Google expands Preferred Sources globally, boosting Daily Mail visibility in Top Stories
Global rollout lets English-language users customize Top Stories to see more from outlets like the Daily Mail.
Google has expanded its "Preferred Sources" feature to English-language users worldwide, letting people see more content from outlets such as the Daily Mail within Google's Top Stories. The update, which follows a test phase in the United States, marks a global rollout designed to give readers more control over where their news comes from and to help publishers reach audiences through Google's search surface. The change was announced as of December 18, 2025 and reflects Google’s ongoing efforts to refine personalized news delivery in English-language search.
The feature lets users customize Top Stories by choosing preferred sources. To add the Daily Mail, users should sign into their Google account, perform a news-related search on google.com, and look for the star icon next to the Top Stories header. In the panel that opens, search for dailymail.co.uk and select the Daily Mail as a preferred source. Then click or tap "Reload results" to apply the change. The setting stays across browsers and devices as long as the user remains signed in to their Google account. For readers who want to keep Daily Mail content in view, the steps are straightforward and require only a few clicks or taps.
Google explains that its automated systems match searches with relevant, high-quality, and fresh content to display in Top Stories. In official notes, the company said that when a user saves a source as preferred, the Daily Mail’s coverage will appear more prominently in future Top Stories results for news-related queries. This can apply to a range of topics and terms, from prominent figures to current events, as long as the queries trigger the Top Stories module.
The Daily Mail is among several outlets that can be surfaced more frequently for English-language searches through this feature, which is embedded within Google Search’s Top Stories section. The tool is designed to give readers a clearer pathway to content they have indicated an interest in, while allowing publishers to gain increased visibility when users search for news topics that align with their coverage. In practice, a reader who adds Daily Mail as a preferred source may see its stories in Top Stories more often for queries such as politics, climate, or major national and international events.
Analysts describe the development as part of a broader shift toward personalized, source-aware news delivery powered by automated curation. For publishers, the change can help improve reader reach on Google surfaces, particularly for outlets that maintain a strong national or regional footprint. For users, the feature offers a simple way to tailor news feeds without relying solely on a generic algorithm. However, the company notes that the reliability and order of Top Stories still depend on its automated systems and the broader quality signals used to rank results. Sign-in is required to preserve preferences across devices, ensuring a consistent experience when readers switch between computers and mobile devices.
The update arrives as Google continues to refine how news is presented in search results, balancing broad accessibility with user control. While the Preferred Sources tool currently focuses on Top Stories in English-language results, Google has indicated that ongoing refinements and expansions could extend similar personalization options to additional languages and surfaces over time. In the meantime, readers who want more Daily Mail content in their Top Stories feed can enable the feature in a few quick steps and begin seeing the outlet more prominently in search results for relevant topics.