In short. Readers in Spain choose preferred websites for Top stories, and publishers can share a selection link or use Google’s button resources.
Definition: Preferred Sources, called Fuentes preferidas in Spain, is a Google Search setting that lets readers choose websites to see more often in Top stories, the news article section in search results. Google's Spain announcement of 30 April 2026 describes this preference as applying when those websites publish fresh content relevant to the search.
Key facts
- Google's Spain launch announcement says readers can select as many sources as they want, while continuing to see content from other websites.
- Google's Search Help instructions say preferences saved while signed in remain the same across browsers signed into that Google Account.
- Google's publisher guide, updated 18 September 2026, allows domains and subdomains in the source preferences tool; a subdirectory such as a website's blog folder is ineligible.
How does a reader select or change sources?
Google's Search Help page describes the desktop workflow. A search for a recent significant event can display Top stories. The Cards star icon appears to the right of that section's heading. Opening it lets the reader search for a source, select its checkbox and click Reload results.
The same instructions describe changing an existing selection: the reader opens the icon again, selects or deselects the blue checkbox beside a source name, then reloads the results. Content from selected sources appears more often when it is fresh and related to the query.
Google's Spanish announcement gives blogs, national publications and local publications as examples of sources readers can choose. It calls the section Noticias destacadas and says selections can be managed at any time.
What resources can a publisher use?
The publisher Help Center page linked from the Spanish announcement directs site owners to Google's preferred sources guide. It invites publishers whose sites appear in the source preferences tool to encourage their audience to select them.
Google's publisher guide says a site owner can check inclusion by entering the site in the tool's search box. Its examples accept https://www.example.com/ and https://code.example.com/, while excluding https://www.example.com/blog.
A deeplink is a URL that opens the source preferences tool with a publication already specified. The guide provides this text-link example:
<a
href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=example.com">
Add as Preferred Source
</a>
The publisher replaces example.com with the publication's domain. Readers follow the link and confirm their selection. The same guide permits links in social posts, email newsletters and promotions, and supplies downloadable button images with translated text. It also offers an interactive JavaScript button that returns readers to the publisher's page. These promotion methods are optional for appearing as a preferred source.
Related terms
FAQ
Can I select several local publications?
Yes. Google's Spain announcement includes local publications among its examples and places no limit on the number of selected sources.
Can I promote only the blog folder of my business website?
Google's publisher guide makes domains and subdomains eligible for the selection tool. Its example excludes the subdirectory https://www.example.com/blog.
Will my preferences follow me to another browser?
Google's Search Help page says they remain the same across browsers when you save the settings while signed in and use the same Google Account.
Sources
- Google España, "Fuentes preferidas llega a España", 30 April 2026
- Google Search Help, "Preferred Sources in Google Search", undated
- Google Publisher Center Help, "What's News on Search", undated
- Google Search Central, "Help your readers find your site through preferred sources in Google Search", updated 18 September 2026
Check how a page reads to answer engines. Open the GEO score analyzer