The world of podcasting is changing! If you’re a fan of Google Podcasts, it’s time for a transition. The popular podcast app, with over 500 million downloads, is officially shutting down in the US as of April 2nd, 2024. But don’t worry about losing track of your favorite shows. We will guide you through everything you need to know about the shutdown and how to transfer your subscriptions to YouTube Music or another podcast platform of your choice.
Google Podcasts: Why the Change?
Google is aiming to consolidate its audio and video podcast offerings under the umbrella of YouTube Music. The goal is to create a more streamlined and potentially feature-rich experience for podcast enthusiasts. With YouTube’s power behind it, we might see some exciting things for podcasts in the future.
Transferring to YouTube Music: A Smooth Process
Ready to move your subscriptions? Migrating from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music is surprisingly easy. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Google Podcasts app on your Android or iOS device.
- You’ll notice a banner on the Home tab notifying you about the app’s closure. Tap on “Export Subscriptions.”
- Under “Export to YouTube Music,” simply tap the “Export” button.
- The YouTube Music app will open. Select your Gmail account, and the transfer process will begin. It might take a little time for all your podcasts to show up in YouTube Music, so be patient!
Missing Google Podcasts on YouTube Music?
While Google is working to smooth the transition, you might find that a few of your favorite podcasts aren’t immediately available on YouTube Music. If you see a “Content is unavailable” message, don’t despair. You can try searching for the podcast manually within YouTube Music. If that doesn’t work, and the podcast publisher has an RSS feed, you can add it manually to YouTube Music.
Alternative Apps: Downloading Your Subscriptions
The process isn’t as direct if you want to switch to a different podcast app altogether. However, you can still easily save your subscriptions. Within the Google Podcasts app, find the export banner we mentioned previously. Tap “Export Subscriptions” and then “Download.” This creates an OPML file containing your podcast subscriptions. You can also access a more comprehensive export of your data through Google Takeout. Most popular podcast apps will allow you to import your list of shows from this OPML file.
The Future of Your Podcasts
The Google Podcasts app might be disappearing, but that doesn’t mean your favorite shows end. YouTube Music is ready to become your new podcast hub, and with time, it’s likely to offer unique features for listeners. If you’re curious about other options, there are excellent alternative podcast apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and Stitcher.
