Steve McLendon, a product supervisor at Google, admits he’s unhappy to see Google Podcasts head towards the software graveyard. He means that the app’s simplicity, one among its core strengths, is what led to its downfall: “Podcast experiences can be improved for users in a way that I think Google Podcasts would never really be able to deliver.”

After launching the app in 2018, the corporate wound down Google Podcasts on April 2. YouTube Music will function Google’s new house for podcast listening. While some customers crave the bare-bones expertise of an RSS feed catcher for podcasts, McLendon is eyeing a future the place algorithmic discovery and video podcast clips are extra central to the consumer expertise.

“Google may be notorious for having lots of different products that kind of do similar things,” he says. “So, which is actually the one that we’re invested in?” While McLendon desires to create a consumer expertise the place podcast-only listeners really feel welcome, he’s excited by the multimedia prospects as properly. For instance, if somebody watches a bunch of clips from NBA video games on YouTube, then their YouTube Music account might recommend some basketball podcasts.

How to Migrate From Google Podcasts to YouTube Music

McLendon’s group launched a software to assist Google Podcasts customers transfer their show subscriptions to YouTube Music. The function remains to be only for customers within the United States, however McLendon says the corporate finally plans a world rollout. It’s value noting that customers have to finish this migration earlier than Google makes the info unavailable in July.

Start by opening the app in your Android or iOS machine and toggling to the Home tab. Since asserting that it might be shutting down its Podcasts app, Google has begun displaying a notification on the high of the app’s Home display screen that provides a fast hyperlink to export your subscriptions. Look for this notification on the high and choose Export subscriptions. (In a browser, the identical choice ought to seem beneath the Explore reveals tab.) If you’d like to change every part over to YouTube Music, select the Export button. Tapping this in your telephone will mechanically open the YouTube Music app and make sure which account you wish to use to finish the change. After you click on the Transfer as… button, YouTube Music will double-check whether or not you wish to add the RSS feeds for your whole podcasts to your library. Then the method begins.

The software was in a position to migrate all 12 of my podcast subscriptions in beneath a minute. (If you’re a podcast fanatic with lots of of subscriptions, it might take longer.) Afterward, you’ll be able to hearken to your favourite reveals in YouTube Music by tapping Podcasts on the high of the Home or Library tab. If you don’t instantly see the Podcasts choice, you might have to scroll by way of the grey buttons to the left. If you’ve used YouTube Music, you’ll know {that a} premium subscription is required if you wish to hearken to music whereas your telephone display screen is locked. Thankfully, this isn’t the case for podcasts; you’ll be able to stream or play downloaded reveals whereas the display screen is locked, even if you happen to don’t have a subscription.

Alternative Podcast Listening Options

Frustrated with this variation and on the hunt for one more minimalist podcast app? For iPhone homeowners, the Overcast app is a powerful choice that mirrors the streamlined nature of Google Podcasts. Pocket Casts is one other well-designed app which may suit your preferences, and it’s obtainable on each Android and Apple gadgets.

Luckily, if you happen to determine in opposition to YouTube Music and also you wish to go away Google’s podcast ecosystem solely, you’ll be able to nonetheless take your present subscriptions with you. Follow the identical steps listed within the part above; while you arrive on the YouTube Music export choice, discover the secondary choice labeled Export for one more app and press Download. This course of will save an OPML file to your machine.

In the Overcast app, you’ll be able to add this subscription listing by going to Settings and scrolling right down to Import OPML. The migration course of from Google Podcasts to Pocket Casts is somewhat trickier however nonetheless doable. Open the Files app in your smartphone and find the downloaded OPML information file. Choose to share the file, after which ship it over to Pocket Casts. This ought to switch your show subscriptions to the brand new app.

Update, April 2, 2024, 8 am EDT: This story was up to date to mirror hat Google Podcasts is now formally gone.