Google News has become one of the most convenient ways for users around the world to stay informed. From breaking headlines to niche stories tailored to your interests, your Google News Feed is designed to deliver content that matters most to you. However, as your reading habits or interests evolve, so should your feed. Thankfully, Google gives you the flexibility to customize and update your feed with just a few steps.
In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into how to update your Google News Feed across different platforms and devices. Whether you want to stop seeing stories you don’t care about or add new topics to follow, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
Why You Should Update Your Google News Feed
Your interests aren’t static—and neither should your news feed be. Over time, the stories you care about today may not be relevant tomorrow. You might be seeing too many entertainment updates when you’re now more interested in business, or maybe you’ve moved to a new city and want more localized news.
Keeping your Google News Feed updated ensures that the content you see aligns with your current preferences, reduces clutter, and helps you discover stories that actually matter to you. Moreover, updating your feed regularly also improves Google’s recommendations through its machine learning algorithms.
Understanding How Google News Feed Works
Before getting into the steps, it’s helpful to understand how the Google News Feed—often accessed through the “Discover” section in the Google app—functions. The feed is powered by your activity on Google, including searches, location history, and the topics you follow or interact with. It also learns from your feedback, such as when you hide certain articles or express disinterest in a topic.
Because it’s deeply tied to your Google account activity, making changes in one area (like removing a search interest or unfollowing a topic) will directly impact what appears in your news feed.
How to Update Google News Feed on Android and iPhone
Step 1: Open the Google App
To begin, open the Google app on your mobile device. This is the main portal for accessing your personalized Discover feed. Ensure you’re signed into the Google account you use most often.
Step 2: Access the Settings
Once inside the app, tap your profile photo in the top-right corner to open the account menu. From there, navigate to Settings. Depending on your device, you may find the relevant options under “General” or “Discover.”
For Android: Go to Settings > General > Discover
For iOS: Go to Settings > Interests > Your Interests
Step 3: Manage and Update Your Interests
Within the Interests section, you’ll see a list of the topics, sources, and categories you follow. This is where you can make significant changes.
- To remove a topic, simply tap the “X” or “Unfollow” next to it.
- To add new interests, use the search bar at the top to find topics and tap “Follow” on the ones you want to include.
This is a powerful way to ensure your feed reflects your current interests.
Step 4: Use the Article Feedback Tools
As you scroll through your Discover feed, you’ll notice a three-dot menu next to each story. Tapping it will give you several feedback options such as:
- Not interested in this topic
- Not interested in stories from this source
- Fewer stories like this
By using these feedback tools consistently, you train the algorithm to improve future recommendations. Over time, your feed becomes more personalized and relevant.
Step 5: Clear or Manage Your Google Activity
If you’re looking for a more thorough reset, consider clearing or managing your Google activity. This includes your search history, Discover feed interactions, and other signals used to personalize your content.
To do this, visit Google My Activity and sign in. You can filter your activity by category, including Discover and News, and delete specific entries or even all data. Keep in mind that this may also affect other Google services.
How to Update Google News Feed on Desktop
If you primarily use Google News on your computer, you can still manage and update your preferences effectively.
Step 1: Visit the Google News Website
Go to news.google.com and make sure you’re signed in with your Google account.
Step 2: Click on the “Following” Section
On the left-hand side of the homepage, you’ll see a menu. Click on “Following” to access all the topics, sources, locations, and searches you’re currently subscribed to.
This section allows you to quickly unfollow outdated interests and discover new ones.
Step 3: Customize News Sources and Topics
To remove a topic or source, hover over it and click the three-dot menu. Select “Unfollow” or “Hide stories from this source” as needed. If you want to add a new interest, use the search bar at the top to find and follow it.
You can also manage notifications and updates related to your followed topics from this section.
Step 4: Fine-Tune the “For You” Feed
In the “For You” section, use the same feedback tools available on mobile. Each article has a menu that lets you indicate whether or not you want more of that kind of content. The more you interact with this feature, the better your news feed becomes over time.
Tips to Keep Your Google News Feed Relevant
Updating your Google News Feed is not a one-time task—it’s a continuous process. Here are some tips to help maintain a clean, useful, and engaging feed:
- Regularly review your followed interests and sources. Remove topics that are no longer relevant to you.
- Use the feedback options frequently. Let Google know what you want to see more or less of.
- Update your Google activity settings. If you’re changing interests, you may want to review what data is being used for personalization.
- Explore new topics. Don’t hesitate to follow new areas of interest as they emerge in your life.
- Turn Discover off and on (mobile only). This can serve as a soft reset if the feed becomes too cluttered.
Conclusion
Keeping your Google News Feed updated ensures that your daily news experience is tailored to your real interests and current lifestyle. Whether you’re using the Google app on your phone or browsing Google News on a desktop, the tools to update your feed are easy to use and highly effective.
By regularly managing your interests, sources, and feedback, you take control of what appears in your feed—making it a smarter, more useful tool for staying informed.
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