Import Stitcher OPML file to Apple Podcast

Have you used the Apple Podcast app much? If not then you should before you spend time adding a lot of subscriptions to make sure it does what you need it to do. The App is clunky, unfriendly, un-organizable and drives me (and many others) mad. It sounds like podcasts are a big part of your listening life (unlike me) so there might be better alternatives and I'd do some research first if I were you.

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/92a14d6b4d6d4139b2313fcee76daa20

I have created an Apple shortcut to import opml file to Apple Podcast. It is easy to use:

1. Export an OPML file from your third-part Podcasts app like OverCast;
2. Share the file and click Copy to get the text content of it to your clipboard;
3. Start the shortcut command, which will read your clipboard and add all the podcasts to your Apple Podcasts app.

P.S. The RSS feed url I used in the shortcut is xmlUrl, you can also customize this field in your own shortcut.

I appreciate Harold Gao's shortcut, but OPML import AND export is a feature that belongs in the software itself. Apple just added transcripts to Podcasts, which is a killer feature. Why the heck can't they add a bread-and-butter feature like OPML? Sorry, but I'm not going to be locked into Apple if they don't support OPML. I can wait for Overcast to add transcripts.

On itunes, go to "file", "add file to library" and add the OPML. It will ask you if you want to subscribe to all those podcasts.

This tells you how to export FROM Apple Podcasts to another app but not how to import a playlist from a mother podcast platform to Apple Podcasts. For this of us with a large set of podcast subscriptions the idea of manually subscribing to each anew on ApplePod is very daunting. That’s what the OPML file was meant for. Come on Apple. Make it easier to switch!

you can manually add podcasts to the Apple Podcasts app on your Mac by subscribing to them one by one using their RSS feed URLs. Here's how you can do it:

1. Locate Your OPML File: First, make sure you have the OPML file containing your podcast subscriptions exported from Stitcher.
2. Find the RSS Feeds: Open your OPML file with a text editor (like TextEdit or Notepad). Inside the OPML file, you will find a list of URLs (RSS feeds) for your subscribed podcasts. Copy the URLs you want to import to Apple Podcasts.
3. Open Apple Podcasts on Your Mac: Launch the Apple Podcasts app on your MacBook.
4. Manually Add Podcasts:

• • Click on the "File" menu at the top-left corner of your screen.
  • Select "Add a Show by URL."
  • Paste the RSS feed URL of the podcast you want to subscribe to.
  • Click "Subscribe."

1. Repeat: Repeat the above steps for each podcast you want to import from your OPML file.

Please note that this process can be a bit time-consuming if you have a large number of podcasts to import, as you'll need to do it one at a time.

Keep in mind that software and app features may have evolved since my last update in September 2021, so it's possible that newer versions of the Apple Podcasts app on macOS may offer improved import options. If there have been significant updates to the app since then, I recommend checking the app's official documentation or reaching out to Apple support for the most up-to-date instructions.

Thanks for your suggestion. And I agree that Apple Podcast app is unfriendly and un-organizable. Thus I mainly use OverCast app to listen to my shows. But Apple Podcast app provide a good search function by which I can find some new shows on topics I am interested.

The HaroldGao Apple Shortcut is excellent!

Here’s his latest V3 version link: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/73200df3482f4125879d30d02860f250

Thank you for creating it!

I did however have to do a bit of troubleshooting to get it to work fully and thought I should elaborate in case others encounter similar problems.

Starting from my iPhone I installed a text editor app and opened the .opml file in it.

Then I highlighted and copied the entire text contents of the file within the editor.

I ran the shortcut and it began working, it added about 15 out of 100 and then I got an error.

Upon investigating the shortcut error I realized it was an issue to do with following a repeated podcast.

So I checked the list of added podcasts in the Apple Podcast app and sorted my library of followed podcasts by date followed. I found the last one added and keeping that in mind I went back to editor.

In the text editor I edited the .opml file to erase everything between the standard starter text at the top and all the podcasts that had been followed already, I then went one podcast further and erased all the text from < > bracket to bracket. I realized the error was that the one podcast further was one I had already followed.

Example:

You start with a text file something like this:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8' standalone='no' ?>

<opml version="1.0">

<head>

<title>Google Podcasts Feeds</title>

</head>

<body>

<outline text="feeds">

<outline type="rss" text="EXTRA PODCAST ONE MORE DOWN" xmlUrl="EXAMPLE-URL”/>

<outline type="rss" text="NEXT PODCAST I WANT TO CONTINUE ADDING" xmlUrl="EXAMPLE-URL”/>

Here’s what it looks like with the BOLD TEXT above edited out so it keeps working properly:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8' standalone='no' ?>

<opml version="1.0">

<head>

<title>Google Podcasts Feeds</title>

</head>

<body>

<outline text="feeds">

<outline type="rss" text="NEXT PODCAST I WANT TO CONTINUE ADDING" xmlUrl="EXAMPLE-URL”/>

I then copied my new text and re ran the Shortcut.

I had to repeat this process maybe 3-4 times but eventually it added all of my about 100 podcasts very quickly.

I suppose alternatively you could erase all of your followed podcasts before beginning but that’s not for everyone. Also I did also encounter a Podcast not found error and had to employ the same trick so you may still need to do some text editing regardless.

I hope this helps anyone who had the same slight speed bump I ran into it, even though it makes migrating into Apple Podcasts a breeze.

Good luck ! 🤞

ShragleDagle

iTunes has been replaced by separate apps for its component sections - Podcasts, Music, TV. Each works broadly the same as the original sections of iTunes. However it seems unlikely you will be able to import an OPML file into Podcasts.

Did you find out the answer? I’m so ******. Stitcher gave us zero warning of shutting down. I have years of podcasts saved on there.

I followed the steps but got an error:

Unable to Follow

Unable to follow podcast because an unknown error occurred.

need copy "text", not file

Stitcher gave 3 months of periodical warnings. I created my OPML file but I'm so bummed to find out it seems that it can't be imported to Apple Podcasts. I see people on here saying they succeeded - I followed the steps and imported it to my Apple Music library, but nothing happened.

I was able to upload my opml to iheart radio... but am hoping Apple comes out with a way too.

See if this helps: https://support.pocketcasts.com/article/im-new-to-pocket-casts-how-do-i-import-my-opml-2/