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- Why mark a publication as your preferred source on Google
- How to add a preferred source: simple steps for apps and desktop
- What changes after you add a preferred source
- Best practices for publishers and readers
- Privacy and personalization settings to check
- Troubleshooting: why a preferred source might not appear
- How to change or remove a preferred source
Choosing a go-to news outlet and telling Google to favor it can make your feed more relevant. Many users now expect personalized results across Google Discover, News, and Search. Below, find clear steps, what to expect, and quick fixes to set a preferred source and keep it working smoothly.
Why mark a publication as your preferred source on Google
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When you mark a publisher as your favorite, Google uses that signal to shape what you see. This affects recommendations in Google Discover, story rankings in Google News, and sometimes the sources shown in search result panels. It is a simple privacy-aware way to nudge algorithms toward content you trust.
How to add a preferred source: simple steps for apps and desktop
On mobile (Google app and Google News)
- Open the Google app or Google News on your phone.
- Find an article from the outlet you want to prioritize.
- Tap the three-dot menu or the publisher name.
- Select “Add as preferred source” or similar wording.
- Confirm the choice. Google may ask about personalization settings.
On desktop (browser)
- Go to news.google.com or open Google Search results for news.
- Locate an article from the publisher you prefer.
- Click the publisher name or the overflow menu beside the article.
- Choose the option to prioritize or follow the source.
- Check your Google account settings if you want to review or change the choice.
What changes after you add a preferred source
- Discover personalization: Stories from that outlet are more likely to appear in your feed.
- News rankings: The publisher may be boosted in your Google News sections.
- Search snippets: Source attribution and carousel placement can favor the chosen outlet for related queries.
- Not a guarantee: Adding a source is a strong signal, but Google still prioritizes relevance and freshness.
Best practices for publishers and readers
Whether you run a site or simply want better results, these tips help make the preferred-source feature work.
- For readers: Follow multiple trusted outlets to maintain balance.
- For publishers: Maintain clear branding and structured data so Google can identify your site easily.
- Keep headlines accurate and content timely to improve visibility in Discover and News.
- Encourage readers to follow or prefer your publication through in-site prompts.
Privacy and personalization settings to check
- Open your Google account settings and review personalization controls.
- Adjust web and app activity if you want more or less tailoring of news.
- Confirm which devices are linked to your account to ensure consistent preferences.
- Use the Manage interests tools in Google News or the Google app to refine signals.
Troubleshooting: why a preferred source might not appear
If your preferred outlet does not show up, try these quick fixes.
- Clear app cache or reload the Google app to refresh settings.
- Sign out and sign back in to ensure account preferences sync across devices.
- Verify the publisher’s feed and structured data. Broken markup can hide articles from Discover.
- Check language and region settings. Geo-targeting can affect which stories are shown.
- Make sure the outlet still meets Google News content policies and publishing requirements.
How to change or remove a preferred source
- Open the same app or website where you set the preference.
- Locate the publisher or the preference list in settings.
- Choose remove or select a different source to replace it.
- Review your personalization controls afterwards to confirm changes.
