Google is set to discontinue its Podcasts app in the U.S. and has alerted users to shift their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2 so they can continue streaming their preferred shows. If users are not able to switch immediately, they will still have extra time for the transition, but won’t be able to directly stream from the Podcasts app after the mentioned date.
The Google Podcasts app, downloaded over 500 million times globally on Android devices, has provided easy accessibility and user-friendly mechanisms for podcast discovery and listening for more than five years. In the wake of its decision to streamline its audio services under YouTube, Google announced in September that it would start phasing out the Podcasts app from early 2024.
YouTube Music had previously implemented a similar strategy in 2020, transferring music listeners from Google Play Music prior to its shutdown later that year. The Google Podcasts app continued to receive maintenance as YouTube Music was not equipped to support podcasts until more recently. By the end of 2023, it was able to facilitate global podcast support and by February 2024, users gained the ability to upload their RSS feeds as well.
Moving podcasting to YouTube may boost Google’s presence in the podcast domain, not only by integrating its initiatives and refining its strategy, but also due to growing interest in video podcasts, which already have a significant following on the platform.
Bleeping Computer was the first to report the closure date for Google Podcasts in the U.S., and Google’s support page confirms that U.S users can only utilize the Podcasts app till the end of March 2024. Those missing the in-app alerts will have an extended period to retain their subscriptions using the app’s export function until July 2024.
While Google confirmed its plan to phase out the Podcasts app in the U.S by April 2, it has not provided a timeline for the rest of the world. However, its previous statements indicate it will end Google Podcasts globally by 2024.
