Now Playing Interface and Queue Upgrades

Apple Podcasts is set to receive a number of new features with the launch of iOS 17 this fall. Among these are an updated Now Playing interface and Queue, episode art, search filters, and the ability to connect subscriptions to top apps from the App Store.

The new interface will feature a dynamic background and offer controls for managing the queue. Users can tap the Playing Next button to see the next episode and add episodes to the queue by tapping the “More” menu or pressing and holding an episode. When all episodes in the queue have played, Apple Podcasts will continue playing episodes in Up Next.

Improved Search and Filter Features

Users will be able to more easily find the podcasts they are looking for with new search filters for “Top Results,” “Shows,” “Episodes,” and “Channels.” Search results will now display more information, such as the time remaining in an episode and whether an episode has been saved to a listener’s library.

Connect Subscriptions to Top Apps

Starting this fall, users will be able to connect eligible subscriptions to top apps on the App Store with Apple Podcasts to access new shows. This includes news, health and fitness, and kids and family apps. The corresponding channel or show will automatically be added to a listener’s library.

New Audio Experiences from Apple Music and Apple News

Apple Music and Apple News will also feature new audio experiences on Apple Podcasts. Apple Music subscribers will be able to listen to the entire catalog of Apple Music radio shows, while Apple News+ subscribers will be able to listen to narrated audio stories from magazines and newspapers.

Support for Episode Artwork for Creators

Apple will support episode artwork for all shows to help listeners learn more about the subject of each episode. Creators can publish episode artwork via RSS using their hosting provider. When episode artwork is not supplied, Apple Podcasts will display show artwork.

The updates will also bring bug fixes and performance improvements.