Apple Podcast is causing iPhone 12 Pro Max overheating in iOS 14.6

I could solve that issue and got my podcast app to run smooth and not overheating my phone again.

(using iPhone 11+iOS14.6)

I am following many podcast series.

the thing I noticed is, when starting podcast it instantly starts to download a ton of new episodes of my series. Which sets the phone under heavy load.

so I did the following:

1. “go to media library-> download “ and stop all current downloads
2. closed the app and did. that a second time, but unfortunate podcast will continue to download new episodes in the background.
3. So I went through my media library: “long tap” a series -> go to settings -> remove automatic downloads. I did that for every series. So like 80 times or something.
4. go to the iphone settings -> podcast app. And disable automatic downloads when following.
5. i also disabled “download saved episodes”
6. since I listen on iPhone only, I disabled “synchronize podcast”

Hope that helps 💪🤞

One more thing to add. After I closed the Apple podcast app, my phone was still hot and the battery usage was still indicating that the app was using the battery. I noticed in the podcast app settings that background app refresh was marked to “on”. I switched it off and turned off “sync podcasts” just to be safe, and that made a huge improvement. I will continue to use the Overcast app only until I see an announcement that Apple has corrected all of this. In the meantime, I do not want my phone attempting to download subscribed podcasts in the background. I wonder if it has been constantly checking for new podcasts and/or downloading/overwriting in a loop.

Please submit thatto Apple at Apple Feedback, https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-podcasts/

The Apple Podcasts app is still bug-ridden. I’m sorry podcast users have had to serve as guinea pigs for such a flawed version of the Podcast app, it doesn’t make sense to invest time trying to answer questions about such an unpredictable piece of software.

On the Apple Podcasts Server side new episodes for some Shows are listed three days after they are available on TuneIn, Stitcher, SoundCloud, etc.

On the Apple Podcasts app side:

• Episodes sometimes mark themselves as played after just a few seconds,

• some Shows do not list the most recent unplayed episodes even when the Show settings are chosen to do so.

• Station lists sometimes do not list unplayed episodes available in Show lists, even though the Station settings do not limit episodes,

• some episodes download once in Show lists, others simply do not, even the toggle for Automatic Downloads in Show settings is On,

• the app causes a heating problem and excessive battery draining, particularly when select other apps are open in the background or foreground,

• a change in key default settings in the iOS 14.5 Podcasts app upgrade caused numerous unwanted automatic downloads in Shows with tens or hundreds of episodes.

Hopefully, some heads have rolled for those responsible, clearer thinking people have replaced them and the bugs will be straightened out soon. Apple is an excellent company which has made this experience frustrate us more.

Here's a solution that really solves the problem:

1. Delete Apple's podcast app.
2. Download "Overcast" from App store
3. Go to Overcast settings and select universal download/delete preferences
4. If you don't care for Overcast, there are many other highly-rated podcast apps that have better features than Apple's PC app- and won't burn up your battery.

I FOUND A GREAT SOLUTION!!!

I have the iPhone-heating-up listening to podcasts using iOS 14.6 problem. I downloaded "Overcast" which is a very nice podcast app from iTunes App store and added all my podcasts to that app where I will now be listening to all my podcasts. It has very user-friendly features and hopefully the phone battery can recover.

The best solution I found was to delete the Apple podcast app from your devices and use a 3rd party podcast app. I'm using "Overcast" and no longer have an issue with my iPhone heating up and the battery draining seemingly in minutes. The Overcast app has some very nice user-friendly features not found on the Apple podcast app and I plan to stay with this app even after Apple manages to fix the problem -- if they ever do fix it. The Apple podcast app is just too damaging to my iPhone to use it -- and now I'm very satisfied with the Overcast app.

I’ve installed 14.7 and initial results are encouraging - have been playing a podcast for 30 minutes with no noticeable buildup of heat (XS Max) Previously I’d be able to fry an egg on it by now!

I had the same problem using an iPhone 12, so switched to using Overcast for podcast listening. No more heating and battery destroying problems!

I have the same issue with my iPhone 11 Pro Max. The battery life screen even “admitted” (ha!) that the podcast app used 40% of my battery in 24 hrs. I switched to Overcast for now because I saw that it is recommended, but I really don’t want to have to pay $10/yr for no ads and extra storage. I already have Amazon prime so maybe I’ll try their music app. Although the Apple podcast app has always had weaknesses, it’s what I’m used to and need it back working properly.

I’ve noticed an overheating problem to when using Podcast app, though not always. It seems to occurr when I am also using another app such as the photos app. If I set the phone down put in sleep mode, while continuing to play podcasts, it cools down quickly.

Over my seven iPhones we have had several bouts of apps generating too much heat. I’m sure Apple will get to the bottom of this one pretty quickly.

This is my battery usage over the past 10 days. Keep in mind that the podcast app has been garbage and mostly unusable. Most of this time has been me trying to figure out where my podcasts are and why they won’t play or delete with very little listening/enjoying podcasts.

Ahh, the Apple tech support guy told me he was pretty sure the podcast app was one that couldn’t be deleted. I assumed he was right and forgot to even try that. So far so good on the settings, but deleting is my next option. 😀

I have the iPhone SE 2020 and Apple Podcasts eat up my battery and also cause the phone to get hot. I’ve talked to Apple Support. They cannot find any issues with my phone and/or battery. They suggested I replace the battery; however, IDK if I want to until this issue is corrected. I love the Apple Podcast app and don’t care for Spotify. I’m doing Audible for now. So sad

The 14.6 update did the same to podcast app on my iPhone 11. Phone gets so hot and battery drains ~1% per minute - I’m concerned Apple’s update has caused battery damage now it’s life has dropped to 86%, and it was healthier than that before this. I went to see Apple genius for help and they told me that not enough people have had this problem with podcast app since update so Apple have not sent them a solution to try. Genius gave the usual (delete app, rest phone). No help! Moved to Spotify, and faith lost in Apple.