Google’s Preferred Sources: How to Customize Top Stories with Your Favorite News Outlets

Google News has long been a go-to platform for readers who want quick access to the latest headlines across politics, business, sports, and entertainment. Over the years, the app has evolved with smarter curation and personalization. Now, Google has taken a major step by introducing a new feature called Preferred Sources, designed to give readers more control over where their news comes from.

The feature, currently available in the US and India, allows users to highlight their favorite blogs, websites, and news outlets. Once selected, these sources will appear more often in Top Stories or in a special “From your sources” section, making sure you don’t miss updates from the outlets you truly trust. While you’ll still see content from other publishers, the focus will remain on your chosen sources, helping cut down irrelevant noise.

How to Set Up Preferred Sources:

• Open Google or search for any topic under the News section.

• Click on the icon next to the Top Stories tab.

• Search and select your preferred news outlets from the drop-down list.

• Refresh the page to see updates tailored to your chosen sources.

Google has kept the feature flexible, with no restrictions on the number of sources you can add. The company notes that this move comes after feedback from early testers, who valued having multiple outlets under their personalized feed. Publishers also stand to benefit, as it allows them to connect more directly with readers who opt-in to follow their content, boosting both visibility and engagement.

Alongside this news update, Google is also enhancing its Gemini AI. Two key features have been rolled out: temporary chats, which work like Chrome’s incognito mode by not storing conversations or using them for training, and improved file controls, allowing users to decide how Gemini handles photos, videos, and other files.

With Preferred Sources and Gemini’s upgrades, Google is signaling its focus on personalization and user control. Whether you want a news feed shaped around your trusted outlets or more privacy in AI interactions, these changes aim to make the experience smarter, simpler, and more user-friendly.