archived podcast

I can see from your screenshot that the reason you cannot subscribe is because the button is locked (by the padlock icon). So that's what needs to be fixed.

Researching the "padlocked button" symptom, I found this discussion from 2018 that I think may solve the issue: iTunes Podcast Subscribed Button locked o… - Apple Community albeit that the person who asked the question (the OP) also found the answer. However, it's a bit short on specific detail, so I'll provide it.

The OP deleted the offending Podcasts (as you did) but then reset warnings etc. You can try the resets without deleting the Podcast feed, but if that doesn't work, I suggest that you delete the feed, then do the resets and then find the Podcast again.

Basically, you need to use iTunes' top bar menu to go into Edit/Preferences/Advanced and about halfway down the pane you need to click on the following:

• • Reset all dialogue warnings: Reset Warnings
  • Reset iTunes Store cache: Reset Cache
  • Reset podcast identifier: Reset Identifier

That last one is of particular interest, but I suggest that you reset them all.

Any luck?

wthomas69 wrote:

It is now listed as archived and won't let me subscribe even though there are current episodes being uploaded each week. <...> I unsubscribed and deleted all the episodes ...

I've just had a thought after re-reading your post.

You were already subscribed (as you said) so the option to subscribe would not be there. Instead, it would say unsubscribe.

As for this:

have been listening to a podcast called "av rant" for years. It is now listed as archived

Is there any chance that the Podcast has been renamed, from AV Rant to Podcast Archives - AV Rant? If so, you would need to subscribe to the new feed (Podcast Archives - AV Rant) because the old feed would no longer be updated. As previously advised, check with the Podcast's producers.

Everything I wrote in my original post still applies.

I can see the podcast you're referring to, and it appears as though one can still subscribe to it. I'm not convinced that it is "archived" (see below*)

* By the way, I assume that you mean that iTunes has been adding the episodes that you download to a folder named Podcast Archives - AV Rant (which should be in be parent folder named Podcasts) and the reason is not because they're archived but because that's the name of the Podcast (Podcast Archives - AV Rant).

As you can see, not only is the subscribe button available, but there is an episode from 11th Feb listed. One thing to note is that (unless iTunes has changed this) if you do not listen to any episodes from a Podcast series for (I think) five episodes, iTunes will stop downloading them. It should however, place an exclamation mark next to the series heading, which if you hover over it, will explain this and give you the option of continuing to download episodes. The stop-downloading option is there for the benefit of the Podcaster, to save them money.

If you still cannot subscribe, I suggest that you contact the Podcast producers, as ultimately, it will be down to them to solve this, not iTunes (Apple). All Apple does is list the Podcasts, they don't host them and have almost nothing to do with them.

In the meantime, check your windows Recycle bin to see if the deleted Podcast episodes are in there. If they are, use the recycle bin's Restore the selected items option to put them back where they were. You will then need to use File/Add Folder to Library to add them back into your iTunes Library. There is a remote possibility that this will solve your subscribe difficulty too.

That's good news.

Make a note of our discussion, it will help you should this ever happen again.