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If you want Google to favor a trusted news outlet or website in your feed, you can signal that preference and shape the stories you see. Many users and publishers now treat “add as preferred source on Google” as a simple way to boost relevance, reliability, and visibility across Google Discover, News, and Search.
Why choose a preferred source on Google matters
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Picking a preferred source helps Google tailor content to your interests. For readers, it means more stories from outlets you trust. For publishers, it can increase referral traffic and brand exposure.
- Better personalization: Google surfaces more content that matches your tastes.
- Increased visibility: Preferred sources appear more often in Discover and News.
- Trust signals: Consistent selection helps Google recognize authoritative publishers.
- Control over your feed: You reduce unwanted or low-quality results.
How users can add a preferred source in a few taps
Exact steps vary by device and Google product, but the process is straightforward. Below are common paths to follow.
- Open the Google app or Google Discover on your phone.
- Find an article or a publisher you trust.
- Tap the three-dot menu or the publisher name.
- Select options such as Follow, Add as preferred source, or See more from this source.
- Confirm the choice; the setting syncs with your Google account.
Alternate routes: Search and Google News
- In Search, open the knowledge panel for a publisher and tap follow or favorite.
- In Google News, use the Follow button on a publication’s page to prioritize it.
- On desktop, sign in and manage your followed sources through News settings.
Tips to make your preferences work better
- Be signed into your Google account when you add a source.
- Use the same account across devices to sync preferences.
- Interact with content from preferred sites to reinforce signals.
- Adjust topic and source settings in Google News to refine results.
What publishers should do to be added as a preferred source
Publishers can make it easier for readers to select them and for Google to trust their content.
- Claim and verify: Use Google News Publisher Center to manage your presence.
- Publish consistently: Regular, original reporting increases authority.
- Use structured data: Schema markup helps Google understand your content.
- Prioritize E-E-A-T: Experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trust matter.
- Make subscription prompts clear: Let readers know how to follow or prefer your site.
Troubleshooting when preferences don’t stick
- Ensure the Google app is up to date and you’re signed in.
- Clear app cache or reload Discover to force a sync.
- Check account-level settings in Google News and Search personalization.
- If a publisher is new, allow time for Google to index and register the source.
- Contact Google support if you believe a preference is ignored or broken.
Privacy and account control for preferred sources
Your choices are tied to your Google account and can be changed at any time. Google uses these signals to personalize content, not to share your identity publicly.
- You can view and remove followed sources in account settings.
- Preferences sync only to devices using the same signed-in account.
- Review your activity and ad settings if you want stricter controls.
