Direct answer: Google has added new ways to control what you see across Search, Discover and Google News. You can choose favorite publishers as Preferred Sources, Discover is getting natural-language feed controls, and Google News on Android now lets you curate topics for audio briefings. Publishers can also add a Preferred Source button or deep link to their own sites. The features are rolling out separately, so not every control will appear immediately in every account or region.
- Readers: Open Google’s source preferences tool, search for a publication and select it.
- Discover users: In the Google app, use the three-dot menu on a feed card to request more or less of a topic when the new text control reaches your account.
- Google News listeners: On Android, open the audio briefing and choose the topics you want included.
- Publishers: Verify your domain appears in the source preferences tool, then add a button or deep link using the format shown below.
What Google announced on August 20, 2026
Google announced a bundle of personalization updates on August 20, 2026. The company says the new publisher-side Preferred Source button is available now, natural-language Discover controls are due in the coming days, and topic customization for audio briefings is available in the Google News app on Android. Google also says readers have already selected more than 600,000 unique Preferred Sources. See the official Google announcement.
| Feature | Where it appears | Status described by Google | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Sources | Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode | Available, subject to feature and locale availability | Helps selected publishers appear more prominently for the user who chose them |
| Natural-language Discover tuning | Google app Discover feed | Rolling out in the coming days | Lets users describe topics or links they want to see more or less often |
| Custom audio news topics | Google News app on Android | Available now according to the announcement | Lets listeners curate topics in daily audio briefings, with source attribution and links |
How to add a Preferred Source in Google Search
- Sign in to the Google account you normally use for Search.
- Open google.com/preferences/source.
- Search for the publication’s domain or name.
- Select the source you want to prefer.
- Alternatively, search Google for a current news topic, find the Top Stories block, and use the source-selection icon beside its heading.
- Refresh the results if Google asks you to do so.
Your choice does not remove other publishers. Google says selected sources may appear more often in Top Stories or in a dedicated “From your sources” section when they have fresh, relevant coverage. Preferred content may also carry a preferred badge in AI Mode and AI Overviews where those experiences are available. You can manage or remove selections later.
How to tune Google Discover with the new text control
When the new control reaches your account:
- Open the Google app and go to Discover.
- Tap the three-dot menu on any feed card.
- Describe what you want to see more or less of in plain language.
- Be specific. For example: “More practical Android photography tips, but fewer phone-rumor stories.”
- Repeat the process on future cards if the feed still needs adjustment.
Google says the feed will adjust and remember these requests. Because the company describes this feature as a rollout “in the coming days,” update the Google app and check again later if the text box is not visible yet.
Existing Discover controls you can use now
You do not have to wait for the new text control to improve your feed. Google’s current Discover help page documents these options:
- Tap the three-dot menu on a card and choose Not interested in [topic].
- Choose Don’t show content from [source] to hide a publisher.
- In the Google app, go to Profile picture → Settings → Personalization → Manage your interests to review followed and blocked topics.
- Use the like control on a card to indicate that you want similar content.
Some controls may not be available in every language, country or account. See Google’s official Discover customization instructions.
How to customize Google News audio briefings
Google says Android users can now choose specific topics for daily audio briefings in the Google News app. Open the briefing experience, look for its customization or topic controls, and select the subjects you want covered. The briefing includes source attribution and links to the full articles so you can check the original reporting.
If the option is missing, update Google News from the Play Store and check again later. Google’s announcement specifies Android for this particular customization update; it does not confirm the same new control for iPhone or the desktop site.
Publisher guide: add a Google Preferred Source button
This update is especially useful for publishers with an existing audience. It creates a direct way to ask loyal readers to prefer the publication in Google rather than relying only on an instruction buried in a help article.
Step 1: confirm that the site is eligible
Search for the site in Google’s source preferences tool. Google’s current documentation says only domain-level and subdomain-level properties are eligible. A domain such as example.com or a subdomain such as news.example.com can qualify; a directory such as example.com/blog cannot be selected separately.
Step 2: build the deep link
Use this official format and replace the example domain:
https://google.com/preferences/source?q=example.comFor muddaser.com, the direct link is:
https://google.com/preferences/source?q=muddaser.comStep 3: add a clear button
A simple HTML implementation can look like this:
<a href="https://google.com/preferences/source?q=example.com"
target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
Add us as a Preferred Source on Google
</a>Place it near other follow or subscription calls to action, such as in the article footer, newsletter confirmation page or author box. Google also provides downloadable button assets in multiple languages. Use the official Google Search Central Preferred Sources guide to verify the current link format and download assets.
Step 4: set realistic expectations
A Preferred Source selection is not a general ranking guarantee. Google describes it as a user-controlled preference: the selected publisher becomes more likely to appear prominently for that user when it has relevant content. Publishers should not describe the button as an endorsement from Google or promise that selecting it will make every article appear.
Privacy and personalization controls to review
Preferred Sources and feed tuning are personalization features, so it is worth checking the account settings behind them. Google says Personalized Recommendations can use account activity to tailor results. Turning personalization off does not automatically delete stored activity, and Google may still use factors such as location, language, device type and the current query. You can also use Try without at the bottom of a Search results page to view a non-personalized version without changing the account setting.
Review or disable personalization in Google’s Personalized Recommendations settings. For the precise effects of that control, read the Google Search personalization help page.
FAQ
Is Google Preferred Sources available worldwide?
Google Search Central says Preferred Sources is available globally for Top Stories in all languages where Google Search is available. Preferred badges can also appear in AI Mode and AI Overviews where those features and locales are supported.
Does selecting a Preferred Source hide other news sites?
No. Google says users will still see content from other sites. The selection increases the chance of seeing fresh, relevant content from the preferred publication.
Can a publisher add itself as a Preferred Source for every user?
No. Each signed-in user controls their own source selections. A publisher can provide a button or prefilled deep link, but the reader makes the choice.
Why can’t I see the new Discover text control?
Google said the natural-language Discover control would roll out in the coming days after the August 20 announcement. Availability may also vary by app version, account, language or region.
Is the customized Google News audio briefing available on iPhone?
Google’s August 20 announcement specifically names the Google News app on Android. It does not confirm the same new topic-curation control for iPhone, so Android is the only platform verified for this update at publication time.
Official sources
- Google: Personalize the content you see on Search, Discover and News
- Google Search Central: Preferred Sources guide for publishers
- Google Search Help: Customize Discover on Android
- Google Search Help: Personalization and Search results
Last checked: August 21, 2026. Google features often roll out gradually; interface labels may change by account, language and region.