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.

1. Subscribe to podcast
2. Download Episodes, Sort by newest to oldest.
3. Delete played episodes.
4. 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.