Q: Podcast app crashing in iOS 9

How in the heck does restoring ones' phone even remotely constitute a resolution of the issue?!

I commented on this thread earlier, and suggested people start sending feedback to Apple. Since that time I filed a bug regarding this issue to Apple, and it was closed as being a duplicate, so at the very least they are aware of the issue. In addition, my new iPhone 6S just arrived, and the Podcasts app successfully completes the "Updating library..." step, and the app launches and displays my podcasts. I know this is not a fix/resolution to the issue, but I wanted to make sure people know that Apple is aware, and that if you are also soon upgrading to a iPhone 6S or 6S Plus you may also find the problem fixed. My best guess is that this is an out-of-memory issue. And since the iPhone 6S has twice the memory of the 6 (my old phone) it may be able to complete the library upgrading without running out of memory. I am going to update my filled bug with this info, but I have no idea if Apple pays any attention to closed bugs.

Found my solution... Stitcher. Works great for me.

My iPhone 6 podcast app has started working with the iOS 9.1 update but the iPad mini is stuck in the 'updating' followed by crashing. The ipad has plenty of memory, so I doubt the issue is related to that.

Hi, I have the same problem on my iPad 3 mini.

It seems that the device has a problem while it's simultaneously connecting to the internet and playing the show. After turning the wi-fi off the podcast works just fine. You can turn the wi-fi on after it starts to play and everything works fine after that, but I need to repeat this if I turn the app off. It's tedious sometimes but works and I do not need to restore the whole app.

Still I'm waiting for the bug Apple!

I downloaded Overcast, and it seems to be working. With Podcast I was getting the "Updating Library" and then terminate. Can't understand why Apple didn't test this before release.

I downloaded that, too.  The free version is meeting my needs and as a bonus iTunes for Windows seems to be working more responsively for me now that it's no longer managing my podcasts.

I have an iPad mini 2 + cellular. When I downloaded iOS 9, everything worked fine, except Podcasts. It would open and then crash after a few seconds. I turned off my cellular service and the Podcast app worked just fine on wi-fi. After I worked with my podcasts and set up a station called "On The Go" (which is much easier than the "Up Next" variant) I powered off the iPad. After powering it back up, I saw that the cellular service had defaulted back on. Out of curiosity, I tried opening the Podcast app and because the cellular service was enabled, I waited for it to crash. It didn't. IT'S ALIVE!!! Why did this work? No clue. Will this also work on an iPhone? I don't have an iPhone, so I don't know. But it just might. The problem may only exist with devices that have cellular capabilities.

"The problem may only exist with devices that have cellular capabilities."

I have this problem on an iPod Touch 5th generation which has no cellular capabilities.

Will this also work on an iPhone? I don't have an iPhone, so I don't know. But it just might.

I tried this on iPhone running iOS 9.1 beta 2 and it did not work unfortunately.

Specifically I made sure podcasts was not open, then removed my SIM card so there was no cellular connection, and made sure wifi was on and connected. Then I started the podcasts app. It displayed the "Updating Library" screen and then quit to the home screen. Tried it again. No joy.

Try turning the wi-fi off. It works for my iPad 3 mini - it seems it crashes while trying to connect to the internet. After the show starts to play I can turn the wi-fi on and it can run in the background.

I tried turning off cellular data, no joy.

I tried Airplane Mode, no joy.

I tried Airplane mode, closing all apps, and then restarting the iPhone6, no joy.

I tried turning off wifi manually, no joy.

I'm thinking this is not related to the wifi or cellular connection.

Based on other posts online, I think it is related to pre-upgrade app settings. Specifically, if you changed the sort order on individual podcasts to oldest-first. Several posts indicate that if the new app does work for users, the app crashes if they enable the oldest-first setting.

Other things I noticed on my iPad mini 2 + cellular

Enabling wi-fi crashes the Podcast app, but when wi-fi is off, the app works fine.

And all my podcast settings are set to oldest first, so there may br something to that...

So I spent the afternoon resetting and then restoring my phone and nothing worked except restoring an 8.x backup. I like enough of iOS9 to just use Stitcher in 9. But we shouldn't have to do anything considering every single third party app I have works just fine with 9. Apple makes every app maker go through **** perhaps they need to go consult with them since they seem to get it right while Apple can't. I'm a podcaster as well and this has limited our ability to reach our audiences. This is total garbage. After a week of Stitcher I probably won't go back to the Podcrap app. I've found I can download most podcasts from their websites if I can't stream.

I have iPad Mini 2 : Zero issues with Podcast App and iOS9 update ( that I know of !) . It is only Wifi...don't see a difference between wifi or not as some claim.  I don't need streaming as I live too far from sources.  I only load video podcasts on my Mini .

I have an iPhone 5S that is STILL crashing only to the Podcast App.  I rarely have cell service...so that isn't causing it.  Turning off Wifi means the device would be useless...so not doing that !  Initially I turned off or deleted everything I could in and out of the Podcast App. At this point I have moved to Overcast Pd. version ( funny ...looks just like the new Apple App ) ...zero issues.  I deleted ALL the podcasts for the Apple App and just left the name of each just incase I can go back......but it's STILL CRASHING !  So how can it be a space issue ???  I admit Im not tech wiz....but when I look at my storage usage list....Apple Podcasts is at the top with 1 1/2 GB.....way more than my music or my Overcast App where I have a good 35 audio podcasts....most with at least one podcast pre downloaded .....and it lists at only 263 MB ....4 spots down from Apple ????? Would that indicate that the Apple App is storing " stuff " I'm unaware of ....hence creating all this crashing ??  I've turned off all notifications, ability to load more than three podcasts, haven't hooked unto iTunes.....where might it be " talking " and crashing....and with WHAT ?  There are no podcasts IN my podcast ??? Any ideas ??

Forgot to mention....my phone was initially restarted....didn't work....deleted App and re added podcasts....then totally wiped to factory settings ( painful !) ....absolutely no improvement.  I cringed and did the recent second update ....zero improvement...crashes. 

Daniel,  I tried this fix, but still experiencing the same problem.  If I patiently wait, will Apply produce an iOS update that will fix it without my involvement?