How do I play Apple Podcasts on my Android phone?
Apple Podcasts is one of the most popular podcast platforms, offering millions of podcast episodes across countless shows. According to reporting by Apple, some of the most popular podcasts in 2023 included Huberman Lab, SmartLess, and New Heights (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-shares-the-most-popular-podcasts-of-2023/). However, Apple Podcasts content has historically only been easily accessible on iOS devices. This leaves many Android users wanting access to Apple Podcasts content, but unsure of how to get it on their devices.
The goal of this article is to provide a step-by-step guide for Android users to be able to listen to Apple Podcasts content on their Android phones. We’ll cover everything from downloading a podcast app, finding and subscribing to shows, managing your library, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
Downloading a Podcast App
Since Android does not natively support Apple Podcasts, you’ll need to download a third-party podcast app to access Apple Podcast content on an Android device. There are several great options to choose from:
Castbox is a popular free podcast app for Android with over 100 million downloads. It provides access to Apple Podcasts and millions of other podcasts with features like offline listening, smart recommendations, and audio clip sharing. Castbox has a simple, intuitive interface and allows you to easily discover, subscribe, download, and manage podcasts all in one app [1].
Pocket Casts is a paid podcast app costing $3.99. It’s known for its clean, customizable interface allowing you to tailor colors, layouts, and themes. Pocket Cast offers robust podcast discovery tools, playback speed controls, and easy playlist creation. The app syncs across devices so you can pick up where you left off when switching devices [2].
Podcast Addict is a popular free option with advanced features like per-podcast playback settings, custom filters, and media file downloads. The app makes it easy to organize a large podcast library with favorites, playlists, and customizable categories. Podcast Addict also includes a built-in equalizer and playback effects [3].
Finding and Subscribing to Podcasts
The Google Podcasts app makes it easy to search for and discover new podcasts to subscribe to. To search, simply tap on the search icon in the top right corner of the app and type in keywords related to topics you’re interested in. The app will display podcast recommendations based on your search. You can also tap on the “Explore” tab on the bottom to browse top podcasts across various categories like News, Comedy, Education, and more (source).
Once you find a podcast you want to subscribe to, tap on the “Follow” button below the podcast artwork. This will add it to your library. Your subscribed podcasts will appear in the “Subscriptions” tab so you can easily access new episodes as they are released. The Google Podcasts app will automatically download new episodes of podcasts you are subscribed to when connected to WiFi. You can manage your subscriptions at any time by tapping the “Manage subscriptions” option in your library tab.
The app also provides personalized recommendations on new podcasts to follow based on your listening history and preferences. You can discover new podcasts by checking the “Recommended for you” section on the app’s home page. Tap the info icon next to any podcast to read a brief description and see available episodes before deciding to subscribe (source). This allows you to easily find new podcasts that match your interests.
Downloading Episodes
One of the best features of podcast apps is the ability to download episodes for offline listening. Here are some tips for managing episode downloads on Android:
In the Google Podcasts app, tap on the episode you want to download. Then tap the download icon (downward arrow) to begin the download. The episode will show a “Downloading” status until it is fully downloaded to your device.
To adjust your download settings, open the Google Podcasts app and tap on your profile icon. Go to Settings > Download and configure options like only downloading on WiFi, deleting episodes after listening, and more. You can also set the number of latest episodes to download for each podcast.
To monitor download progress, open the Google Podcasts app and tap on Library. This will show you a list of all your podcast subscriptions. Tap on a podcast to view the download status of each episode. It will show “Downloading” or a download percentage if still in progress.
Some podcast apps like Pocket Casts also have a dedicated Downloads section where you can view the status of all episode downloads in one place.
Listening and Playback
Once you have episodes downloaded, you can start listening to them in the podcast app. Here are some tips for controlling playback and optimizing the listening experience on Android:
To begin playing an episode, simply tap on it in your library or playlists. The episode will begin streaming immediately. You can pause/play by tapping the play/pause button, or by using headset controls if supported by your headphones.
Most podcast apps have 10-30 second rewind and fast forward buttons to skip back or ahead within an episode. Some apps like Google Podcasts also let you quickly scrub through the timeline.
Under Settings, explore options like playback speed and auto deletion to customize your experience. Playback can often be sped up to 3x speed or slowed down for easier listening. Enable auto deletion to automatically remove episodes after you finish them.
For seamless playback, make sure you have a stable internet connection for streaming. Downloading episodes over WiFi helps avoid data overages. Consider using headphones for an immersive listening session without distractions.
Adjusting playback speed and streaming quality can also optimize performance. If an episode is buffering, try reducing the speed or quality. Restarting the app or your device can also resolve intermittent technical issues.
