Google is rolling out its Preferred Sources feature globally, allowing users to prioritize their favorite news outlets and publisher sites so they appear more frequently in search engine results, according to recent updates from the company. The rollout gives readers direct control over their information diet by letting them curate preferred publications directly from publisher websites or during active searches.
Global Expansion of Google Preferred Sources
According to Google, the Preferred Sources feature is expanding globally for English-language users, with support for additional languages scheduled to launch early next year. Originally introduced in beta during June 2025 and given a limited rollout in the United States and India in August 2025, the tool lets users select specific publications to receive higher visibility in Top Stories.
Users have selected nearly 90,000 distinct sources, ranging from local blogs to international media outlets. Furthermore, Google notes that when a user flags a site as a preferred source, referral clicks to that specific publisher double compared to baseline traffic.
How Publishers and Readers Use the Preferred Sources Button
According to coverage from Medcom.id and Engadget, Google now permits web publishers to install a dedicated Preferred Sources button directly on their web pages. When readers click this button, the site is added instantly to their personal Google preferences without requiring them to navigate away from the article or open separate search settings.
According to Kompas.com, users can also tap a card-star icon located next to the “Top Stories” heading while researching a developing topic. Readers can select an unlimited number of publications. Once selected, users click a “Refresh results” button to update their search view, placing stories from their chosen outlets prominently below the primary news block.
Did you know? During early testing via Google Labs, data showed that more than half of participating users selected at least four different media outlets as their preferred publications.
Integration With AI Overviews and Spotlighting Subscriptions
According to verified company updates, Google is integrating preferred publications and a new tool called Spotlighting Subscriptions into Gemini, AI Overviews, and AI Mode.
Spotlighting Subscriptions highlights articles from paid media outlets where the user holds an active subscription. Google plans to display links from these subscribed publications inside dedicated carousels across its AI interfaces, making paywalled reporting much easier to discover. Despite this prioritization, Google emphasizes that the system does not entirely remove unselected sites, preserving a diverse mix of search results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Google Preferred Sources?
It is a search personalization tool that lets users prioritize specific news sites and blogs so their articles appear more often in Top Stories and AI search results, according to Google.
How do I add a news site to my preferred sources?
Users can click the dedicated Preferred Sources button on participating publisher websites or tap the card-star icon next to Top Stories in Google Search, as reported by Kompas.com and Medcom.id.
Will this hide other news sources from my search results?
No. Google clarifies that the feature increases the visibility of chosen publications rather than filtering out unselected sites entirely.
What are your thoughts on this search update? Do you plan to customize your preferred news outlets, or do you prefer algorithmic discovery? Let us know in the comments below, and explore our site for more updates on search technology and digital media trends.
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