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- Why set a preferred source on Google
- How to add a preferred source using the Google app
- How to set preferred sources on desktop (Google News)
- Manage, edit, or remove preferred sources
- Best practices for choosing sources
- Privacy and algorithm notes
- Troubleshooting common problems
- Quick tips to improve Discover and News results
Google now lets you pick favorite publishers and sites so your feed shows more of what matters. This change helps readers surface trusted outlets in Google Discover and Google News. Below is a clear, step-by-step guide to add, manage, and troubleshoot preferred sources on Google.
Why set a preferred source on Google
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Picking a preferred source shapes what appears in your Discover feed. It nudges Google to show more stories from outlets you trust. For journalists and regular readers, this means faster access to reliable reporting and fewer irrelevant suggestions.
- More of what you want: prioritize outlets that match your interests.
- Less noise: reduce content from unknown or low-quality sites.
- Faster updates: get breaking news from sources you follow.
How to add a preferred source using the Google app
The quickest method is inside the Google app on mobile. Steps vary slightly between Android and iPhone, but the process is similar.
Android and iOS: step-by-step
- Open the Google app on your phone.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings and then tap Interests or News, depending on your version.
- Choose Preferred news sources or Manage sources.
- Search for the publication or site name and tap Follow or Add.
Add a source directly from an article
- When reading an article in Google Discover or News, tap the three-dot menu.
- Select Add as preferred source to boost future stories from that publisher.
How to set preferred sources on desktop (Google News)
On the web, Google News provides controls to curate your feed. The interface differs across regions, but the core steps are the same.
- Go to news.google.com.
- Sign in to your Google account if you are not already signed in.
- Search for a publication and click its name to open the publisher page.
- Click Follow or use the More menu to add it to preferred sources.
Manage, edit, or remove preferred sources
Preferences can change. Google keeps management simple so you can update lists anytime.
- Open the Google app or Google News on desktop.
- Go to Settings > Interests or Your sources.
- View your list, then tap Unfollow to remove a source.
- Use the search box to add new outlets or adjust your selections.
Best practices for choosing sources
Think quality and relevance when you add publishers. A handful of reliable outlets will improve feed relevance more than many low-quality additions.
- Prefer established journalism brands for news accuracy.
- Mix local and national outlets for balanced coverage.
- Include niche sites for specific interests like tech, finance, or sports.
Privacy and algorithm notes
Your preferred sources influence personalization but do not replace Google’s ranking signals. Google still uses activity and context to surface content.
- Data used: your selections join other signals like search and location.
- Control: you can remove preferences any time to reset recommendations.
- Transparency: check account settings to see what personalization is active.
Troubleshooting common problems
If a preferred source doesn’t appear as expected, try these fixes.
- Ensure you are signed in to the correct Google account.
- Clear app cache or refresh the Google News page.
- Check that the publisher is supported in your region.
- Update the Google app to the latest version.
Quick tips to improve Discover and News results
- Regularly follow and unfollow sources to refine the feed.
- Use the article menu to mark stories as More or Less like this.
- Combine preferred sources with topic follows for targeted coverage.
