Google News personalization: mistakes to fix your feed

November 8, 2026 • 9 min • Mickael Saidi

Hands are holding a smartphone displaying a news app, with a blurred laptop in the background.

Why does Google News still show you articles on topics you've reported as uninteresting? If you've already hidden a publication, turned off a section, or asked for "fewer articles like this," and your feed is still cluttered with irrelevant content, you're not alone. Google News personalization is deeper than it appears, but it requires a combination of explicit settings, regular feedback, and an understanding of how the algorithm interprets your actions.

This article explores the little-known mechanisms of Google News personalization. We'll detail the three levels of control (interests, sources, locations), identify common mistakes that sabotage your feed, and provide concrete strategies to get a truly relevant news stream. Whether you're on Android, iOS, or the web, the principles remain similar, even if the paths vary.

The frustration is all the greater because Google News sometimes seems to ignore our preferences. MakeUseOf, in a dedicated article, points out that "there can be many stories in your Google News feed that you don't care about or that aren't relevant to you." Fortunately, the platform offers powerful but scattered tools to remedy this.

Understanding what Google News knows about you (and why it gets it wrong)

To effectively personalize your feed, you first need to understand how Google News assesses your preferences. According to Google's official help page, personalization is only available if you're signed in to your Google account. This means that without signing in, the app simply displays general news without taking your tastes into account. Many users are unaware of this condition and are surprised to see a generic feed.

The Google News algorithm relies on several signals: your Google search history, the articles you read or ignore, the topics you explicitly follow, the sources you hide, and even your location. The result is a representation of your interests that can become biased if you don't regularly correct errors. For example, a single accidental click on a sports article can trigger an avalanche of sports content, as many users point out.

What's less well known is that Google News combines two types of signals: explicit signals (what you hide, follow, like) and implicit signals (your browsing history on Google, the articles you open, the time spent on a page). This duality explains why a topic you've hidden can come back: if your search history contains terms related to that topic, the algorithm may consider it still relevant despite your negative actions.

The good news is that Google News offers powerful tools to take back control. But these tools are scattered across several menus and aren't always intuitive. They can be grouped into three categories: managing interests, controlling sources, and personalizing locations.

The three essential levels of settings

1. Refine your interests: beyond simple "Like / Dislike"

The heart of personalization lies in the "Your interests" (or "Interests") section, accessible from the menu of the Google News mobile app. On Android, for example, open Google News, tap your profile photo, then tap "Settings" > "Interests." You will see a list of topics that Google has identified as relevant to you, often derived from your past searches and reading.

For each topic, you can adjust the level of interest. But be careful: the interface may vary. On the Android version, Google offers options such as "More articles like this" or "Fewer articles like this" directly on each article. These one-off feedback actions are essential because they continuously train the algorithm. However, they are not enough to correct an erroneous interest that has been in place for a long time. You then need to go to the "Interests" section and remove or reduce unwanted topics.

Google's help page states that you can "hide" entire topics, or indicate that you are not interested in a topic. This distinction is important: "hiding" a topic temporarily removes it from your feed, while "not interested" signals to the algorithm to stop suggesting this type of content to you in the future. Many users confuse these two actions and complain that the topics come back.

An often overlooked aspect: the list of interests may contain topics that you have never explicitly followed, but that Google has inferred from your activity. For example, if you read an article about the World Cup once, sports may appear as an interest. Yet, without correction, this interest will continue to generate recommendations. Take the time to go through this list and remove or reduce surprising topics.

2. Control sources: hiding is not blocking

Another source of frustration is the recurring presence of certain media outlets. Google News allows you to hide a source, meaning you will no longer see its articles in your feed. But hiding is not permanently blocking. If you read an article from that source elsewhere, the algorithm can make it reappear. It is therefore necessary, from time to time, to review the list of hidden sources and repeat the operation.

On the mobile app, when you see an article from a source you no longer want to see, tap the "⋮" (three dots) button at the bottom of the article, then select "Hide articles from [source name]." You can also access a complete list of hidden sources via the settings and reactivate them if needed.

