To block a channel in Apple News on an iPhone or iPad, tap the Search tab, search for the channel and open it, tap the More Actions button, then choose Block Channel. Stories from that publication stop appearing in your feed, except for headlines Apple’s editors pick for Top Stories.
These steps cover the News app in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 on iPhone and iPad, and macOS 27 Golden Gate on a Mac. They follow Apple’s support article on blocking and unblocking channels and topics in Apple News. You don’t need an Apple News+ subscription to block a channel.
How to Block a Channel in Apple News on iPhone or iPad
- Open the News app and tap the Search tab. On iPad, it’s in the tab bar at the top.
- Type the name of the channel (the publication) you want to block, then tap it in the results. The channel’s own feed opens.
- Tap the More Actions button (three dots) at the top of the channel feed.
- Choose Block Channel. If a confirmation appears, tap Block.
The channel moves to your Blocked list. Stories already on screen can stay until the feed refreshes, so close and reopen News if you still see them.
Block a Channel From a Story in Your Feed
You don’t have to search. When you spot a story from a publication you’re tired of, tap the channel name at the top of the story (or below its headline in the Today feed) to open that channel’s feed. Then tap the More Actions button and choose Block Channel.
Block a Topic Instead
If you want to avoid a subject rather than one publication, search for the topic (or tap a topic title such as Movies or Travel), tap More Actions, and choose Block Topic. A channel is a publication, such as a newspaper or magazine. A topic gathers stories about one subject from many channels.
Social apps have a similar quiet option; for example, you can mute an account in the X iPhone app without unfollowing it.
How to Block a Channel in Apple News on a Mac
- Open News and click Search in the sidebar. If the sidebar isn’t shown, choose View > Show Sidebar in the menu bar.
- Search for the channel, then click it.
- Click the More Actions button.
- Choose Block Channel, then click Block to confirm.
Why You Might Still See a Blocked Channel
- It’s in Top Stories. Apple says Top Stories look the same for everyone. If editors pick a story from a channel you blocked, you see the headline there, but the channel stays blocked in the rest of your feed.
- The feed hasn’t refreshed. Older stories can stay visible for a while. Refresh the feed or close and reopen News.
- You blocked it on a different device. Apple doesn’t say whether blocks sync between devices. If the channel still shows on your iPad or Mac, block it there too.
- The block didn’t stick. Force close the News app, reopen it, and check the Blocked list. If the channel isn’t listed, block it again. Restarting the device can also help.
For a much tighter feed, turn on Restrict Stories in Today. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Apps, tap News, and turn it on. On a Mac, choose News > Settings and select Restrict stories in Today. The Today feed then shows only stories from channels you follow. This limits the variety of stories, and Top Stories and Trending Stories no longer appear.
How to Unblock a Channel in Apple News
- On iPhone, tap the Following tab. On iPad, tap the Sidebar button to open the sidebar if it’s closed.
- Scroll down to Manage and tap Blocked.
- Tap the Remove button next to the channel or topic.
- Tap Unblock.
The channel disappears from the Blocked list and its stories can show up in your feed again. To see more of it, open its feed and tap the Add button to follow it. On older versions of News, this list was called Blocked Channels & Topics and used a red minus button.
On a Mac, choose File > Manage Blocked Channels & Topics in the menu bar, click the Remove button next to the channel, then click Unblock.
Other Ways to Shape Your Apple News Feed
Blocking is all or nothing. If you only want less of something, these are gentler options:
- Suggest Less: In the Today feed, tap the More button below a headline, then tap Suggest Less (or Suggest More). News uses this to adjust what it recommends.
- Follow channels you like: Open a channel or topic feed and tap the Add button at the top. Followed channels show up more often.
- Unfollow: If you followed a channel and now see too much of it, unfollow it from the Following tab instead of blocking it.
Apple News Blocking Questions
Will blocking a channel also hide it on my Mac?
Apple’s support article doesn’t say whether blocks sync. Check the Blocked list on each device, and block the channel there if it’s missing.
Can I block a single story?
No. Apple News blocks channels and topics, not individual stories. Use Suggest Less on the headline, or block the channel or topic it came from.
Does blocking a channel in Apple News block its website in Safari?
No. The block applies only inside the News app. The publication’s website still opens normally in Safari or any other browser.
Is the Apple News block list the same as my blocked contacts?
No. Blocked contacts for calls, Messages, and Mail live in a separate list. The News app keeps its own Blocked list for channels and topics. To keep ads in News from using your data, you can limit ad tracking on iPhone. To stop email from one sender, you can block an email sender on iPhone.
Next step: open the Following tab and check the Blocked list to confirm the channel is there.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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