Show summary Hide summary
Google now lets users signal which publishers they trust, and that choice can shape the news and links they see across Discover, News, and Search. Adding a site as a preferred source helps Google prioritize its content for you, while giving publishers a clearer path to reach engaged readers.
Why mark a publisher as a preferred source on Google
Choosing a preferred source tells Google which outlets you value most. That can affect the articles and site links that appear in:
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
- Google Discover feed on your mobile device
- Google News articles and coverage
- Personalized search result snippets
This isn’t a paid boost. It’s a personalization signal that helps Google show content aligned with your interests and trust.
How to add a preferred source: step-by-step methods
The exact interface varies by device and app version. Below are the most common ways people add a preferred source.
From Google Discover on mobile
- Open the Discover feed in the Google app.
- Find a story from the site you want to prefer.
- Tap the three-dot menu on the story card.
- Select Add as preferred source or a similar option.
From Google News
- Open the Google News app or news.google.com.
- Click or tap the publisher name on an article.
- Look for a button labeled Follow or Add as preferred.
- Confirm to add the source to your followed and preferred list.
From search results or the browser
- Search for the publisher or a specific article in Google Search.
- If available, click the publisher card or the “About this result” menu.
- Choose the option to follow or prefer the source.
If you don’t see these controls, update your Google app or check region-specific availability. Google rolls out features in stages.
How preferred sources affect what you see
Adding a preferred source adjusts personalization signals. Practically, that means:
- More stories from that publisher in your Discover feed.
- Greater visibility for that publisher in topic bundles in Google News.
- Potentially different article ordering when you search for related topics.
These changes are subtle and refine what emerges over time, rather than instantly reshuffling every result.
Best practices for publishers who want this designation
Publishers hoping readers will mark them as preferred should focus on trust and clarity.
- Publish accurate, well-sourced reporting.
- Use clear headlines and descriptive metadata.
- Implement structured data and valid AMP or mobile markup.
- Promote direct subscription or follow options on-site and in social channels.
High quality and transparency drive reader trust. That trust leads to more followers and preferred-source selections.
Manage, edit, or remove preferred sources
You can change your list of preferred publishers at any time.
- In Google News, go to the Following or Sources tab to unfollow.
- In the Google app, open settings for the Discover feed to adjust personalization.
- Clearing or resetting personalization in your Google account will also remove these preferences.
Note: removing a source won’t delete articles already cached in your feed, but it will reduce future prominence.
Privacy, personalization, and what to watch for
Choosing preferred sources is a form of personalization. Keep these points in mind:
- Your choices are tied to your Google account when signed in.
- Google uses many signals, so preferred sources are one factor among many.
- If you value privacy, review your account’s activity controls and ad settings.
Tip: Use account controls to limit how Google stores or uses browsing and interest data.
