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Many people want their favorite news outlet to show up first in feeds. Google lets users mark a news source as preferred across products like Google News and Discover. This guide walks you through what that option means and how to add a preferred source quickly.
Understanding the “Preferred Source” label on Google
When you mark a publisher as a preferred source, Google uses that signal to prioritize content from that publisher in certain contexts. This applies to Google News, Google Discover, and other news surfaces. It does not guarantee every story will appear first. Instead, it nudges the algorithm to favor the chosen publisher for relevant topics.
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How to add a preferred source on Google: quick steps
General workflow
- Open Google News or Discover in the app or browser.
- Find an article from the publisher you trust.
- Tap the three dots or the publisher name to open options.
- Select the option to follow or mark as preferred source.
- Confirm your choice when prompted.
Mobile app specifics
- In Google News, tap the publisher card and choose Follow or Prefer.
- In Discover, use the feedback controls on an article and choose the preference option.
Desktop browser steps
- Open news.google.com and search for the publisher.
- Click the publisher name or three-dot menu next to an article.
- Choose Follow or set as a preferred source from the dropdown.
Benefits of setting a preferred source in Google News and Discover
- More relevant articles: Your feed shows more stories from the chosen publisher on topics you care about.
- Faster access to trusted reporting during breaking news.
- Better personalization across Google products that surface news.
If the option is missing: troubleshooting tips
- Make sure you are signed in to your Google account.
- Update the Google app to the latest version.
- Clear app cache or reload the page in your browser.
- Some publishers may not yet be supported for preference tagging.
- Check Google Help for product-specific limits and region differences.
Advice for publishers who want to become a preferred source
- Maintain clear branding and accurate metadata for articles.
- Use structured data and follow Google News content policies.
- Publish timely, original reporting to earn reader trust.
- Encourage readers to follow or prefer your site within Google products.
