How to take control of Google Search News using the ‘Preferred Sources’ feature

Google News

Google Search does not have to decide what news you read. If you are tired of algorithm-driven headlines surfacing sources you do not trust or care about, Google offers a quiet but powerful tool that lets you reshape your news experience. The feature is called Preferred Sources, and it allows you to tell Google exactly which publications you want to see in Top Stories.

By default, Google Search selects news sources algorithmically. The system evaluates relevance, freshness, location, and a range of ranking signals to decide which publishers appear in the Top Stories carousel. While this works reasonably well for broad discovery, it often falls short for users who already know which outlets they value. The result can be repetitive headlines, questionable sources, or stories framed in ways you would not normally choose.

Preferred Sources is Google’s answer to that problem. Instead of relying entirely on automated selection, the feature allows users to prioritise news from specific websites. Once configured, Google Search reshapes the Top Stories section to highlight articles from those outlets whenever possible. You still see breaking news and major developments, but the framing and sources align more closely with your preferences.

The feature is especially useful if you follow a mix of global, business, technology, or regional publications and want consistency in how stories are surfaced. It does not remove algorithmic ranking entirely, but it nudges the system to favour your chosen sources over others covering the same topic.

There are two ways to set up Preferred Sources in Google Search, and both are simple.

The first method is through Search settings. Open Google Search on your phone or desktop, make sure you are actually on the Search page and not inside another Google service, then tap or click your profile photo. From there, open Search Personalization and select Source Preferences. You can then add your preferred news outlets by entering their website URLs. Google will save these choices and use them when populating Top Stories.

The second method works directly from search results. When you search for a popular or newsworthy topic and the Top Stories carousel appears, look for the small settings icon in the top-right corner of the card. Tapping this icon brings up the option to add preferred sources on the fly. This is useful when you notice a story from a publication you trust and want to ensure similar sources appear more often in the future.

Both methods work across Android, iOS, and desktop versions of Google Search. Once set, the changes apply to your account, meaning your preferences follow you across devices as long as you are signed in.

It is worth noting that Preferred Sources only influence the Top Stories section. Regular web results, Discover feeds, and other Google surfaces may still rely on broader ranking systems. Even so, for users who primarily use Search to stay informed, this single setting can dramatically reduce noise and improve relevance.