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RSS or Web Feeds

What is an RSS feed?

RSS is a format for syndicating news and the content of news-like sites. RSS belongs to family of web feed formats, used for web syndication by weblogs, podcasts, videocasts, websites and much more.

It permits you to have the latest news and generally provides web content (title, link, description, pictures…) or summaries of web content with links to the full versions of the content. Once added into your netvibes, the feed will automatically be updated as new content comes out and will be available for you to read and enjoy from your netvibes page.

More information about RSS feeds can be found here:

How do I add new RSS Feeds?

There are 5 main methods:

1- Use the Feed Directory

  • Add content > Add a feed
  • Enter a feed address or website URL/ Address for autodetection
  • Add feed

The window will then appear with 'Add to your Page' across the top. If it contains what you're looking for, click on it. If not, click X at the top right of the window.

2- Using a Blog/Website’s Address (Automatic Feed Detection)

  • Add content > Add a feed
  • Enter a feed address or website URL/ Address for autodetection
  • Add feed

The window will then appear with 'Add to your Page' across the top. If it contains what you're looking for, click on it. If not, click X at the top right of the window.

If the blog or website publishes RSS Feeds, netvibes automatically detect it and add it as a new widget on your netvibes page.

3- Using an RSS or Atom Feed Address (Manual)

  • Add content > Add a feed
  • Simply enter in an RSS or Atom feed address (URL) and netvibes will add it as a new widget on your netvibes page. To find the RSS or Atom feed address on a website, check the header or footer of the page, or your browser’s address bar for an RSS/Atom/XML logo:

RSS RSS Atom Rdf XML

Then, simply right-click it and copy the link address and paste it into the ‘Add a Feed’ tool discussed above.

4- netvibes button

Most popular websites and blogs already have a netvibes button on it. If you see the button, click it and the RSS Feed or the widget will automatically add to your page.

If you want to add a netvibes button to your website, you need to submit your RSS feed into Ecosystem: http://eco.netvibes.com

5- Using your Web Browser

- Add2Netvibes Bookmarklet (any browser):

Go to http://eco.netvibes.com/tools/. Drag the Add2netvibes button directly into your browser’s bookmark toolbar. Now whenever you surf to a blog or webpage you like, simply click the Add2netvibes button in your toolbar and a window will pop-up to allow you to instantly add the site’s feed to your netvibes page.

- Firefox Feed Aggregator Preferences:

In Firefox 2.0 & 3.0, you have an option to choose a default RSS Aggregator:

  • Select Tools
  • Options into the Feed tab where you can choose an aggregator.

If netvibes is not on the list, refer to http://eco.netvibes.com/tools/ to quickly install netvibes feed reader button into your Firefox browser.

- Firefox Extension:

netvibes created an extension for Firefox that enables it to automatically detect if there is feed in a page and to add it directly into your netvibes page. The Firefox extension is available at http://eco.netvibes.com/tools/

Who do I contact if I have problems with adding or removing a RSS Feed?

RSS Feeds are not hosted on our server, so if an RSS feed is not working there may be a problem on the related website itself.

If you want to be sure, cut & paste the URL of the feed (Click Edit in the widget header) and copy it into your browser address bar. If the RSS Feed still doesn't work, please check if the related website is operating.

Chances are, if the website is down the RSS feed will not work. More often then not, the problem is not on our side therefore you will need to contact the Webmaster of the website.

Alternatively, if the RSS Feed is displayed and if you have all the content, send a feedback to our support team: http://www.netvibes.com/static.php?show=feedback

Why can't I find an RSS Feed on a website?

This is generally a problem with the website itself. You can however, try 2 things:

  • Contact the Webmaster of the website and ask for help. Most websites have their contact information at the very bottom of their homepage.
  • Use our Web Page widget:
    • Click 'Add content'
    • Essential widgets
    • Click 'Web Page'
    • Drag and drop the widget into your page
    • Use the Edit link to set a Url in the widget


The full webpage will be displayed in the widget.

How to remove an RSS Feed?

To remove an RSS Feed:

  • Click X on the top right of the widget.
  • You will be prompted with the following message - 'Are you sure you want to delete this widget?’
  • Select 'Delete forever'
  • If you select 'Archive this widget', it will be stored into: Activities > My private activity


The above will remove the widget from your webpage.