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    Entertainment & Media
    Beginner
    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone Using Apple Podcasts

    Podcasts are free audio shows on every topic imaginable — news, true crime, health, humor, and more. Apple Podcasts is the built-in podcast app on every iPhone.

    1

    Open Apple Podcasts

    ~15s
    Look for the purple Podcasts app on your iPhone (it has a microphone icon). It comes pre-installed on all iPhones. Tap to open.
    2

    Search for shows you might like

    ~25s
    Tap the Search icon at the bottom. Type a topic you enjoy — "gardening," "American history," "true crime," "cooking," "daily news" — or a show name you've heard of. A list of matching podcasts will appear. Tap any show to see episode descriptions.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Some popular shows to try: NPR News Now (5-minute news summaries), Fresh Air with Terry Gross (interviews), Stuff You Should Know (educational and fun), or How I Built This (inspiring stories).

    3

    Subscribe to a show

    ~15s
    Open a show and tap "Follow" or "Subscribe." New episodes will automatically appear in your library. The show's artwork will show up in your Library tab. You'll never miss a new episode.
    4

    Play an episode

    ~17s
    In any show's page, tap any episode to play it. The playback controls appear at the bottom: play/pause button, 15-second skip back/forward buttons, and a progress bar. Tap the episode name at the bottom to expand the full player with a speed control (1x, 1.5x, 2x — useful for talk shows).
    5

    Download episodes to listen without internet

    ~15s
    Tap the down-arrow icon next to any episode to download it to your phone. Downloaded episodes play without any internet connection — perfect for commutes, flights, or areas with poor signal. Most shows auto-download the latest few episodes when you're on Wi-Fi.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone Using Apple Podcasts

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    A podcast is like a radio show that you listen to whenever you want — not when it happens to be on. Podcasts are free, cover almost every topic imaginable, and can be listened to on your phone while doing other things: walking, cooking, driving, or relaxing in a chair.

    Apple Podcasts is built into every iPhone and iPad. It gives you access to millions of free shows from NPR, BBC, ABC News, independent creators, health experts, comedians, storytellers, and more. You search for a show, subscribe to it, and new episodes download automatically to your phone so you can listen without an internet connection.

    If you've never listened to a podcast, try starting with something you're already interested in — cooking, history, travel, health advice, or a topic you'd normally read a magazine about. There's almost certainly an excellent free podcast for it.

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    How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone Using Apple Podcasts — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure