The old podcast app would play episodes in your preferred order (oldest to newest, etc) continuously without having to add each episode to the “Up Next” playlist. Is there a way to automatically play all episodes without having to add every episode manually?
Hi,
I too am really frustrated with this change and came across your post when trying to find an answer.
The only workaround I have managed to find for this removed feature is to create a ‘station’ for the individual podcast in question. I had a couple of stations already setup when I updated to iOS 11 where I’d add podcasts of a similar theme e.g. Soccer or technology and realised that the station settings allow you to choose the playing orders (see screenshot). You can then choose to play oldest to newest and they continue onto the next episode. This is a workaround and not a real fix but hope it helps.
OMG - thank goodness I finally remembered to Google this! I thought I was losing my mind (which is still probably true). I am driving down the road, and the podcast ends from March 2017. I want to hear the next podcast in March 2017 from that same subscription. I have to pull over on the side of the road, or at a stop light, to search in the NOW HORRENDOUS interface that Apple considers an "UPGRADE"... LOL, what a joke. I have always felt it was just OK, and not organized very well. However, now it is just TERRIBLE. Looks like I will have to download Overcast as well. Bye bye Apple. Darn you...I wish you didn't make such a great phone, or I would kick you to the curb...😉
I listen to podcasts whilst driving the 1hr+ journey home from work. It’s no good if one podcast finishes en route as I can’t pull over on a UK motorway to switch off the engine to start the next one! Please reverse this change (& bin the new keyboard with it. Fed up with words with numb3rs in th3m)
I went back and tried Podcasts again. It has some good features and I used to love it. But they broke it.
What I want is a simple “Play Next” queue that:
- isn’t hidden behind a tap and two screen-up swipes;
- is easily added to (both for a batch of show episodes or ad hoc);
- is editable (that means episodes are easily re-ordered – not just removed);
- is stable – it doesn’t vanish if you play something out of turn, like the current one;
AND
- plays continuously!
It’s not rocket science. An app called Castro does all of the above, although I prefer Podcasts in some other respects.
(I’d also like a one-touch scrub button. if I don’t like an episode and want to skip to the next. But I can’t be greedy.)
I also really dislike the podcast app in the new iOS. So much so that I bothered going through the rigamarole of signing up for this community to comment. Whoever redesigned it did not have the user’s interest in mind. The new interface is annoying as heck and not being able to play successively is just a bad idea all together. Do the designers actually use the apps they design? If not, getting data from users would be imperative before making changes. This is one of the many reasons why I increasingly consider moving on to an Android.
Thank goodness someone has posed this question. It’s been driving me mad! I couldn’t believe that the continuous play feature had been removed so i’ve spent ages looking for it in the app. It’s completely useless to me now, particularly when I’m driving. I’m off to download some of the other apps mentioned in these replies to try them out instead.
Podcast episodes from the same podcast appear to play in sequence. However, the app interface is still a confused mess, especially if you want to switch podcasts while driving. Maybe they'll get it right someday. Meanwhile, I guess we will have to settle for what we got back.
On an earlier reply, someone suggested going to another app entirely called Overcast. I have used it now for several weeks successfully playing my serial podcasts one after another. It's not a perfect solution, but it is SO MUCH better than what the highly paid engineering group at Apple has given us.
I agree with Everyone else, the new iOS 11 podcast app was changed for the worse. Not being able to play your podcasts continually is ludicrous, it’s the equivalent of Apple changing ITunes so that you have to play each song one at a time. Apple you are slipping with the two apps that are the heart of why I even use Apple, Music and Podcasts....It’s a shame the the native app can’t be used easily anymore, guess it’s time to find another app that does it better than Apple, sorry guys but wake up and stop changing things just for the sake of change.
