About the Podcasts app for iOS

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Minimum requirements

To install the Podcasts app, you must have an iOS device with iOS 5.1 or later installed. 

Previewing podcasts

To preview a podcast, tap on the episode title when browsing the podcasts catalog or Top Charts.   

Downloading podcasts

To download a podcast, tap the download arrow to download a podcast episode to your device.

Subscribing to podcasts

To subscribe to a podcast on your device, tap the Subscribe button from the podcast provider's page from the Podcast catalog. Enable subscription syncing to keep your subscription up-to-date across your iOS devices. On your iOS device tap Settings > Podcasts > Sync Subscriptions > ON. 

Note: You must be signed in using the same Apple ID on your other iOS devices for your subscriptions to sync. 

Show and hide older podcast episodes

You can choose which podcast episodes to show in your podcast subscription. To choose which episodes to show or hide, tap the desired podcast subscription from My Podcasts. Scroll to the bottom of the episode list and tap Add Old Episodes. Choose which episodes are displayed from your podcast subscription.   

Using Auto Download

Auto Download allows you to automatically download new podcast episodes as they become available while the Podcasts app is running. After subscribing to a podcast, navigate to your Podcast Library. Tap the podcast to bring up the podcast details, and then tap Settings > Auto-Downloads.  

Adjusting playback speed

To adjust the playback speed of your audio or video podcast, tap the speed selector button in the upper-left corner of the Now Playing screen.  

Auto Play

Auto Play allows you to continue listening to new podcast episodes without you needing to interact with the Podcasts app. When an episode reaches its end, Auto Play will begin playback of the next most recent unplayed episode. Once the most recent episode has played to the end, playback will stop. 

Playback Sync

Playback Sync automatically allows you to sync your playback position to all of your iOS devices with the Podcasts app installed, using your Apple ID. In order for Playback Sync to sync your playback position, you must be signed in to the iTunes Store using the same Apple ID on your iOS devices.  

Setting the sleep timer

Setting a sleep timer allows you to play podcast episodes for a limited time and then stop. To set the sleep timer for audio podcasts, tap the sleep timer button on the Now Playing screen.

Sharing a podcast

You can share episodes and podcasts with friends via email, Messages, Twitter, or Facebook. To share with a friend, tap on the podcast from your library. Tap the Share button in the upper-right corner, and choose how you'd like to share with your friends. To share using Facebook, you must have iOS 6 or later installed on your device.   

iTunes Playlist Syncing

Playlists with podcasts are now shown within the Podcasts app.

Note: iTunes Playlist syncing is not compatible with iTunes Match.

On-The-Go

On-The-Go works like a playlist in iTunes. With On-The-Go, you can add individual podcast episodes. To edit your On-The-Go station, tap My Stations > On-The-Go. Tap Add to add new podcast episodes or Edit to remove individual episodes. Tap Clear to remove all episodes. 

 

My stations

When you subscribe to a podcast, the most recent episode of that podcast will be queued to play on your station. You can also create new customized stations. Designate which podcast episodes are added to your station, whether or not to add only audio or video podcasts or both; you can even designate the playback order by episode or by podcast.

Creating a new station

To create a new station tap My Stations > New Station. When prompted, enter a name for your new station. Choose which podcasts you would like to add to your station, and then tap Done. On the next screen, tap Settings to customize your new station even further.