do publishers know I followed them? Publishers don’t get your identity, only aggregated metrics.
