Guidelines for Adding Preferred Sources in Google Search

Are you frustrated with finding relevant content only to encounter sources that don’t match your preferences? Google has introduced a feature that allows you to add preferred sources in your search results, making it easier to access content from sites and providers you trust.

Understanding Preferred Sources in Google Search

When you conduct a news search on Google, the results typically stem from various factors such as the date of publication, relevance, and the authority of the source. While results may seem unbiased when logged in, users often find themselves repeatedly exposed to the same sources.

To enhance your search experience, Google now gives you the option to specify your preferred sources. This feature does not limit your results exclusively to the chosen sources; instead, it gives them priority. As long as these sources have shared relevant content recently related to your query, they will appear prominently in the Top Stories section.

Although you may still see additional sources in the results, inputting your preferences helps tailor your news feed. This feature was initially rolled out as part of Google Labs a few months ago and is now available to all users in the U. S.and India, with plans for a broader rollout in other regions later this year.

How to Set Your Preferred Sources for News

To set your preferred sources, start by signing in to your Google account. This ensures that your preferences will sync seamlessly across different devices and browsers, whether you are on a desktop or mobile.

After signing in, perform a Google search on a news topic and scroll to the Top Stories section. Look for the star button next to it. If you can’t locate this button, ensure you’re logged in and using the All filter rather than the News filter.

Clicking the preferred sources button in a Google search.

Next, type the name or URL of the source you wish to add; when it appears, select the checkbox next to it. To view search results with your preferred sources, click on Reload results.

Add And Manage Preferred Sources In Google Search Add Sources

You can include multiple sources. For instance, I added Make Tech Easier, MSNBC, AP News, Reuters, and MIT Technology Review, and observed a significant shift in the results post reload. The Top Stories included a mix of my selected sources and additional options, while a dedicated From your sources section appeared, allowing for further exploration.

Viewing new results after changing sources.

Managing and Removing Preferred Sources

If you decide a source is no longer suitable or if you wish to add more, you can easily reset your preferences. While signed into your account, search for a news topic again, and click the button near Top Stories to view your added sources.

You can search for additional sources to expand your list. Google suggests that most users have at least four preferred sources.

To remove a source, simply uncheck the corresponding box and then click Reload results to refresh the search based on your updated preferences.

Deleting a source from preferred sources in Google search.

Identifying Results from Your Preferred Sources

In the Top Stories segment of your Google search (not filtered by News), you’ll recognize articles from your chosen sources by a small icon next to the source name—a square with a star inside it. If a source is not part of your preferences, it won’t display this icon.

Furthermore, articles listed under the Preferred Sources section are exclusively from your selected sources and do not bear any icon.

Adding a Source Directly from a Website

Website owners can enable a Preferred Sources button on their websites, within emails, or shared through social media, allowing you to directly add that site to your sources when logged into your Google account.

Look for one of the following buttons on your favorite news platforms:

If you’re a website owner, consider incorporating a link— https://google.com/preferences/source?q=—or download the buttons for easy integration into your site.

Enhancing Personalization of Google Search Results

To further tailor your overall search experience, consider enabling Search personalization. This feature allows Google to leverage data from your search history, geographical location, and interactions with various sites, helping deliver more relevant search results.

To enable this, click on your user icon located in the upper right corner (ensure you are logged in).Select Search personalization and toggle on Personalize search. You can also access Source preferences to review your preferred sources and refine your image search by adjusting Image feed preferences.

Add And Manage Preferred Sources In Google Search Personalize

If you would prefer that Google not gather extra data about you, there are options available to restrict personalized results, or you might explore using alternative search engines.

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