Podcasts not updating on watch

I’ve got the cellular plan with my watch and still have the exact same issue. None of the suggested fixes on this thread have worked. Apple needs to address this.

Outcast is a better alternative. Downloads podcast episodes in seconds.

Just as several others have said on this thread frequently, Outcast works well with the Watch: it's bone simple and downloads podcasts directly to the Watch over WiFi in seconds.

Yes.

Seems like Outcast may be the ticket based on this thread.

If you use the outcast app, the podcast download in seconds. No overnight waiting ….

I have exactly same issue. Very frustrating!

Does anybody solve it? Have somebody tried to claim it?

Well you've tried just about everything now,I did read on one forum that a person deleted the podcast app off the phone and then reinstalled it,this also removes the podcast app off the watch then reinstalls it there too.

The only other thing I can think of is to unpair and re-pair and "setup as new",unless of course you've already tried that.

I have Apple Watch 6 with watchOS 7.3.3 and iPhone 11 Pro Max with iOS 14.4.2 I tried to remove all podcasts and re-downloaded them, reboot devices, manually sync podcasts. This ways don’t help me. Apple, please fix this bug with next releases.

Here seems to be what my issue has been, maybe it will help someone else in this thread.

I am not techy so bare with me, I am running a series 3 8gb. First problem: didn’t realize I had no space left on the watch (so was just stuck on pending) after deleting music, apps, and pictures and updating the watch to the most recent iOS, I had success syncing one podcast. Tech support has also told me you can only sync 2gb of podcast, audiobooks and music.

Anyways. Long story short. I had no space and I have narrowed it down to just adding one show (joe rogan) and When I want to switch it up I’ll toggle his show off and add a new show

and I will be upgrading to a newer model hahaha question is do I wait for a new release or go to the 5 with cellular. I was already considering an upgrade. But this solidified it. 8gb. What was I thinking! I have enjoyed it for 2+ years however. Still a great device. But I love leaving my phone at home for runs,walks,bikes with the dog

Well I may be a total ding dong... I didn’t even look on the watch App Store first. I found it for my phone, downloaded it there, then watch, then realized I had to pay the $9.99 sub in order to have the pods actually downloaded to the watch... so unfortunately, I can’t tell if the solo watch app was $0.99

But all in all, it does download directly to the watch (once episodes are selected and downloaded to phone) and I can go ride with out my phone.

My only thing is, I have still brought my phone because I have the native Podcast app set for auto downloads and I just completely forget to download the new ones on Overcast. So that’s the one personal downside for me.

I have had the same issue on Series 4 cellular. Nothing works. Spent hours 18 months ago with support, no help. Fortunately, there is an excellent app called Outcast that allows you to download podcasts to your watch. It's a minor inconvenience in that you have to turn off Bluetooth and keep your screen awake. But podcasts then download quickly and the playback is flawless. You have to download each episode manually, but at least it works. Shame on Apple for letting this issue linger.

I have the same problem although it’s a relatively recent thing. I used Overcast for 18 months or so which downloaded episodes seamlessly but recently it has suffered the same delay and hit and miss downloads issue you describe.

unfortunately your cellular streaming solution also doesn’t work as this completely drains your battery in about 20 mins!

Apple may as well just retire the watch podcasts app as it is completely useless.

Been having same troubles. However reading about something else, came across this action and it worked. Had podcast downloaded to watch overnight (finally worked again).

Leave Podcast app open on phone. Leave Podcast app open on watch. Note: I have Background App Refresh turned OFF on phone (not sure what effect this might have had). I also left Watch app open for good measure.

Results was podcasts downloaded after 5 days of nothing downloading. Maybe this will help others..... or it just happened to work this time.

I experimented with the Watch this evening and found that two very old episodes (in which I have no interest) were loaded directly into the Watch's memory after charging today. But at the same time, one new episode of today has not been loaded into the Watch's memory. Thus, what I would like to listen to from the Watch was not downloaded, but the old ones, on the contrary, were downloaded. This is the worst-case scenario when you don't understand why this is happening, and you cannot control it, and, accordingly, you can never foresee the result. Usually, in this situation, I just refuse to use such unpredictable functions.

I was also surprised to find that some music albums were loaded into the Watch's memory. I heard that for this you first need to create a playlist, and then add it in the "Watch" app on iPhone. But I have not done any of this, and have not yet created a single playlist. But, nevertheless, some music was still loaded into the Watch's memory. Misunderstandings again... There is a great lack of full control over processes.

I think the Heavy Rotation function will automatically add music to the watch when enabled even if the playlists is disabled.

As to the podcasts I’ve been using Outcast which will allow you to download the episodes you want directly to the watch. And much quicker download than the Apple podcast app