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If you want Google to prioritize a site in your Search results, Discover feed, or Google News, you can mark it as a preferred source. This simple adjustment helps surface content from sites you trust, and it can shape the recommendations you see across Google products.
What “preferred source” means for your Google experience
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When you designate a site as a preferred source, Google gives it higher weight when showing articles and links in personalized areas. This affects:
- Search snippets and result ordering for topics you follow.
- Stories that appear in your Google Discover feed.
- News clusters and highlights in Google News.
Choosing preferred sources does not guarantee every piece will appear. It raises the chance that content from that site will be featured for relevant queries and interests.
How to add a preferred source on Google: step-by-step
On mobile (Android and iOS)
- Open the Google app on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture at the top right.
- Select “Settings” then go to “Interests” or “News settings.”
- Find the “Preferred sources” or similar option.
- Search for the site name and tap “Add” or “Follow.”
On desktop
- Go to google.com and sign in with your account.
- Open Google News or the Discover settings page.
- Locate the sources or personalization panel.
- Add the site you want to prefer by name or URL.
If you can’t find the exact menu, try searching “preferred sources Google” in your account settings. Google sometimes moves options between products.
Why add preferred sources: benefits for readers
- More relevant content: Your feed reflects sites you trust.
- Less noise from unknown publishers or outlets you don’t like.
- Faster access to recurring coverage on topics you follow.
Preferred sources help tune recommendations without turning off broader discovery. You still see diverse viewpoints, but with a bias toward sites you choose.
Advice for publishers: getting listed as a preferred source
Sites cannot be manually chosen by readers unless they are discoverable and credible. Publishers can improve chances by focusing on a few key actions.
- Publish consistently and maintain transparent authorship.
- Use structured data like Article and News metadata.
- Verify your site with Google Search Console.
- Follow Google News content policies and quality guidelines.
- Encourage readers to add your site as a preferred source through prompts.
Quality and trust signals matter more than SEO tricks. Clear author bios, accurate reporting, and fast page loads help build long-term visibility.
Privacy, limits, and what to expect
Marking a preferred source is tied to your Google account. It affects recommendations only for signed-in sessions linked to that account.
- Your selections are private unless you share your account.
- Google may still show other sites for balance and relevance.
- Removing a site is simple: revisit the same settings and delete it.
Troubleshooting common issues
- If a preferred site doesn’t appear, clear app cache and sign out, then sign back in.
- Ensure the site uses secure HTTPS and mobile-friendly pages.
- Check Google News inclusion status for publishers who want wider exposure.
If problems persist, consult Google’s help center or the Search Console for diagnostic signals.
