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Podcasts App - No sync with iTunes??

New Podcasts App = great (thanks). BUT...

I want the Podcasts that I've subscribed to in iTunes to appear automatically on any device (iPhone, iPad) that I have signed in under the same Apple ID. I subscribe to about 28 podcasts and it is a real pain to have to manually add each of those to both my iPhone and my iPad — not to mention keeping all that in sync as I add or delete subscriptions over time.


Is anyone else having this problem? Do you think Apple is working on a fix for this? I've got the latest everything, iOS 5.1.1, iPhone 4S, iPad3, iTunes 10.6.3, iCloud. No luck 😟

Windows 7

Posted on Jun 27, 2012 5:16 AM

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51 replies

Jun 27, 2012 7:59 AM in response to ckuan

Yes I do have sync podcasts enabled and I set everything up with the iPhone connected via USB to the PC while iTunes was running. As I've been reading around other places on the web it seems to be a common problem that there is a "disconnect" between the podcast subscriptions you make in iTunes vs. on the iOS devices. Bummer, I hope that they improve this before iOS 6 or maybe even sooner via an update. As it is now, managing 2-3 separate lists of 20-some-odd podcasts on multiple devices is just not going to be possible.

Jun 27, 2012 1:47 PM in response to luckman212

I have the same problem. After installing Podcasts I have a podcast in itunes on my imac, the same podcast in itunes on my iphone and now a 3rd copy in the Podcasts app and they are all independent of each other ie. they do not sync. Podcasts on my imac in itunes do not sync to the podcasts app, but do sync to itunes on my iphone.

If I switch off podcast syncing in itunes on my imac it removes all podcasts from itunes on my iphone but not from Podcasts. Switching on syncing, puts them back to itunes on the iphone but not in Podcasts.


I'm not sure if it's supposed to work this way. It's unclear to me from other posts on various other websites. If this behaviour is deliberate then I fail to see how Podcasts is useful for me. I listen mostly to podcasts on my desktop computer and sync to my iphone when I go out. I don't really see the point of managing podcasts solely on the iphone using Podcasts.

Jun 29, 2012 12:33 PM in response to luckman212

Ditto. Podcast app doesn't seem to share podcasts already in iTunes on iOS device and it doesn't sync listening location/listened status with iTunes. Not worth it to me. I'm sticking with iTunes syncing for now. It's a pain that my iOS devices must be local to my iTunes server to sync, but at least all the status stays accurate.


Hopefully this changes with iOS 6 and the expected new version of iTunes. Right now it seems that the Podcast app is just one element of an ecosystem based on iCloud that's not fully baked yet.

Jun 29, 2012 5:41 PM in response to luckman212

Same scenario, same problem with playtime / progress in the Podcast App not syncing with the iTunes application and vice-versa.


This has essentially broken podcasts for me - My usage habit is that I listen to a podcast on my phone to and from work, and then when I get home, sync my phone wiht my Mac and continue listening.


This no longer works, and it seems like such a SIMPLE oversight. Very frustrating.

Jun 30, 2012 2:35 PM in response to luckman212

This is such a bummer. Same thing here. The new app is pretty, and I am so greatful to finally have audio and video podcatss back in one place after Apple broke this functionality in the switch from iPod to Music in iOS 5, but the broken/missing syncing functionality is inexcusable. This is supposed to be the main strength of apple's closed ecosystem and verticality - they're supposed to be able to make it "just wok". Why doesn't it? Grrrr.

Jul 1, 2012 11:30 AM in response to luckman212

The new app is really frustrating. iTunes, iPad and iPhone are now out of sync. Even podcasts I've listened to on my iPhone forget they have been listened to and reset. The UI is too dark making it rather impossible to use outdoors in bright light. It forgets your speed preference, meaning you've to reset every time. Its ruined podcasts for me. Apple please fix this.

Jul 2, 2012 6:16 AM in response to patmooney

There is another big omission in this app, playlists. I used to have nice smart playlists that would put a mix of some podcasts for my commute. With this new app I have to constantly open the app, find the podcast, find the epsode and suddenly find its over 50m I can't download because there is no wifi...


And I coud not make it sync between iphone and ipad!


Really frustrating.

Aug 3, 2012 7:33 AM in response to luckman212

I was having the same issue, and went through a a few tweaks of the Sync Podcasts settings within iTunes with some success. After you have connected your device...click on the device icon in itunes, select the Podcasts menu, select Automatically update and configure your settings per podcast or globally. I personally pick up the most recent 3 or 5 unplayed. Try the different settings to mix and match the content flow as you like it, or adjust it specifically for each podcast.


In general, seemed to solve my immediate problem of new content not transfering over "automagically" on sync.

Podcasts App - No sync with iTunes??

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