Download podcasts – How to download on Apple, Spotify, etc.
No question about it: podcasts are the ideal toolif you want to continue your education from home, enjoy real crime stories, or learn more about the hidden mechanisms of human psychology, for example.
On platforms such as Apple or Spotify , you can conveniently stream podcasts online at any time—provided, of course, that you have a stable internet connection. But what if you want to listen to your favorite podcast offline offline – such as on a plane or on a hike in the deepest jungle?
In this case, the episodes should be saved on your smartphone or tablet in advance. That's why we explain step-by-step in this article how you can download your download your podcast – whether from Apple, Google, or Spotify. So you can keep listening even without an internet connection!
Downloading podcasts – a step-by-step guide
Want to download a few episodes of your favorite podcasts? Or the entire podcast? Nowadays, that's no problem at all—if you know how to do it! Of course, downloading podcasts works a little differently on each platform.
To save you having to search around, we have summarized a few simple step-by-step instructions below showing you how to easily download your podcast episodes to the most popular platforms . Let's get started!
Download podcast on Apple Podcasts
Let's start right away with the help guide for all Apple enthusiasts! Here's a quick step-by-step tutorial on how to download podcast episodes to your iPhone or iPad :
- Open the Podcasts app on your device.
- Select the program you would like to download.
- Press and hold your finger on the episode you want to download.
- Tap "Load episode."
Good to know: If you follow a podcast, new episodes are automatically downloaded to your device.
Saving a podcast vs. downloading a podcast – what's the difference?
You may have already noticed that Apple Podcasts offers two options:
"Save podcast" and "Download podcast." But what exactly is the difference between the two?
It's quite simple, really!
- "Save podcast" means that the episode is saved in your media library so that you can access it at any time as long as you have an internet connection. The episode is not stored on the device, but is simply displayed as a favorite in the library.
- "Download podcast" saves the episode directly to your iPhone or iPad, so you can listen to it offline even without an internet connection.
However, the "Back up when charging" is preset. This means that podcast episodes are also downloaded when you tap "Save Podcast."
You can disable this setting at any time. To do so, simply go to "Settings" on your Apple device and then to "Podcasts." There, you can swipe the "Save While Downloading" slider to the left.
Download podcast on Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts was officially discontinued on August 30, 2024, as Google will primarily focus on YouTube Music . If you still have an active Google Podcast subscription, you can transfer it to YouTube Musicby opening the Google Podcasts app and tapping "Export Subscriptions" at the top.
Download podcast on YouTube Music
To add a podcast to YouTube Music , you need a premium subscription. Only then can you listen to videos, music, and podcasts offline.
It doesn't matter whether you Apple or Android .
- Install the YouTube Music app on your device.
- Log in (you need a premium subscription).
- Open the podcast of your choice.
- Click on the download icon with the downward arrow to download individual episodes.
- The episodes are stored offline in the media library under "Downloads."
Please note: The Smart Download feature is not currently available for podcasts.
Download podcast on Spotify
Spotify remains the undisputed number one music streaming provider. With Spotify Podcast , you can not only enjoy your favorite music, but now also discover a huge selection of podcasts.
Of course, you can also download podcasts, shows, or individual episodes on Spotify. Just follow these 4 steps:
- Open the Spotify app and search for the podcast or show you want to listen to.
- Select the episode you want to download.
- Tap the download icon right next to the episode.
- Wait until the download is complete and enjoy the episode offline in your library.
Good to know: If you don't go online for 30 consecutive days on Spotify, your downloads will be deleted.
Downloading Spotify podcasts—only for Premium subscribers?
A Spotify Premium subscription is generally required to download music and albums. Fortunately, podcasts are an exception to this rule. exception , as you can also download most of them download in the free version !
Download podcasts via third-party apps
In addition, there are now a large number of third-party apps such as Pocket Casts and Overcast. These apps usually also offer various download and management functions.
Basically, downloading works in much the same way with most third-party apps. Simply search for the podcast or episode you want, tap the download icon, and the episode will be saved to your device. It's not rocket science!
Managing downloaded podcasts – here's what you need to know!
Now you know how to download podcasts quickly and easily so you can listen to your favorite shows offline.
But also after downloading there are still a few things you should keep in mind:
- Delete old episodes: To avoid using up too much storage space on your device, you should regularly delete old podcast episodes that you no longer listen to.
- Create playlists: Playlists are ideal for sorting your favorite podcasts by topic and keeping track of them.
- Automate podcast downloads: Many apps offer a "smart download" feature—meaning new episodes are downloaded automatically!
Finally: 3 tips for an optimal listening experience
And finally, we would like to give you 3 tips to help you get the most out of your podcast listening experience !
- Adjust the audio quality of your downloads: Higher quality sounds better, but also takes up more storage space!
- Enable notifications: So you can stay up to date when a new episode of your favorite podcast is released!
- Make regular backups: This ensures that you won't lose your downloads if something happens to your device.
So now you're well equipped for your next vacation—even if you find yourself without an internet connection while traveling. Have fun podcasting!