Google's new feature lets you customize search to show sites you trust — how to use preferred sources

1. Look for the star icon

When you search for news topics on Google, look for a small star icon next to the "Top Stories" section in your search results. This star indicates that the Preferred Sources feature is available for that search query.

The star icon only appears on searches that generate news results, so you won't see it for general searches like "how to cook pasta." Currently rolling out in the U.S. and India, users in other regions may not see this feature yet.

If you don't see the star icon, try searching for trending news topics where Google typically displays multiple news sources.

2. Search for and add your favorite news sources

Tap the star icon to open the preferred sources selection screen. You'll see a search box where you can type publication names you want to prioritize.

Type "Tom's Guide" to add it, then search for other trusted sites you read regularly.

3. Refresh results to see content

After adding preferred sources, click "Reload results" to see the updated Top Stories section. Google will now prioritize articles from your selected publications, though some content from other sources may still appear.

The more sources you add, the more variety you'll see from trusted publications rather than unfamiliar news sites.

Try searching for the same topic again to see how results have changed with your preferences now influencing what appears at the top.