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Apple Podcasts

Submit your show's RSS feed to Apple Podcasts to reach listeners on iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, CarPlay, and HomePod. Apple Podcasts is the largest podcast directory — most other apps also index from here.

Why Apple Podcasts matters​

Apple Podcasts is still the default podcast app on over a billion Apple devices. Many other podcast apps (Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro) also discover new shows through the Apple Podcasts directory. Getting listed here makes your show findable across the entire podcast ecosystem.

Before you submit​

Make sure your show is ready:

  • Show has episodes — At least one published episode in the feed
  • Show has artwork — Square image, ideally 3000 × 3000px (minimum 1400 × 1400px)
  • Show has a description — A clear paragraph about what the show covers
  • Stream has an admin email — Set in Stream Settings (required by Apple)
  • iTunes category is set — Choose the most relevant category in Stream Settings
  • Show is not excluded from RSS — Check the show's settings

How to submit​

Step 1: Get your feed URL​

  1. In the dashboard, go to the show you want to submit
  2. Find the RSS feed URL on the show detail page
  3. Copy it — it will look like: https://rss.autopod.xyz/show/{show-id}.rss

Step 2: Sign in to Apple Podcasts Connect​

  1. Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID (create one if needed — it's free)

Step 3: Submit your feed​

  1. Click the + button or Add a Show
  2. Paste your RSS feed URL
  3. Apple validates the feed — it checks for required fields, artwork, and episode data
  4. If validation passes, click Submit

Step 4: Wait for review​

Apple reviews all new podcast submissions. This typically takes:

  • 1–5 business days for most shows
  • Up to 2 weeks during busy periods

You'll receive an email when your show is approved (or if there are issues to fix).

Step 5: You're listed​

Once approved, your show appears in Apple Podcasts search and browse. Listeners can subscribe, and Apple will poll your RSS feed automatically for new episodes.

After submission​

You don't need to do anything for new episodes — Apple Podcasts checks your feed periodically (typically every few hours) and picks up new episodes automatically.

Updating your show details​

Changes to your show title, description, artwork, or category in the AutoPod dashboard flow through to Apple Podcasts automatically via the RSS feed. Apple may take a day or two to reflect changes.

Checking your listing​

Visit podcastsconnect.apple.com to:

  • View your show's status
  • See download analytics (Apple's own stats)
  • Check for any feed warnings

Troubleshooting​

Feed validation fails​

Common issues:

  • Missing artwork — Upload a square image (3000 × 3000px) to your show
  • Missing admin email — Set an admin email in Stream Settings
  • No episodes — Publish at least one episode before submitting
  • Episode too short — Very short episodes (under 30 seconds) may be rejected

Show not appearing after approval​

  • Allow up to 48 hours for Apple's systems to fully index your show
  • Search for your exact show title in the Apple Podcasts app
  • Check that your show is published and not excluded from RSS

Episodes not updating​

  • AutoPod regenerates feeds every 2 minutes
  • Apple Podcasts typically polls every few hours
  • Allow up to 24 hours for new episodes to appear
  • Check your feed URL in a browser to confirm the episode is in the XML