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- Why choosing preferred sources matters for your feed and search
- How to add a preferred source in Google News
- Adding preferred outlets to Google Discover and the Google app
- Ways to influence Search results for news and publishers
- How to remove or block sources you don’t want
- Tips to keep your preferences effective and current
- Troubleshooting common issues when adding preferred sources
- Privacy and personalization to consider
You can shape what Google shows you by marking trusted outlets as favorites. Many users overlook simple controls that nudge Google Search, Google News, and Discover to surface more stories from the sites they trust. This guide explains practical steps to add and manage preferred sources across Google’s apps, and offers tips to get more of the coverage you want.
Why choosing preferred sources matters for your feed and search
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Google uses many signals to rank content. Your choices matter. When you follow or prefer a source, Google treats that input as a personalization signal.
- Better relevance: You see more stories from outlets you trust.
- Cleaner feed: Reduces unrelated or low-value stories.
- Faster access: High-priority coverage from chosen publishers appears sooner.
How to add a preferred source in Google News
Google News includes built-in options to follow publishers and topics. Use the app to build a tailored news mix.
- Open the Google News app on your phone or go to news.google.com.
- Search for the publication or find a story from that outlet.
- Tap the publisher name or the three-dot menu beside an article.
- Select Follow or a similar option to add it to your followed sources.
Followed sources are factored into your Home and Favorites tabs. You can unfollow anytime.
Adding preferred outlets to Google Discover and the Google app
Discover and the main Google app let you signal preferences for topics and publishers. The exact buttons vary by app version, but the flow is similar.
- When you see an article, tap the three-dot menu on the card.
- Choose Follow or Add as a preferred source if offered.
- Use the app’s settings to review and manage followed sources.
Manage discovery preferences
Open the Google app, then:
- Go to Settings > Interests or News settings.
- Review followed topics and sources.
- Remove or add items to tune your Discover feed.
Ways to influence Search results for news and publishers
Search personalization is less direct, but preferences still matter. Google considers activity, follows, and interactions when ranking recent news and personalized content.
- Regularly visit the sites you want to prioritize.
- Follow publishers in Google News and the Google app.
- Engage with their articles by opening and reading them, which signals interest.
Note: Adding a preferred source improves personalization, but it does not guarantee top placement in every search query.
How to remove or block sources you don’t want
Not all outlets suit your needs. Google gives simple controls to hide or block sources you dislike.
- In the Google News or app card, tap the three-dot menu.
- Select Hide stories from or Not interested.
- Confirm to remove future stories from that source in your feed.
Tips to keep your preferences effective and current
- Periodically review followed sources to reflect changing interests.
- Use browser bookmarks and RSS for repeat access to niche outlets.
- Combine follows with search alerts to catch breaking stories.
- Log in with the same Google account across devices to keep settings synced.
Troubleshooting common issues when adding preferred sources
If a source doesn’t appear after following it, try these quick fixes.
- Update the Google or Google News app to the latest version.
- Clear app cache or reload the News feed.
- Confirm you are signed into the correct Google account.
- Check whether the publisher is available in your country or region.
Privacy and personalization to consider
Personalizing your news and search improves relevance. It also increases Google’s use of your activity to tailor results. Review your account’s privacy controls if you prefer limited personalization.
- Visit your Google Account’s Data & Privacy settings.
- Adjust Web & App Activity and ad personalization as needed.
- Use these controls to balance personalization with privacy.
