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- Why choose a preferred source on Google Discover and News
- How to add a preferred source in the Google app and Google News
- Managing and removing preferred sources
- What to expect after adding a preferred source
- Advice for publishers aiming to become a preferred source
- Troubleshooting: when a source won’t stick as preferred
- Privacy, control, and personalization settings to review
Marking a favorite publisher in Google can reshape the news and Discover cards you see every day. This guide walks you through how to add and manage preferred sources, explains what changes in your feed, and offers publisher-focused tips to improve visibility across Google News and Discover.
Why choose a preferred source on Google Discover and News
Choosing a preferred source helps Google prioritize content you trust. It can surface more relevant stories and reduce noise. For readers, this means faster access to coverage you value. For publishers, it boosts the chance to appear in personalized feeds.
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- Better personalization: Google tailors Discover and News results toward selected sources.
- Quicker discovery: You see updates from chosen publishers sooner.
- Less irrelevant content: Your feed reflects preferences, not random headlines.
- Publisher advantage: Trusted outlets gain consistent visibility to engaged readers.
How to add a preferred source in the Google app and Google News
Adding a preferred source is simple. Steps differ slightly between the Google app and Google News.
In the Google mobile app
- Open the Google app on Android or iOS.
- Tap your profile picture to confirm you are signed in.
- Search for the publisher name or open an article from the outlet.
- Tap the three-dot menu or the publisher name to see options.
- Select the option to follow or mark as preferred source.
In Google News
- Open Google News on web or mobile.
- Find the publication you want in the search bar or under Headlines.
- Click or tap the publication card.
- Choose Follow or add to preferred to prioritize that source.
Managing and removing preferred sources
You can revise your choices anytime from settings. This keeps your feed current as interests change.
- Open Google app or Google News settings.
- Navigate to Interests or Following sections.
- Remove or add publishers as needed.
- Sign out and back in if changes do not appear immediately.
What to expect after adding a preferred source
After you follow a source, Google will likely show more items from that outlet. This is not a guarantee of exclusive placement. Google still uses relevance, recency, and content quality.
What users typically see
- More articles and topic cards from the chosen publisher.
- Occasional featured snippets or story bundles involving the outlet.
- Fewer pieces from unrelated or low-priority sources.
Limits and realities
- Following does not bypass all ranking signals.
- Regional rules and language preferences affect results.
- Algorithm updates can change how preferred sources are weighted.
Advice for publishers aiming to become a preferred source
Publishers that want to appear as a preferred option should focus on quality, clarity, and technical readiness.
- Consistent branding: Use clear publication names and stable URLs.
- Structured data: Add schema markup to articles to help Google understand content.
- Fast pages: Improve load times and mobile performance, including AMP where relevant.
- Clear author and publisher info: Make it easy for readers and Google to verify credibility.
- Sign up for Publisher Center: Manage your presence in Google News and submit your sections and logos.
- Sitemaps and indexing: Keep sitemaps updated and monitor Search Console for issues.
Troubleshooting: when a source won’t stick as preferred
If your selection does not take effect, check account settings and app versions. Some issues arise from regional limits or publisher configuration problems.
- Confirm you are signed into the correct Google account.
- Update the Google app or News app to the latest version.
- Clear app cache if options fail to appear.
- Verify the publisher’s site follows Google News technical guidelines.
Privacy, control, and personalization settings to review
Google ties preferred sources to your account and personalization settings. Review privacy controls if you want to limit tracking or personalization.
- Check Activity Controls to manage web and app activity.
- Adjust ad personalization if you prefer fewer targeted ads.
- Use the following list to see and edit all your followed publications.
