Learn how to have the Apple Podcasts app automatically download your favorite podcasts on your iPhone or iPad, so you have sufficient episodes to listen to, even when you have no or patchy internet connection.
The Apple Podcasts app lets you set default download settings for all your followed shows or do it on a per-show basis.
It lets you fine-tune your download experience by selecting one of the various options, like downloading just the latest episode or the last ten episodes. Alternatively, you can also choose to download all new episodes or those released in the last 24 hours, week, or more.
Automatically download new Podcast episodes
You can pick a default setting for all shows or just specific ones.
From all your followed shows
If you want the latest episodes of all shows automatically saved to your device, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap Podcasts.
- Tap Automatically Download under the aptly named Automatic Downloads heading.
- Choose an option that suits your needs.
- After this, you can return to the previous screen and turn on Allow Over Cellular to download podcasts automatically using mobile data. This can be handy if you have unlimited or ample cellular data allowance but often listen to podcasts where cellular connection is patchy. So, having the episodes downloaded beforehand will ensure a smooth listening experience.
From selected shows
More often than not, you will not want all subscribed shows to clog up your device’s storage space. If your list of podcasts is ever expanding and you want to hand-pick the podcasts decent enough to be stored locally, here is where you need to go.
- Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone or iPad and tap Library > Shows to see all the podcast shows you have followed or subscribed to.
- Select the show you want to set up for automatic downloads for.
- Tap the three dots menu icon from the top right and hit Settings.
- Tap Automatically Download and select an option from the next screen.
- You can go to the previous screen and also make sure Remove Played Downloads is On so that episodes you have already listened to are auto-deleted and do not keep occupying local space.
You have successfully set up your Podcasts app for automatic downloads. Now, the episodes are readily available.
Other tips for the Podcasts app: