iOS26 Updated Apple Podcast App

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Level 1

10 points

iOS26 Updated Apple Podcast App

Hello,

Using an iPhone 15 ProMax with iOS 26.0.1. I have used the Apple Podcast app the same way for a decade or more.

Subscribe to podcast
Download Episodes, Sort by newest to oldest.
Delete played episodes.
Continuous playback set to on.

Until now, I have always selected a podcast from the library that is sorted Newest to Oldest, picked down the list say as an example; the episode from 4 days ago and started listening. The app would always play the next newest episode automatically until it got to the last (newest) at the top of the list, then stop.

It no longer does this, and I did not change any settings prior to updating to iOS 26. Since installing, I have searched for setup instructions and tried what settings I could find that should accomplish this. No luck.

Also uninstalled and reinstalled the app with default settings, still won't autoplay the list. Not only does it not autoplay the episodes, but it also stops after the first selected episode and switches to a completely different podcast from the library and waits for me to pick an episode. Very frustrating.

Has anyone had this issue and what can be done to get it working like it did with iOS 18 (and every prior iOS)? Thanks for any advice.

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Oct 3, 2025 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

JV18927 Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 23, 2025 3:11 PM in response to JV18927

I see others have noticed a change in the app as well! After trying other podcast apps, Overcast, iHeart, Spotify etc. I still like the Apple App the best of all of them. So, I found that manually configuring my listening makes it work like it used to.

Select the podcast and the episode you want to start with, start playing the episode then pause.

Now, go back to the podcast episode list and select the ... menu next to the sequential episode (or whichever you want) and select play next. Do the same for each succeeding episode, but select add to queue, not play next for the rest of your list; (selecting play next again on purpose or on accident will skip the episode you selected previously.)

This will queue the rest of your list and accomplish what used to be automatic, but voila you now have your listening back to the way it should be. I am happy that this method works, hopefully they can see what happened top the code and fix it in a later update. I am liking iOS 26.

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Answer 2

Nov 5, 2025 8:23 AM in response to JV18927

I too have been missing this since moving to ios26.

As a workaround, you can manually build your "Up Next" queue each time, but that's a long way short of the app just continuously playing automatically as it used to do on earlier ios releases. I hope they fix the bug before long, I miss the continuous play feature.

In the meantime, I'm experimenting with other podcast apps as a result of the bug, as I don't like having to manually build a playlist before so that I can be handsfree while on a long drive for example.

Related to this I'd also like to have a playlist feature which would allow me to build a playlist consisting of several episodes from different podcasts, that I could return to anytime without having to build it again each time from scratch. This would be useful if you're interested in one topic that is covered by many different podcasts. Handy to be able to group related episodes together in one playlist. Kinda surprising that it's not a feature already, given the explosion of podcasts over the last few years.

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Answer 3

rsaugust

Level 1

41 points

Oct 5, 2025 2:18 PM in response to JV18927

Seem to have lost all my queue and “play next “ settings in Apple Podcasts.

Now randomly either retains the “play next” list I just spent time constructing, or not. Sometimes I get my “play next “ list with another queue list of I guess any episode in my followed shows? Totally unreliable . What’s the point of browsing new shows, episodes or channels when you can’t remember them to play later? This is not a smart move by Apple. Fix this!

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Answer 4

kjbish

Level 1

16 points

Oct 23, 2025 1:48 PM in response to JV18927

I am also finding that any workout notification on watch (screen or verbal) stops the podcast and it is difficult to restart manually and when it does it reverts to the last timestamp from where it was started. On watch the timestamp does not advance. Its really frustration and apple need to get their act together over this it is ruining the podcast experience across their platform.

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Answer 5

Oct 10, 2025 2:05 PM in response to JV18927

I find that podcasts stop playing mid-episode. This is very frustrating.

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