iOS 15 is here and it brings with it an array of new features in the Apple Podcasts app. In particular, Apple has expanded the features within its Listen Now tab to give you personalized, tailored recommendations, and to show you any content your friends have shared with you—all in one place.
This article will help you to navigate and familiarize yourself with the new features on Apple Podcasts.
1. Shared With You
Although new to the Apple Podcast app, the Shared with You feature can be found on several Apple apps, including Apple Music and Apple News. This section houses all the content your friends or contacts have shared with you directly in the app it relates to.
In Apple Podcasts, you will find all the episodes, shows, and channels sent to you from friends on iMessage in a new, dedicated section on the Listen Now tab. Follow the steps below to start using the Shared with You feature on Apple Podcasts.
- Launch the Apple Podcasts app on your Apple device.
- Tap Listen Now in the bottom-left of the screen.
- Tap the Shared with You section on the screen, and then find the content you want to listen to that your friend has shared with you.
When you navigate to the Shared with You section to view your shared episodes, shows, or channels, you will also see a button indicating who shared that podcast content with you.
If you tap that button, you will be taken back to the chat in which your friend sent you the content link in Messages. From here, you can either reply to the message or simply view it to remind yourself of when the content was sent to you and in what context.
2. Personalized Recommendations
Apple Podcasts is further personalizing the recommendations it shows you to help you discover new podcast content on the app, based on the podcast content you already listen to or engage with. The new sections include You Might Like and If You Like.
You Might Like
The You Might Like feature recommends channels that may be of interest to you based on the channels you follow and listen to. So, if you typically follow channels around health, this section will show you new and undiscovered health-related channels, as well as related topics.
Follow these easy steps to start exploring the You Might Like feature on Apple Podcasts:
- Launch the Apple Podcasts app on your Apple device.
- Tap Listen Now in the bottom-left of the screen.
- Scroll down and tap the You Might Like section on the screen, and then scroll through the options presented to you to find content you want to try.
If You Like
The If You Like feature singles out shows you follow and recommends similar shows based on what other listeners enjoy, along with other podcasts produced by the same studio.
For example, the “If You Like Marriage Talk Podcast” section on the screenshot above recommends popular podcasts centered around the topic of enhancing marriages and giving tips for married couples.
Follow the steps below to find and explore the If You Like feature on Apple Podcasts:
- Launch the Apple Podcasts app on your Apple device.
- Tap Listen Now in the bottom-left of the screen.
- Scroll down and tap the If You Like section on the screen, and then scroll through to discover similar content.
The addition of these features does not mean that Apple Podcasts is doing away familiar features that already exist under the Listen Now tab on the app. These include Channels To Try, and Episodes You Might Like.
Apple Podcasts’ iOS 15 personal recommendations features are available to Apple Podcasts listeners in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
3. New 1.25x Playback Speed
You now have the option of playing a podcast episode on 1.25x playback speed. In the past, your only options were 0.5x, 1x, 1.5x, and 2x playback speed. 1.25x is the perfect option for those who want to play an episode a little faster, but find 1.5x to be too fast.
To use the new 1.25x playback speed, follow the steps below:
- Launch the Apple Podcast app on your Apple device.
- Find the podcast episode you want to play, and tap the play button.
- Tap the purple speed button in the bottom-left corner of the screen until you get to 1.25x speed.
4. iPadOS 15 Keyboard Shortcuts
The Apple Podcasts app for iPad now features a slew of new keyboard shortcuts. Previously, the only keyboard shortcut that existed in the app was Command + R to refresh feeds, but now the app has nearly 20 keyboard shortcuts for you to use.
Some of the new shortcuts include:
- Space to pause an episode.
- Command + Right arrow to skip to the next podcast episode.
- Shift + Command + Right arrow to skip 30 seconds forward.
- Option + 4 to set double-speed playback.
Hold down the Command key to see all the keyboard shortcuts now available to you.
Of course, you can use these in conjunction with all the other global iOS 15 shortcuts, like Globe + H to go to the home screen, Command + Space to open search, and Globe + S to open Siri.
Apple Is Helping You Get the Most Out of the Apple Podcasts App
Every time you save a podcast channel or listen to an episode on Apple Podcasts, Apple takes note of that, along with all your activity on the app, and uses that data to personalize and enhance your experience.
The improvements on Apple Podcasts’ iOS 15 update are proof that Apple is committed to giving you a more personalized experience on the app so you can continue to get the most out of it.