Unsubscribing to Feeds in Google Reader

From the Archives (June 2012)

This post was originally a step-by-step tutorial for unsubscribing from RSS feeds inside Google Reader. Google Reader was discontinued in 2013, so the original directions no longer apply.

I’m leaving this post up because it captures a very real (and still familiar) problem: information overload. The tools have changed—but the feeling hasn’t.

What This Post Is About Now

Back then, many of us tried to tame the internet with RSS feeds—pulling blog updates into one place so we didn’t miss anything. Today, the clutter usually shows up as newsletters, promotional emails, app notifications, and “content everywhere.”

The good news: you can still get that same calm, “only what I actually want” feeling—you just do it with different tools.

Modern Ways to “Unsubscribe From Feeds” (Without Google Reader)

1) If you still like RSS (it’s not dead!)

If you miss the simplicity of RSS, you can use a modern feed reader instead of relying on email or social media algorithms.

• Feedly (popular and easy)
• Inoreader (powerful filtering + organization)
• NewsBlur (more customizable / community feel)

In any of these, “unsubscribing” usually looks like: open the feed list → select the site → remove/unfollow.

2) If “feeds” now mean email newsletters

For most of us, email is the new Google Reader. If your inbox is where updates go to multiply, this approach helps:

• Do a quick scan for newsletters you don’t read anymore.
• Unsubscribe from the obvious ones (the ones you feel zero guilt about).
• Don’t get derailed by surprise charges or account stuff—leave those for a separate “handle later” pass.

3) If “feeds” mean notifications

If you’re getting pinged by apps instead of blogs, consider a “quiet sweep”:

• Turn off non-essential notifications (shopping, games, “we miss you” apps).
• Keep only what protects your life or livelihood (security alerts, banking, school/work).

One Small Question That Still Works

Whether it’s RSS, newsletters, or notifications, the filter is the same:

If this disappeared tomorrow, would I miss it… or feel relieved?

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Search description (SEO snippet): Google Reader is gone, but information overload isn’t. This updated archive post explains what Google Reader was and shares modern ways to “unsubscribe” from content—using today’s feed readers, email cleanup habits, and notification settings.