Google has announced a significant update to its Preferred Sources feature — it now works in every supported language around the world, not just English. The company confirmed the rollout in a recent blog post, marking a major step forward in giving users more control over their news feed on Google Search.
What Is Google Preferred Sources?
Preferred Sources is a Google Search feature that lets users “star” specific news outlets or websites they want to see more of in the Top Stories section. Once a site is starred, Google uses that signal to prioritize content from those sources whenever relevant articles or posts are available.
The feature first entered beta in June, launched in the US and India in August, and then expanded globally in December — but only in English at the time. With this latest update, the feature is now fully available to users across all supported languages worldwide.
By the Numbers
Google shared some compelling data alongside the announcement:
- Users who mark a site as a Preferred Source are twice as likely to click through to that site compared to regular search users.
- People have already selected more than 200,000 unique sites as preferred sources — ranging from small local blogs to large international news desks.
How to Use Preferred Sources
Using the feature is straightforward. When you see the Top Stories section in Google Search results, look for the star icon on the right side of the header. Click it to browse and select the publications you’d like to follow. Once selected, Google will prioritize showing you the latest content from those sites — provided the site is regularly publishing fresh content relevant to your search.
Why This Matters for Publishers and Marketers
Getting organic traffic from Google is increasingly competitive. The Preferred Sources feature offers a direct path to building a more loyal, engaged audience through search. With click-through rates doubling for preferred sources, there’s a real incentive for publishers to encourage their readers to star their sites.
If you run a website or blog, consider adding a prompt or banner encouraging your visitors to mark your site as a Preferred Source in Google Search. It’s a simple action that can make a meaningful difference in recurring traffic from loyal readers.
For full details, you can visit Google’s support page on Preferred Sources.
