Show summary Hide summary
- What “preferred source” means for your Google results
- How to add a preferred source in Google
- Why publishers care about preferred-source settings
- Privacy and personalization considerations
- Troubleshooting: when preferences don’t appear to work
- Tips for publishers to encourage users to prefer their site
- How this affects the news landscape
Google now offers users a way to prioritize news outlets and websites they trust. This feature helps tailor search and news feeds, letting preferred publishers appear more prominently in results and on mobile feeds.
What “preferred source” means for your Google results
Michael Douglas’s three children: meet Cameron, Dylan and Carys
Cyril Hanouna reveals shocking detail about Shana Loustau: it’s been three months
When you mark a site as a preferred source, Google gives that publisher added visibility across certain products. This does not guarantee a top rank in every query. Instead, it signals personal preference to the algorithms that shape feeds and personalized search snapshots.
- Personal relevance: Preferred sources influence what you see in Google Discover and News.
- User control: It gives individuals more control over which outlets shape their information stream.
- Not a public endorsement: Your choice affects only your account and devices where you’re signed in.
How to add a preferred source in Google
Adding a preferred source takes just a few taps on mobile or clicks on desktop. The process may vary slightly between Google apps.
- Open Google News or Discover on your device.
- Locate an article from the site you want to prioritize.
- Tap the three-dot menu near the story or the publisher name.
- Select the option to prefer or follow that source.
- Confirm if prompted; changes take effect quickly.
Notes for desktop users
Desktop steps are similar. Use the settings or the menu next to the article to follow or mark a site.
Why publishers care about preferred-source settings
Being chosen as a preferred source can increase recurring visibility for a publisher among a segment of users. For many newsrooms, that means more steady traffic and stronger reader relationships.
- Loyal audience growth: Users who prefer a site are more likely to receive its stories.
- Higher engagement: Preferred content often gets more clicks, reads, and shares from those users.
- Brand recognition: Repeated exposure in personal feeds helps build familiarity.
Privacy and personalization considerations
Choosing preferred sources is a personalization feature. Google applies your settings to refine content delivery, while keeping choices tied to your account.
- Your preferences do not create public lists other users can see.
- You can change or remove preferences anytime from account settings.
- Google uses preferences alongside many other signals to decide what to show.
Troubleshooting: when preferences don’t appear to work
If preferred sources don’t seem to affect what you see, try these quick fixes.
- Ensure you’re signed into the same Google account across devices.
- Update the Google app to the latest version.
- Clear app cache or refresh the Discover feed by pulling down to reload.
- Reapply the preference after removing and re-adding the source.
Tips for publishers to encourage users to prefer their site
Publishers can help readers select them as preferred by making it easy and valuable.
- Include clear prompts within articles or newsletters inviting readers to follow.
- Offer exclusive content or timely alerts to motivate users.
- Ensure mobile pages load quickly and follow Google’s content guidelines.
How this affects the news landscape
Personalized source preferences nudge search and feed behavior toward user-chosen outlets. That changes how audiences discover recurring coverage and can shift traffic patterns across publishers.
For readers: It’s a tool to see more of what they trust. For publishers: It’s an opportunity to deepen reader relationships.