I've been frustrated with the new podcast. Driving and listening to podcast and suddenly stops cuz it does not play the next episode. However, this page helped me out. Just be patient and it will all work out.
https://appletoolbox.com/2017/11/how-to-customize-and-use-the-podcast-app-in-ios -11/
No automatic continuous play. But you can make up your own playlist by selecting each episodes (from various shows) for the listening order. But again, you’ll need to manually press play to listen to each one. Complicated? Yes, Unnecessary fiddly? Yes. Overwhelming, the new ISO 11 Podcast is a hugh flop.
I've switched over to Overcast (in apps stores).
Its easy to use interface is similar to the previous apple podcast design and comes with the all important continuous play. Its great, no more messing through layers of a layers of pages to listen to a show. When I’m driving (or at the gym), I don’t want pull over to hit play button again or start searching for more shows. Underneath, I don’t want to read ‘What the best podcast’ and see reviews.
The IOS 11 podcast is way TOO much information and layers. (these should be hidden and NOT headline screaming on the main page. People, don’t have time to start making pre listening list. They want simple functions - easy to see what new shows are available; tap and go, and get on with their day.
The ISO 11 Podcast, an updated design from ‘over thinking’ over practicality. What were they thinking - it’s a horrible experience - even when you get use to it.
Olive sums it up well.
So frustrated with backward step in functionality and totally agree on massive font and fussy cluttered arrangement. It’s like Apple are designing it to appeal to 3 year olds. Talk about over engineering! Please revert back, Apple.
Am almost as hacked off with this as I am with loss of Genius on phone iOS.
Apple charges you thousands of euros to buy a decent device and then they fail to deliver adequate software. It’s always the same, with each new release they say it’s an improvement while at the same time they have taken away the good features of the previous release. Podcast is user unfriendlynow, New Apple store also etc. Also I did not find any possibility to leave my comments in the app, it’s just pushed down your throat and they don’t enquire with theire users what’s good and what’s bad. Deceived...
I was frustrated as anyone else here on how the Podcast app turned out after upgrading to iOs 11.
Then I upgraded to 11.2.1 few days ago and I'm happy to say the Podcast app plays all episodes automatically.
The looking interface didn't change (I don't like the look and feels at all), but at least you can listen podcasts in the car without getting nuts.
Hi Katiem2010,
I have just tried it out on my Apple iPhone 5 iOS 10.3.3 as I was having the same problem on my iPhone, however I noticed prior to these problems occurring that they would play automatically. So I don't know what started it. However I have found a solution on the Apple iPhone 5 iOS 10.3.3 but it may work the same across all iPhones and iOS. SOLUTION: I have added all the tracks to 'up next' in order and they are now all playing automatically in order. To do this, go to the track that you want to play, press the '...' (3 dots) beside that track. Something should now pop up, press 'add to up next', keep doing this with all of your tracks in order. Then once finished, go to the track you want to play; press the play button as usual, something should pop up giving you options to play the other tracks automatically after this one has played, it gives you the option to either 'remove up next' or 'keep up next', press on 'keep up next'. Then all the tracks should play automatically, one after the other. I've only just tried it so I don't know how long this keeps up for or what happens at the end of the final track, but I know at the moment it is working for me the way I want. Before doing any of this, you may want to mark the tracks already listened to as unplayed. Go to ... beside track and choose 'Mark as unplayed' and do the same with all tracks played. That way you'll be able to play them all from the beginning once the auto play has been applied (instructions above). Please keep us updated of your outc
Hi, here's an update to my last response. I have since discovered that the tracks only play in order for a limited number of times after being added to the 'up next' list and then they continue playing automatically but missing some of the tracks out.
I had this problem last night and whilst the one track was playing I pressed on the '...' 3 dots beside the next track in the list and chose 'play next'. I had to keep doing this about 3 times with the different tracks until eventually they have started playing in order again now. However I think that it may be a temporary thing and the next time I go back to the start of the tracks to replay them all, it would play up again, and I would have to use the 'play next' option again on at least the first few tracks until it corrected itself again with all of the next tracks. I think it's an issue that we need to bring up with Apple really, so they will hopefully find a solution.
How can I play podcasts continuously on iOS11?
