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- What “Add as preferred source” actually changes in Google
- How to add a preferred source on mobile (Google app)
- How to add a preferred source on desktop (Google Search & News)
- Troubleshooting when a preferred source won’t appear
- Best practices for readers and publishers
- Privacy and control: what you should know
- Quick checklist: optimize your preferred-source setup
Want Google to favor a site when showing stories and search results? Adding a source as your preferred publisher helps surface its content across Google Discover, News, and Search. This guide walks you through what the setting does, how to enable it, and quick fixes when your picks don’t show up.
What “Add as preferred source” actually changes in Google
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When you mark a site as a preferred source, Google gives more visibility to that publisher in personalized surfaces. This affects recommendations in Google Discover, the prioritized feed in the Google app, and sometimes the way news stories appear in Search and Google News.
- Personalized prioritization: Content from the chosen site is more likely to appear in your Discover feed.
- Search relevance signals: Google may weigh your preference when surfacing news or topical updates.
- Not a guaranteed pin: Preference increases visibility but does not lock results exclusively to that source.
How to add a preferred source on mobile (Google app)
The Google app on Android and iOS is the most direct route to manage preferred sources.
- Open the Google app and tap your profile picture to access settings.
- Choose Settings then tap Interests or Discover.
- Look for Manage preferences or Sources, then find the site you want.
- Tap Add as preferred source or the star/favorite icon next to the publisher.
If a publisher doesn’t appear in the list, search for a recent article from them in the app. Tap the three-dot menu on that article and select the option to add or follow the source.
How to add a preferred source on desktop (Google Search & News)
You can also influence preferences from desktop views, especially via Google News.
- Visit news.google.com and sign in to your Google account.
- Find an article from the target publisher and click the site name.
- In the site card, click Follow or Add as preferred if presented.
- Use the Following list in Google News to review your sources.
Troubleshooting when a preferred source won’t appear
Sometimes you won’t see immediate changes after setting a preferred source. Try these checks.
- Ensure you are signed into the same Google account on all devices.
- Clear the app cache or reload Google News/Search pages.
- Confirm the publisher meets Google News content policies and has a visible site card.
- Give the system time; personalization signals can take hours to update.
Common errors and fixes
- If the add option is greyed out, update the Google app to the latest version.
- If content still doesn’t show, remove other similar preferences to test signal conflicts.
- For persistent issues, check Google’s help center or report the problem through the app feedback tool.
Best practices for readers and publishers
Readers get better results by curating sources. Publishers can optimize how their sites appear to users who add them.
- For readers: Follow a mix of outlets to keep a balanced feed.
- For publishers: Use clear publisher metadata and structured data to improve indexation.
- Maintain a consistent site name and logo so users can find and add your source easily.
Privacy and control: what you should know
Marking a preferred source is a personalization signal stored with your Google account. You can always review or remove preferences.
- Preferences sync across signed-in devices.
- You can delete preferences from the Google account activity controls.
- Removing a source only stops the personalization; it doesn’t block the site entirely.
Quick checklist: optimize your preferred-source setup
- Sign into your Google account on all devices.
- Update the Google app or browser to the latest version.
- Locate a recent article from the publisher and use the article menu to add them.
- Wait a few hours and monitor Discover and News for changes.
