Peter Pan at Disney for seven years: I met Toni and my stalker tracked down my family

Show summary Hide summary

• Why choose a preferred source on Google?
• Step-by-step: How to add a preferred news source
• What changes after you add a preferred source
• How publishers can become a preferred source
  • SEO and trust signals that matter
• Managing and editing your preferred sources
• Troubleshooting common issues
• Privacy and personalization trade-offs
• Quick tips to make the most of preferred sources

Want Google to show news from a favorite outlet first? Setting a preferred source can shape your Discover and News feeds. This guide walks you through why it matters and how to add, manage, or promote a preferred news source on Google.

Why choose a preferred source on Google?

Picking a preferred source helps tailor what you see in Google News and Discover. It signals to Google which publishers you trust and want prioritized. For busy readers, this reduces noise and surfaces more relevant reporting.

Step-by-step: How to add a preferred news source

Google provides multiple ways to mark a preferred source across devices. Follow the method that fits your setup.

• On mobile (Google app): Open the Google app, search the outlet name, tap the three dots or the publisher card, and select “Add as preferred source.”
• On desktop (Google News): Visit news.google.com, find the publisher, click the menu on their card, and choose “Follow” or “Add as preferred source.”
• Using account settings: Go to Google News settings > Sources or Personalization, then add or prioritize outlets manually.

What changes after you add a preferred source

Adding a source affects ranking and visibility in your feed. It does not guarantee every article appears, but it increases the chance the outlet’s stories are highlighted.

• More stories from the outlet in Discover and News.
• Preferential placement for the publisher’s breaking updates and feature articles.
• Improved personalization across devices tied to your Google account.

How publishers can become a preferred source

Publishers aiming for preferred status should focus on quality and clarity. Google rewards reliable, well-structured reporting.

• Publish accurate, original reporting regularly.
• Use clear metadata and structured data (schema.org) for articles.
• Maintain fast, mobile-friendly pages and transparent author bylines.
• Engage readers through newsletters and authenticated social channels.

SEO and trust signals that matter

• Consistent publication cadence.
• Author credentials and source citations.
• Secure site (HTTPS) and fast load times.

Managing and editing your preferred sources

You can add or remove sources anytime. Changes sync across devices tied to the same Google account.

• Open Google app or Google News settings to edit your list.
• Unfollow or remove a source if it no longer fits your interests.
• Prioritize multiple sources by following several trusted outlets.

Troubleshooting common issues

If your preferences don’t appear to stick, try these fixes.

• Ensure you’re signed into the same Google account across devices.
• Clear the app cache or reload the News site to refresh personalization.
• Update the Google app or your browser to the latest version.
• Check regional or publisher restrictions that may limit visibility.

Privacy and personalization trade-offs

Personalized feeds use activity signals. You can control how much Google uses your data for recommendations.

• Visit Google Account > Data & Personalization to review settings.
• Turn off web & app activity if you want less personalization.
• Understand that disabling data collection reduces feed relevance.

Quick tips to make the most of preferred sources

• Follow a mix of national and local outlets for broader perspective.
• Combine preferred sources with topic alerts for breaking news.
• Use newsletters and bookmarks to save important stories outside Google.