Google reveals Preferred Source selections to website owners

Google has begun notifying website owners about how many users have selected their domain as a Preferred Source in Google Search. These emails, first reported by Search Engine Roundtable, provide a daily snapshot of the feature’s adoption, with one recipient seeing 4,345 selections as of October 5, 2026. The messages also include a survey asking if site owners want this data integrated into Google Search Console.

The Preferred Sources feature allows users to prioritize certain publications in search results, including Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode. Until now, Google only shared aggregate totals, so this per-site breakdown is new. The emails encourage site owners to add a JavaScript button for easier user subscriptions and include a survey to gauge interest in future reporting.

Reactions from search practitioners have been mixed. Kyle Sutton of The Washington Post called the data helpful for correlating click-through rates, while Nati Elimelech noted the absence of a matching report in Search Console. Glenn Gabe welcomed the transparency but expressed hope for more detailed metrics. The exact definition of the reported figure, whether it counts distinct accounts or all selections, remains unclear.

Google introduced the Preferred Sources feature in December 2025, with over 600,000 unique sources selected by August 2026. The new per-site data fills a gap but leaves questions about overall reader engagement and traffic impact. The survey suggests Google may expand reporting if site owners show interest.