Apple's App Store mentions that the app allows you to "personalize and choose multiple locations" for local news, which strengthens control over geographic sources. This brings us to the third level.

3. Customize locations: stop putting up with news from a region that doesn't concern you

By default, Google News uses your geographic location to display local news. If you travel, if you have recently moved, or if you want to follow news from another city, you must explicitly change the location settings. The App Store description states: "Explore your community through stories and articles from local media. Customize and choose multiple locations to know the news that matters to you."

On mobile, go to Settings > "Local news" or "Your places," then add or remove cities. You can choose multiple locations, which is useful for following both your city of residence and your hometown. This feature is often overlooked, yet it has a direct impact on the relevance of the feed: without configuration, you risk receiving weather alerts or news items from places that no longer concern you.

To visualize these three levels of control, here is a comparative table of their impact and their reversibility:

|-----------|---------------|------------------------|-----------------|---------------|

| Interests (mark "not interested") | Signals to the algorithm to sustainably reduce this type of content | "⋮" button on an article > "Fewer articles like this" | Medium to long term: the topic fades gradually | Difficult to cancel immediately, but possible by readjusting interests |

| Hide a source | Stop seeing articles from a specific media outlet | "⋮" button on an article from the source > "Hide articles from [source]" | Strong: articles from this media outlet disappear | Yes, via Settings > Hidden sources |

This table reveals a crucial point: most actions are reversible, but their effect varies in duration. Hiding a source or a topic has an immediate and visible effect, while "not interested" signals are more subtle and take time. You must therefore combine both types of actions for a lasting result.

How to put these settings into practice: a step-by-step guide

For those who prefer concrete instructions, here is a recommended sequence on an Android smartphone (the steps are similar on iOS, even if the labels may differ slightly).

Hands holding an Android smartphone to change settings

Sign in to your Google account if you haven't already done so. Open Google News, tap your photo, then check that you are properly signed in with the main account.
Review your interests: go to Settings > Interests. For each unwanted topic, tap it and choose "Hide" or reduce its importance.
Hide the sources you no longer want to see: browse your feed, and for each article from an unwanted source, use the three dots to hide the entire source.
Adjust your places: in Settings > Local news, remove outdated places and add those that matter to you.
Give frequent feedback: on each article, use "Like" or "Dislike," and if needed "Fewer articles like this."
Actively follow topics and sources: search for the themes that interest you and tap "Follow" so they are prioritized.

This sequence, repeated over a few days, radically transforms the quality of the feed. But you shouldn't stop there: certain pitfalls recur regularly.

Common mistakes that sabotage your feed

Why does your feed remain polluted despite your efforts? Here are the most frequent mistakes, identified from observed practices and advice from the official documentation.

Mistake #1: Not being signed in to your Google account

As mentioned, personalization requires being signed in. If you use Google News without being signed in, all your settings are ignored. Make sure you are signed in with the account you use for your searches and your Google services, because the algorithm relies on this account's history.

Mistake #2: Using only the "Hide" button without giving regular feedback

Many users wrongly think that hiding a topic once is enough. However, the Google News algorithm is dynamic: new articles can make a topic reappear if your other signals (searches, reads) remain ambiguous. You must therefore, in parallel, use the "Like" and "Dislike" options on articles to reinforce the signal. Google's documentation insists on the importance of giving frequent feedback to refine recommendations.

Mistake #3: Confusing "hiding" and "blocking" a source

Hiding a source is not equivalent to a permanent block. If you continue to visit that outlet via a Google search or an external link, the algorithm can reintegrate it into your feed. To minimize this risk, avoid clicking on articles from that source, even outside Google News, and regularly check the list of hidden sources.

Mistake #4: Ignoring location settings

If you have moved or if you spend a lot of time in another region, Google News may show you local news unrelated to your daily life. Many users do not think to update these settings, which are only a few taps away. The App Store points out that the app allows you to "personalize and choose multiple locations," which is ideal for people who move around or have ties to several cities.

