Are you tired of scrolling through a cluttered and noisy News feed on your iPhone? Do you want to customize it to show only the content that matters to you? You’re in luck! In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of changing your News feed on your iPhone, so you can stay informed and engaged with the topics that interest you the most.
Why Customize Your News Feed?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of customizing your News feed, let’s talk about why it’s essential to do so. A cluttered and disorganized News feed can lead to:
- Information overload, making it difficult to find relevant and important news
- Wasted time scrolling through unnecessary or irrelevant content
- Frustration and anxiety from being bombarded with negative or sensationalized news
- Missing out on critical updates and news that matter to you
By customizing your News feed, you can:
- Filter out noise and irrelevant content
- Prioritize news and topics that are important to you
- Save time and reduce stress
- Stay informed and up-to-date on the topics that matter most
Understanding Apple News and the News Feed
Before you start customizing your News feed, it’s essential to understand how Apple News and the News feed work.
Apple News is a built-in app on your iPhone that aggregates news articles from various sources, including magazines, newspapers, and online publications. The News feed is the main page of the Apple News app, which displays a curated selection of news articles based on your interests and reading habits.
The News feed is divided into several sections, including:
- Top Stories: A collection of top news articles from various sources, curated by Apple’s editors
- Trending Stories: A section that showcases popular and trending news articles
- For You: A personalized section that displays news articles based on your reading habits and interests
- Following: A section that shows news articles from the sources and topics you’ve explicitly chosen to follow
Customizing Your News Feed
Now that you understand how Apple News and the News feed work, let’s dive into the steps to customize your News feed.
Step 1: Access the News App
Open the News app on your iPhone. You can find it on your home screen or in the App Library.
Step 2: Tap the Following Tab
Tap the Following tab at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the Following page, which displays news articles from the sources and topics you’re currently following.
Step 3: Tap the Edit Button
Tap the Edit button in the top-right corner of the Following page. This will enable edit mode, allowing you to customize your News feed.
Step 4: Remove Unwanted Sources
Browse through the list of sources and topics you’re currently following. Tap the – icon next to each source or topic you want to remove from your News feed. Confirm by tapping Remove.
Step 5: Add New Sources and Topics
Tap the + icon in the top-right corner of the Following page to add new sources and topics to your News feed. Search for specific topics, publications, or categories using the search bar. Tap Follow to add them to your News feed.
Pro Tip: Use the ‘Suggested by Siri’ Section
Take advantage of the Suggested by Siri section, which recommends sources and topics based on your reading habits and interests. This section is located at the bottom of the Following page.
Step 6: Prioritize Your Favorite Sources
Tap the three dots next to each source or topic to access its settings. Tap Prioritize to move it to the top of your News feed. This ensures that news articles from your favorite sources appear first in your News feed.
Step 7: Customize Your News Feed Appearance
Tap the Settings icon (represented by a gear) in the top-right corner of the News app. Scroll down to the News Feed section and toggle on Show Story Previews to display article summaries in your News feed. You can also toggle on Show Images to display images in your News feed.
Additional Tips to Optimize Your News Feed
Here are some additional tips to help you optimize your News feed:
Use the ‘Notifications’ Section
The Notifications section, located at the bottom of the News app, allows you to customize the types of notifications you receive from Apple News. Toggle on Breaking News to receive notifications for breaking news stories.
Take Advantage of Apple News+
Apple News+ is a subscription-based service that offers ad-free news articles, exclusive content, and offline reading. If you’re a heavy news consumer, consider subscribing to Apple News+ to enhance your News feed experience.
Explore the ‘Discover’ Tab
The Discover tab, located at the bottom of the News app, showcases a curated selection of news articles and topics that Apple’s editors think you might be interested in. Browse through this section to discover new sources and topics to add to your News feed.
Conclusion
Customizing your News feed on your iPhone is a simple process that can greatly improve your news consumption experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can filter out noise, prioritize relevant content, and stay informed about the topics that matter most to you. Remember to regularly review and update your News feed to ensure it remains tailored to your interests and preferences. Happy reading!
How do I know if I’m using the default News app on my iPhone?
The default News app on your iPhone is the one that comes pre-installed with your device. You can find it on your home screen, and it’s usually on the second page of icons. The app’s icon is a stylized “N” made up of multicolored lines, and it’s usually labeled as “News”. If you’re unsure, you can swipe left from the home screen to open the App Library, and search for “News” to find the app.
If you’re still unsure, you can check your iPhone’s Settings app to see if the News app is enabled. Go to Settings > News, and if you see a toggle switch next to “News”, that means the app is enabled and you’re likely using the default News app on your iPhone.
Can I customize the topics and channels in the News app?
Yes, you can customize the topics and channels in the News app to better suit your interests. To do this, open the News app and tap on the “Following” tab at the bottom of the screen. From there, you can browse through the various topics and channels, and toggle the switches next to each one to add or remove them from your feed.
You can also use the “Suggested by Siri” feature to discover new topics and channels based on your interests. Additionally, you can use the “Explore” tab to find new topics and channels that you may not have discovered otherwise. By customizing your topics and channels, you can take control of your News feed and make it more relevant and useful to you.
How do I block unwanted sources and articles in the News app?
To block unwanted sources and articles in the News app, open the app and go to the “Following” tab. Find the source or article you want to block, and swipe left on it. Tap “Hide” to remove it from your feed. You can also report a source or article as “Not Interested” to help the News app’s algorithm learn what you don’t want to see.
If you want to block an entire publication or website, you can do so by going to the “Safari” tab in the News app, finding the publication or website you want to block, and tapping the “Share” icon. From there, tap “Safari” and then “Block This Website” to add it to your blocked list.
Can I use third-party news apps on my iPhone?
Yes, you can use third-party news apps on your iPhone. There are many alternatives to the default News app, each with their own features and strengths. Some popular options include Apple News+, Flipboard, and Google News. You can download these apps from the App Store and configure them to your liking.
Many third-party news apps offer features that the default News app doesn’t, such as more personalized feeds, better article discovery, and offline reading. You can use these apps alongside the default News app or replace it altogether, depending on your preferences.
Will customizing my News feed affect my other Apple devices?
If you’re signed in with the same Apple ID on multiple devices, your News feed customization will sync across all those devices. This means that if you customize your News feed on your iPhone, those changes will be reflected on your iPad or iPod touch as well.
However, if you have different Apple IDs or use different devices with different Apple IDs, your News feed customization will not sync across those devices. You’ll need to customize your News feed separately on each device.
How do I reset my News feed to its default settings?
If you want to reset your News feed to its default settings, you can do so by going to the “Following” tab in the News app and tapping “Edit” in the top-right corner. From there, tap “Reset” in the top-right corner, and confirm that you want to reset your feed. This will remove all your customizations and restore the default feed.
Keep in mind that resetting your News feed will also remove any hidden sources or articles, so you may want to make a note of those before resetting your feed.
Will customizing my News feed affect my Siri recommendations?
Yes, customizing your News feed can affect your Siri recommendations. If you’ve added or removed topics and channels from your News feed, Siri will take those changes into account when providing you with news recommendations.
This means that if you’ve customized your News feed to focus on certain topics or sources, Siri is more likely to recommend articles and news stories that align with those interests. This can help you discover new articles and stories that you may not have found otherwise.