How to enable and configure the news feed on Android: a complete guide 2026

The news feed on Android has become an integral part of the daily use of a smartphone. It allows you to receive up-to-date information on topics of interest directly on the main screen or in a separate application, saving time on searching for news manually. However, not all users know how to properly enable, configure or even find this function on their device.

In this article we will look at all the ways to activate the news feed on different versions of Android, including Google Discover, Samsung Free, Yandex Zen and other popular services. You will learn how to personalize the feed to your preferences, fix common display problems, and even optimize its operation to save traffic and battery power.

We will pay special attention to the nuances of setup on devices from different manufacturers - Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and others, since the interface and available options may differ significantly. We will also consider alternative applications for those who want more control over the content.

What is the news feed on Android and why do you need it?

The news feed on Android is a dynamically updated stream of content that is formed based on your interests, search history and activity in applications. It can be displayed:

• 📱 On the main screen on the left (in Google Discover or analogues from manufacturers)
• 🔍 In search results Google or Yandex
• 📰 In individual applications (for example, Yandex Zen, Samsung Free, Microsoft Start)
• 🔔 In notifications (if the corresponding option is enabled)

The main advantages of using the news feed:

• ⏱️ Saving time — no need to search for news on different sites
• 🎯 Personalization —content is selected to suit your needs interests
• 🌍 Relevance —the feed is updated in real time
• 📱 Convenience —access to news in one swipe from the main screen

However, the feed also has disadvantages: it can consume up to. 15% battery charge per day with active use (test data on Samsung Galaxy S23 with Samsung Freeenabled), and also collect data about your preferences for targeted advertising. Later we will tell you how to minimize these disadvantages.

How to enable Google Discover on pure Android and Pixel

If you have a smartphone with clean Android (for example Google Pixel, Motorola, Nokia or devices running Android One), then the news feed is implemented through service Google Discover. Here's how to activate it:

1. Open the main screen and do swipe right (to the left, if you have a right-to-left interface language. If the ribbon does not appear, go to the next step.

2. Tap and hold an empty space on the home screen, then select Home screen settings (or Home Settings).

3. Find the option Discover (may called News feed or Google App) and turn on the slider.

4. If the option is missing, update the application Google to Play Market to the latest version.

After activation, you will be able to:

• 🔍 Set up topics of interests in the menu Settings → News feed → Your interests
• 🌐 Select a region for news (useful when traveling)
• 📵 Disable unnecessary sources (for example, entertainment sites if you only need business news)

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Xiaomi s shell MIUI) Google Discover may be disabled by the manufacturer. In this case, use the alternative methods described below.

Setting up a news feed on Samsung (Samsung Free)

Devices Samsung (series Galaxy S, Galaxy A, Galaxy Note and others) use their own news feed - Samsung Free (formerly called Samsung Daily i Bixby HomeTo enable it:

1. Swipe to the right. on the home screen or lock screen (if the feature is allowed in the settings).

2. If the feed does not appear, go to Settings → Home screen → Samsung Free and turn on the slider.

3. To configure content, tap on the icon ⚙️ in the upper right corner of the feed.

In settings Samsung Free you can:

Feature Samsung Free - integration with services Samsungsuch as Samsung Health, Samsung Pay i Bixby. For example, if you track steps in Samsung Health, the feed may show motivational articles about fitness.

Alternative news feeds: Yandex Zen, Microsoft Start and others

If the standard feed does not suit you, you can install third-party applications. Let's consider the most popular ones. options:

1. Yandex Zen (Yandex.Zen)

Advantages:

• 📚 Wide selection of Russian-language content
• 🎥 Integration with Yandex.Video and Yandex.Music
• 📊 Flexible interest settings (more than 50 categories)

How to set up:

1. Install Yandex from Play Market.
2. Open the application, go to the section Zen.
3. Click on the icon ⚙️ and select Customize feed.
4. Add or remove topics, and mark unnecessary sources.