Mistake #5: Not checking existing interests

The "Interests" section sometimes lists topics you have never explicitly followed, but that Google has inferred from your activity. For example, if you read an article about the World Cup once, sports may appear as an interest. However, without correction, this interest will continue to generate recommendations. Take the time to browse this list and remove or reduce surprising topics.

Mistake #6: Waiting too long before correcting recommendations

The longer you let irrelevant content accumulate, the more the algorithm reinforces its erroneous assumptions. If you notice a drift, act immediately: hide, report, adjust. A clean feed is the result of regular maintenance, not a simple initial setting.

By avoiding these mistakes, you lay a solid foundation. But for a truly "zero noise" feed, you need to go further.

Advanced strategies for a truly relevant feed

Woman reading news on her smartphone on a couch

Why do unwanted stories come back despite everything?

Even after following all the previous steps, you may notice resurgences. This is explained by the very nature of the algorithm: it seeks a balance between your stated interests, your recent behavior, and the overall popularity of information. A topic you hid two months ago can come back if a major news event breaks, because Google considers that you might still want to be informed about it. The only safeguard is to stay vigilant and continue to report irrelevant content.

Using "For you" mode and the "Headlines" tab wisely

Google News offers two main views: "For you" (personalized) and "Headlines" (general news). Many users stay on "Headlines" by default and complain about seeing irrelevant news. However, "For you" mode is precisely designed to reflect your interests. If you do not use it, you lose the benefit of personalization. Review both tabs and make sure you use "For you" as your main feed.

Leveraging "Followed topics" and "Followed sources"

In addition to hiding what you do not want, you can actively follow topics and sources you appreciate. This positive approach strengthens the relevance of the feed. On the home page, search for a topic (for example "artificial intelligence"), then tap "Follow." Likewise, for outlets you read regularly, follow them so they appear first. This strategy is often more effective than simply deleting, because it steers the algorithm toward precise content rather than letting it guess your preferences.

Using the "Not interested" feedback surgically

When you see an irrelevant article, don't just scroll past it. Tap the three dots and choose "Fewer stories like this" or "Not interested in this topic." These signals are taken into account immediately and gradually improve the feed. If the article comes from a particular source you no longer want to see, use the "Hide stories from [source]" option. This targeted action is far more effective than simply ignoring the content.

Sync your settings across all your devices

If you use Google News on multiple devices (phone, tablet, browser), make sure you are signed in with the same account on each. Personalization settings are synced, but only if the login is identical. If you use a different account on your computer, your hides and interests will not be applied.

Checklist for taking back control of your feed

To make sure you don't forget any step, here is a recap checklist:

[ ] I am signed in to my Google account on all devices.
[ ] I have reviewed the "Interests" section and hidden/reduced unwanted topics.
[ ] I have hidden at least five sources I no longer want to see.
[ ] I have adjusted my location settings (adding/removing places).
[ ] I have given at least ten "Like" / "Dislike" feedback on recent articles.
[ ] I have followed at least three topics or sources that genuinely interest me.
[ ] I use the "For you" tab as my main feed, not "Headlines."
[ ] I plan to repeat these actions every week to maintain relevance.

By checking all these boxes, you maximize your chances of getting a clean and relevant feed. But keep in mind that no system is perfect.

Conclusion: personalization is an ongoing process

Taking back control of your Google News feed requires an initial investment, but the results are tangible. By understanding the three levels of settings — interests, sources, locations — and by avoiding common mistakes, you transform a generic stream into genuinely relevant information monitoring. The key is to consider personalization not as a one-time action, but as an ongoing process: for each irrelevant article, give feedback; for each life change (moving, new center of interest), update your settings.

The tools exist and are accessible from the mobile app or the web. You just need to use them methodically. So, the next time you open Google News, take thirty seconds to hide, report, or follow. Your feed will thank you.