The fastest way to download a podcast
Most podcast apps let you download episodes directly from within the app itself. Open your podcast app, find the episode you want, and tap or click the download button — usually a downward arrow or cloud icon. The episode saves to your device and plays without needing an internet connection.
If you use Apple Podcasts on iPhone or iPad, open the show, tap the three dots next to an episode, and select "Download Episode". On Android with Google Podcasts or most third-party apps like Pocket Casts or Podcast Addict, the download button appears next to each episode in the episode list. On a computer, the process is the same: find the episode and click download.
Downloaded episodes stay on your device until you delete them. You can listen to them offline, which is useful for flights, commutes without cell service, or saving data on a limited plan.
Key Takeaways
- Most podcast apps have a download button next to each episode that saves it to your device for offline listening.
- Downloaded episodes take up storage space on your phone or computer, so delete old ones if you run low on space.
- Some apps let you set automatic downloads for new episodes from shows you follow, so you always have fresh content ready.
- Podcast websites often let you download episodes directly from your web browser if you do not want to use an app.
Downloading through your podcast app
The app you use to listen to podcasts is where most downloads happen. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and apps like Pocket Casts all work the same way: tap or click the download icon next to the episode title, and the file transfers to your device.
On iPhone and iPad, Apple Podcasts shows a cloud icon with a downward arrow next to each episode. Tap it once and the episode downloads. On Android, Google Podcasts and most third-party apps show a similar icon. Spotify displays a download button as a downward arrow on the episode page.
Downloaded episodes appear in a "Downloads" or "Saved" section of your app, separate from the full feed. This makes it easy to find what you have already downloaded without scrolling through hundreds of episodes.
Setting up automatic downloads
Many podcast apps can download new episodes automatically as soon as they come out. This means you wake up to fresh content ready to listen, even if you have no internet connection that morning.
In Apple Podcasts, go to Settings, tap "Podcasts", and toggle on "Sync Podcasts". Then open a show you follow, tap the three dots, and select "Settings" to choose whether new episodes download automatically. In Pocket Casts, open a show, tap the settings icon, and turn on "Auto-download new episodes". Google Podcasts and Spotify have similar settings buried in their preferences — look for "Downloads" or "Auto-download" in the app settings.
Automatic downloads use storage space and data, so turn this on only for shows you actually listen to regularly. If your phone runs low on space, the app may stop downloading until you delete older episodes.
Downloading from a podcast website
If you prefer not to use an app, you can download episodes directly from a podcast's website. Most shows publish their episodes on a website where you can right-click the episode link and select "Save link as" to download the audio file to your computer.
Visit the podcast's official website, find the episode you want, and look for a download link or button. It may say "Download", show a downward arrow, or simply be the episode title itself. Right-click it and choose "Save as" on Windows or "Save linked file as" on Mac. The audio file (usually an MP3) downloads to your Downloads folder.
This method works well if you want to organize episodes in your own folders or transfer them to a device that does not have a podcast app installed. It also gives you the original audio file without any app-specific formatting.
Managing storage when you download episodes
Downloaded podcast episodes take up storage space on your device. A typical hour-long episode is 30 to 100 megabytes, depending on audio quality. If you download dozens of shows, you can quickly fill up a phone or tablet.
Most podcast apps let you delete downloaded episodes one at a time or set them to delete automatically after you finish listening. In Apple Podcasts, go to Settings, tap "Podcasts", and choose how long to keep episodes after you finish them — options include "Never", "After 24 hours", or "After one week". Pocket Casts and other apps have similar settings under preferences or settings for each show.
Check your phone's storage settings regularly if you download many episodes. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "General", then "iPhone Storage" to see how much space podcasts are using. On Android, open Settings, tap "Apps", find your podcast app, and check its storage use.
Downloading podcasts on a computer
If you listen to podcasts on a Mac or Windows computer, you can download episodes through Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or your web browser. Apple Podcasts on Mac works the same as on iPhone — click the download icon next to an episode. Pocket Casts has a web player where you can download episodes to listen offline in the app.
For a web browser, visit the podcast's website directly and download the episode file as you would any other audio file. This gives you an MP3 file you can organize however you want, move to other devices, or play in any media player.
Downloaded episodes on your computer take up hard drive space just like on a phone. If you download many shows, consider moving old episodes to an external drive or deleting them after you listen.
Transferring downloaded episodes to other devices
If you download an episode as an MP3 file from a website, you can move it to any device that plays audio — a phone, tablet, car stereo, or portable player. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, drag the MP3 file into the device's music or downloads folder, and it will be there to play.
Episodes downloaded through a podcast app are usually locked to that app and cannot be transferred. If you want to move an episode from Apple Podcasts to another app, download it as an MP3 from the podcast's website instead of using the app's download button.
Some podcast apps let you export your subscriptions as a file so you can import them into a different app on another device. Look for "Export" or "Backup" in your app's settings if you plan to switch apps or devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much storage does a downloaded podcast episode use?
A typical one-hour episode uses 30 to 100 megabytes depending on audio quality and format. Higher-quality audio takes more space. If you download 10 episodes a week, expect to use 300 to 1,000 megabytes per week, so delete old episodes regularly to stay under your device's storage limit.
Can I download a podcast episode if I do not have the app?
Yes. Visit the podcast's website, find the episode, and right-click the download link to save it as an MP3 file to your computer. You can then play it in any media player or move it to another device without needing the podcast app.
Do downloaded episodes use data when I listen to them?
No. Once an episode is fully downloaded to your device, listening to it uses no data. This is the main reason to download — you can listen on a plane, in a tunnel, or anywhere without cell service or WiFi.
What happens to my downloaded episodes if I uninstall the podcast app?
They are deleted along with the app. If you want to keep episodes, download them as MP3 files from the podcast's website instead of using the app's download feature. Those files stay on your device even if you uninstall the app.
Can I download a whole season of a podcast at once?
Most apps do not have a "download all" button, but you can set the app to automatically download new episodes from a show you follow. Some apps like Podcast Addict let you select multiple episodes and download them together, but you have to do this manually for past episodes.