Google Improves Preferred Sources Button to Keep Users on Your Site

Google updated the Preferred Sources button for publishers, improving the flow so users are returned to the page they were viewing after adding a source rather than being taken elsewhere. The new embed code simplifies the interaction—readers now see an "Add as a Preferred Source on Google" dialog and return seamlessly to their original location. The update makes it easier for readers to discover favorite publications in Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode, and helps publishers maintain reader engagement on their sites. Google noted that Preferred Sources has grown significantly, with more than 600,000 unique sources now selected—up from 200,000 in May 2026.