Managing Your Library
One of the great features of Android podcast apps is the ability to customize and organize your podcast library. You can create playlists, categorize shows into folders, archive episodes you’ve listened to, and rearrange the podcasts into your preferred order.
Playlists allow you to group episodes from multiple shows into a custom listening queue. For example, you could make a playlist for your favorite comedy podcast episodes. Most apps let you create unlimited playlists. Podcast Addict has a robust playlist system with the ability to automatically add new episodes based on filters.
Categorizing your podcasts into folders is great for organizing a large library. You could have folders for News, Comedy, Technology etc. Podify for Spotify makes it easy to sort your Spotify podcasts into custom categories.
Archiving listened episodes clears out your queue while still saving them in your library. Apps like Pocket Casts let you auto-archive after listening. You can also manually archive episodes you don’t want showing up in your playlist.
Finally, most podcast apps allow you to rearrange your podcasts into any order you want. You can sort alphabetically or drag and drop them into a custom order. This keeps your favorites up top for easy access.
With robust library management, you can organize your Android podcasts exactly how you like. Playlists, categories, archiving, and rearranging give you full control over your listening experience.
Extra Features
Most podcast apps come with additional useful features beyond just finding, downloading, and listening to podcasts.
One common extra feature is notifications – many apps allow you to enable notifications when a new episode of a podcast you follow is released. This means you can stay up-to-date without having to constantly check for new episodes yourself. Pocket Casts, Player FM, Spotify, and other popular apps include configurable notification options.
Another handy feature is auto-downloading of new episodes. You can indicate in the app settings which podcasts you always want to download new episodes for automatically. Then you’ll have them ready and waiting to listen when offline or without internet access. Podcast Addict, Castbox, and other apps support auto-download.
Some podcast apps like Spotify and Google Podcasts integrate tightly with Google Assistant and Google Home devices. This allows you to use voice commands to search for and play podcasts hands-free.
Personalized recommendations are also common. Apps like Pocket Casts, Spotify, and Player FM analyze your listening history and suggest new podcasts you may enjoy based on your interests.
Finally, some apps allow sharing episodes or clips from episodes via social media or messaging. This makes it easy to pass along podcasts you find interesting to friends and family.
Troubleshooting
Here are some solutions for common issues when using podcast apps on Android:
If episodes aren’t downloading properly, first try restarting your phone and reopening the app. This resets the cache and connections which can fix download problems. You can also try clearing the app’s cache and data through your phone’s settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Select your podcast app > Storage > Clear Cache/Clear Data.
For playback issues like episodes stopping suddenly or not loading, check for software updates in the Play Store to ensure you have the latest version. Also disable battery optimization for the app so your phone doesn’t force close it. Try testing the episode download and playback while connected to WiFi as well.
If problems persist, you may need to uninstall then reinstall the app entirely. This forces a clean slate. When reinstalling, be sure to reauthorize the app and log back into your account.
As a last resort, you can contact the podcast app’s customer support. Information is usually available within the app’s settings. Provide details on the issues you’re experiencing and what troubleshooting steps you’ve tried.
For Google Podcasts specifically, visit Google Podcast Help for troubleshooting assistance. You can also join the Google Podcasts community forum to get help from other users.
Additional Tips
There are a few tricks for discovering new podcasts and episodes on Android podcast apps (https://www.androidpolice.com/google-podcasts-tips-and-tricks/):
- Browse curated lists of trending and popular podcasts
- Let the app recommend podcasts based on your interests
- Follow your favorite podcast creators to get notified of new shows
- Use the search function to find podcasts on specific topics
You can optimize the app settings for data usage (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/tips-for-google-podcasts/):
- Only download new episodes over Wi-Fi
- Set a limit on how many episodes to store on your device
- Adjust download quality to save data
Using multiple podcast apps can allow you to tailor your experience (https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9049144?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid):
- Use one app for long form shows, another for short news briefs
- Dedicate different apps for work and personal listening
- Take advantage of unique features of different apps
Conclusion
In summary, here are the key steps we covered for listening to Apple Podcasts on your Android device:
– Download a podcast app like Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Pocket Casts
– Search for and subscribe to your favorite Apple Podcasts within the app
– Download episodes to listen offline or stream them directly
– Manage your library, playlists, and settings within the app
Listening to podcasts on your Android opens up a world of engaging content. Benefits include learning new information, hearing different perspectives, being entertained, and exposing yourself to new ideas and concepts. Podcast apps make it easy to access Apple Podcasts and customize your listening experience.
For further reading, check out these additional resources:
– [How to Download Podcasts on Android](https://www.maketecheasier.com/download-podcasts-android/)
– [10 Best Podcast Apps for Android](https://www.androidauthority.com/best-podcast-apps-for-android-2-693843/)
– [Podcast Listening Tips](https://www.npr.org/2018/08/28/642706138/10-podcast-listening-tips)