Update 18.1.1 podcast app stuck on “updating library”

I have an enormous podcast library. Every time a major version upgrade for iOS (and sometimes for minor version upgrades) I experience this.

The (very annoying) trick is to ensure your phone stays on and the podcast app remains in the foreground. The Lock Screen coming on or backgrounding the app will eventually result in the bllibrsry building process crashing.

i just end up periodically tapping my screen while it is foregrounded rather than change my lock screen settings. Within ~10 minutes of tapping it will finish building and drop you back onto your normal podcast app interface. Although for iOS 18 it dropped me into a privacy statement first.

Hope this (tedious) tactic works for you all and you don’t need to risk losing your podcasts.

it looks like I just lost 5 years of saved podcasts because I deleted and restored the Podcast app so I would be cautious doing this

why did the apple just break the whole experience? I would avoid updates if o could

Mine has been Updating Library for two days. Does deleting the podcast app and reinstalling fix the problem?

I balked at the warning that I would lose all my data.

Update- I deleted and reinstalled. All the podcast library disappeared. 😭

And then around 5 mins later, appeared.

Next time I used the app, same thing occurred.. library updating. Same process fixed it. Some serious glitch here.

I had the same issue. Deleting the app and then reinstalling it worked for me. And it kept my library - I was worried I would have to find everything in my feed again

I have an enormous podcast library. Every time a major version upgrade arrives for iOS (and sometimes for minor version upgrades) I experience this.

TI have an enormous podcast library. Every time a major version upgrade for iOS (and sometimes for minor version upgrades) I experience this.

The (very annoying) trick is to ensure your phone stays on and the podcast app remains in the foreground. The Lock Screen coming on or backgrounding the app will eventually result in the library-building process crashing.

i just end up periodically tapping my screen while it is foregrounded rather than change my lock screen settings. Within ~10 minutes of tapping it will finish building and drop you back onto your normal podcast app interface. Although for iOS 18 it dropped me into a privacy statement first.

Hope this (tedious) tactic works for you all and you don’t need to risk losing your podcasts.he (very annoying) trick is to ensure your phone stays on and the podcast app remains in the foreground. The Lock Screen coming on or backgrounding the app will eventually result in the bllibrsry building process crashing.

i just end up periodically tapping my screen while it is foregrounded rather than change my lock screen settings. Within ~10 minutes of tapping it will finish building and drop you back onto your normal podcast app interface. Although for iOS 18 it dropped me into a privacy statement first.

Hope this (tedious) tactic works for you all and you don’t need to risk losing your podcasts.

Removing the app and reinstalling it seems to have fixed it for me.

This method worked - podcast app updated and library preserved. Thank you!!

I deleted bc I had the same issue and I lost everything. So annoying. Always a glitch with these updates

Thanks - this worked for me!

I had the same issue, was stuck on ‘updating library’ screen for two days. Deleting and reinstalling the podcast app instantly fixed the bug. It takes a minute or two for your old library to load so don’t panic if it appears blank at first! :)

Thank you so much! It worked indeed!

Further update.

I’ve had to reinstall every time I use the podcast app..

The automatic downloads now have a default to a new setting of last 5 episodes!

Is there any way to change this at a central settings level? I can only find the settings for each show.

Same problem. So far have tried turning wifi on and off, resetting network settings, turning off phone. Nothing works. Afraid to try deleting and reinstalling the app for fear of losing all i’ve saved. Maybe Apple will fix it with an update?

Actually looks like they are back - 24 hrs later 😅