How to Follow Publishers on Google: Step-by-Step

Following publishers on Google lets you see their latest articles and updates directly in your Google app or mobile browser. You can follow news sites, blogs, and even specific topics. This guide walks you through the process on both Android and iPhone, plus what to do if the follow button is missing.

What You’ll Need

A Google account (free, if you want your follows to sync across devices)
The Google app (on Android or iOS) or a mobile browser like Chrome or Safari
An internet connection

Step-by-Step

On the Google App (Android & iPhone)

Open the Google app on your phone. If you don’t have it, download it from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone).
Search for a topic or publisher you want to follow, for example “The New York Times” or “tech news”.
In the search results, look for a row of cards labeled “Top stories” or “Latest from [publisher]”. Under one of those cards, you’ll see a Follow button (a star icon with the word “Follow”). Tap it.
If you don’t see a Follow button on the search results page, tap on a specific article from that publisher. At the top of the article page, next to the publisher’s name, there is a Follow button (star icon). Tap it.
Once you tap Follow, the button changes to Following. You can tap it again to unfollow.
To see all the publishers you follow, open the Google app, tap your profile picture (top right), then tap Settings > Following. Here you can manage your list.

On a Mobile Browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.)

Go to google.com in your browser and sign in to your Google account.
Search for the publisher or topic you want to follow.
In the search results, look for the “Top stories” carousel. If the publisher appears there, tap the Follow button (star icon) under the publisher’s name.
If you open an article, you’ll see the publisher’s name at the top. Next to it is a Follow button (star icon). Tap it.
After following, you’ll see a confirmation message. The button changes to Following.

On a Computer (Desktop Browser)

Go to google.com and sign in.
Search for the publisher or topic.
In the “Top stories” section, hover over a card from the publisher. You’ll see a Follow button (star icon) appear. Click it.
Alternatively, open an article from that publisher. Next to the publisher’s name at the top, click the Follow button.
Your followed publishers appear in your Google app under the “Following” tab (on the bottom navigation bar in the app). On desktop, you can see them by clicking the menu (three lines) and selecting Following.

Common Mistakes

Not being signed in: If you’re not signed in to a Google account, the Follow button may not appear, or your follows won’t be saved.
Looking for a Follow button on every article: Not all articles have a Follow button. It appears only when Google recognizes the source as a publisher with a consistent feed.
Confusing “Follow” with “Subscribe”: Following a publisher in Google is different from subscribing to their newsletter or YouTube channel. It only affects your Google feed.
Expecting follows to appear in your regular search results: Follows appear in your Google app’s “Following” tab and in your Discover feed, not as a separate section in search results.

Tips

Follow topics as well as publishers. Search for a topic like “climate change” and tap the Follow button on the topic card. This gives you a mix of sources.
Use the Following tab to quickly see new articles from all publishers you follow. It’s like a personalized news feed.
If you follow a publisher and then change your mind, you can unfollow anytime by tapping the Following button again.
Your follows sync across devices if you’re signed in with the same Google account.
To manage notifications, go to the Following tab, tap the three-dot menu next to a publisher, and choose to turn notifications on or off.

Troubleshooting

The Follow button is missing

Make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.
Try opening a specific article from that publisher. The Follow button is often only on the article page, not on the search results list.
Clear your browser cache or update the Google app to the latest version.
If the publisher is very small or doesn’t have a proper RSS feed, Google may not offer a Follow button.

Follows are not showing up

Check that you’re signed in to the same Google account on all devices.
In the Google app, tap the Following tab at the bottom. If it’s not there, tap the menu (three lines) and select Following.
Restart the Google app or refresh the page.

Unfollow not working

Tap the Following button again to unfollow. If it doesn’t respond, close and reopen the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I follow a publisher on Google without a Google account?

No, you need to be signed in to a Google account to follow publishers. The follow feature is tied to your account.

Does following a publisher affect my search results?

No, following a publisher does not change your normal search results. It only affects your Following tab and your Discover feed.

Can I follow a publisher on Google on my computer?

Yes, you can follow publishers on a desktop browser. The Follow button appears in the Top Stories section or on the article page.

How do I see the publishers I follow?

In the Google app, tap the Following tab at the bottom. On desktop, go to google.com, click the menu (three lines) and select Following.

Why don’t I see a Follow button for some websites?

Google only shows Follow buttons for publishers it recognizes as having a consistent feed. Small or non-news sites may not have this option.

Will following a publisher send me notifications?

By default, you won’t get notifications for every new article. You can turn on notifications for a specific publisher from the Following tab.

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