2. Microsoft Start

Advantages:

• 🌍 International news in different languages
• 📈 Integration with Microsoft Rewards (bonuses for viewing)
• 🔒 Minimal data collection compared to Google

Feature: you can customize Dark mode and font size for ease of reading.

3. SmartNews

Advantages:

• 📰 Selection of news from trusted publishers
• 🚫 Minimal advertising
• 🌐 Support for offline mode (saving articles)

To install any of these feeds:

1. Go to Play Market and find the application by name.
2. Install and open it.
3. Follow the setup instructions (usually you need to select interests the first time startup).
4. For convenience, add an application widget to the home screen.

How to disable or hide the news feed if it is in the way

Not all users like the news feed - it can be distracting, take up screen space, or consume unnecessary traffic. Here's how to disable it on different devices:

On pure Android (Google Discover)

1. Press and hold your finger on the home screen.
2. Select Home screen settings.
3. Find option Discover and disable it.
4. If there is no option, update the launcher Google Now Launcher or install a third-party one (for example, Nova Launcher).

On Samsung (Samsung Free)

1. Swipe to the right on the main screen.
2. Click on the ⚙️ icon in the upper corner.
3. Select Samsung Free Settings.
4. Disable the slider Show Samsung Free on the main screen.

On Xiaomi (MIUI)

In MIUI the news feed can be built into Mi Browser or GetAppsTo disable it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
2. Find Mi Browser or GetApps.
3. Disable notifications and background activity.
4. For complete removal You may need to disable it via ADB (for experienced users).

If the feed continues to appear, check the launcher settings or install an alternative (for example, Nova Launcher, Action Launcher).

Optimizing the news feed: how to reduce battery and traffic consumption

The news feed can significantly affect the autonomy of the device and the consumption of mobile data. Here's how to optimize its operation:

1. Limiting background activity

For Google Discover:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Google.
2. Select Mobile traffic and disable Background data.
3. In the section Notifications disable unnecessary alerts.

For Samsung Free:

• 🔋 Disable Autoplay video in settings feed.
• 📶 Set a limit on downloading content only via Wi-Fi.

2. Setting up updates

To update the feed less often:

• In Google Discover: go to Settings → News feed → Update frequency and select Manual update.
• B Yandex Zen: in the settings, disable Automatic feed update.

3. Clearing the cache

Regularly clearing the cache helps speed up the feed and reduce memory consumption:

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Find the ribbon application (for example, Google, Samsung Free).
3. Select Memory → Clear cache.

Also you can use applications for optimization, such as Greenify (requires root access) or AccuBattery to monitor charge consumption.

Solving problems with the news feed

Sometimes the news feed may not work correctly: it may not update, show irrelevant content, or not open at all. Considered problems and their solutions.

1. The feed is not updated

Possible reasons and solutions:

• 🌐 No Internet —check your connection to Wi-Fi or mobile network.
• 🔄 Application frozen —restart the feed application or restart your smartphone.
• 📥 Limit background data —check the traffic saving settings in Settings → Network and Internet.
• 🔧 Outdated version of the application - update Google, Yandex or another feed application in Play Market.

2. Uninteresting news is shown

To improve the relevance of the content:

• 👍 In Google Discover click on the three dots next to the unnecessary news and select Not interested or Hide source.
• 🔍 In Yandex Zen go to Settings → Your interests and edit the topics.
• 🗑️ In Samsung Free click on the ⚙️ icon and select Reset preferences (if the content has become irrelevant).

3. or crashes

Remedy:

• 🧹 Clear the application cache (instructions above).
• 🗃️ Delete application data (attention: all settings will be reset!).
• 📲 Check if If your smartphone is overloaded, close background applications.
• 🔄 If the problem persists, reinstall the feed application.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Huawei without Google services), the standard news feed may not work. In this case, use alternative applications from AppGallery or APKMirror.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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