October 2022: What’s new for Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts for iPad

With iPadOS 16.1, Apple Podcasts has been redesigned to make it easier for listeners to see and access more content at a glance on iPad. Using the new sidebar, listeners can quickly navigate between the Listen Now, Browse, Charts, and Search tabs, as well as sections of their Library, including Recently Updated. With the refreshed Now Playing screen, it’s easy to enable the Sleep Timer and see Episode Notes, Chapters, and what’s Playing Next alongside playback controls for the current episode. Learn more about what’s new with iPadOS 16.1.

The new Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island

iOS 16 delivered the biggest update ever to the Lock Screen. For podcasts, users can easily adjust playback controls from the bottom of the Lock Screen. Listeners can tap on the artwork to display it full screen and tap it again to minimize it. When included, chapter-specific artwork is displayed on the Lock Screen and automatically updated as listeners progress through an episode. Learn more about chapters.

With iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, users can also see and adjust playback from the Always-On display. Once unlocked, they can also see and adjust playback with the Dynamic Island on the Home Screen or in any app. When a podcast is playing, tap the Dynamic Island to open Apple Podcasts or touch and hold to expand Dynamic Island and see more details. Learn more about Dynamic Island.

Popular Shows in Listen Now

The Listen Now tab helps listeners choose what to play with Up Next, easily access content from their channel subscriptions, and offers personalized recommendations for channels, shows, and episodes they are likely to enjoy.

Popular Shows is a new shelf in Listen Now that helps listeners discover new podcasts to follow. Using aggregated charts trends and anonymized listener data, Popular Shows provides each listener with a personalized selection of trending shows that they are not currently following. The shelf is updated regularly with new recommendations based on the other shows a listener is following, frequently listening to, and those that are resonating with others. Listeners can expect to find shows representing a variety of categories, show types, update frequencies, and more.

To help your show appear in Popular Shows, and stand out to new listeners, make sure your show artwork includes your show name and that your show’s category and update frequency are up-to-date. Popular Shows is available worldwide on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura or later.

Helping Followers Discover Subscriptions

There are thousands of podcasts that offer premium benefits through Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. Listeners have been able to discover these podcasts through Listen Now, Browse, Search, and Charts. When they do, they can subscribe to unlock premium benefits from channel and show pages.

Now, listeners can also discover and purchase subscriptions through Now Playing. When a listener is following a show and engages with at least three episodes that have subscriber versions, they will see a hint that a subscription is available for this show in the Now Playing bar. A subtle banner is also displayed on the Now Playing screen between the artwork and episode title. This means that when a listener is enjoying a show they follow, they are only a few taps away from subscribing to unlock premium benefits and support the show. Listeners can also discover these banners on episode pages for shows they follow.

It’s easier than ever for creators to offer an Apple Podcasts Subscription. Learn how to set up a new subscription in just five steps.