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How to Manage Preferred Sources in Google Search

Choose publishers to see more often in Google Search’s Top Stories and supported AI features, and learn why the preference does not control every result.

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You can tell Google Search which publishers you would like to see more often in Top Stories: search for a recent news event, open the star-shaped cards control beside the Top Stories heading, choose sources, and reload the results. The setting can also tailor supported AI Mode and AI Overviews experiences, but it does not guarantee that a source will appear for every query or control every ordinary web result.

Manage preferred sources on a computer

  1. Go to Google.com and search for a significant recent event. The control is available when Google shows a Top Stories section for the query.

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  2. Click the cards-and-star control beside the Top Stories heading to open the source picker.

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  3. Search for publishers you want to follow and select the checkbox beside each source. Google notes that sources that are not updated regularly may not be available.

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  4. Click Reload results to apply the selection.

To change your choices later, reopen the same control, select or clear the checkbox beside a source, and reload the results.

Manage preferred sources on iPhone or iPad

  1. Open google.com in a browser or use the Google app, then search for a significant recent event.

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  2. When Top Stories appears, tap the cards-and-star control beside its heading.

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  3. Search for sources and select the ones you want, then tap Reload results.

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To edit your list, reopen the control, select or deselect sources, and reload. Google says settings saved while you are signed in remain the same in every browser where you sign in.

What the preference changes—and what it does not

Google says selected publishers may appear more often in Top Stories when they publish fresh content related to your search. The preference also tailors supported AI Mode and AI Overviews experiences; Google says selected sources receive a preferred-source badge there. It is a preference, not a promise that every result will come from those publishers.

Top Stories appears when Google detects that a query is news-oriented. Google describes news selection as automated: its systems look for relevant, high-quality, fresh content. Publisher Center says news results are selected algorithmically based on relevance, prominence, and publisher authoritativeness. Preferred sources affect which selected publishers are shown more often for relevant fresh stories; the help pages do not say that this setting changes the ranking of every standard web result.

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Results can also vary with language settings and location. Google documents personalized recommendations as a separate setting, so changing general personalization is not the same as choosing preferred news sources.

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Android and availability

Google’s help page has platform variants, but the available Android-specific instructions do not establish a verified step-by-step procedure. The computer and iPhone/iPad steps above should not be assumed to match Android’s interface. For current guidance, consult Google’s Preferred Sources in Google Search help page.

If you cannot find the control, first check whether the search is about a recent event and whether Google has shown a Top Stories module. A publisher may also be missing from the picker if it is not updated regularly.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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