If you’re having trouble with downloads and podcasts, it could be a simple issue that can be fixed with a few steps.
Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
1. Your podcast may not be compatible with your device
It’s probably not your fault.
Podcasts are typically in the MP3 format, and some devices can’t play that file type.
If you’re using an Android phone or tablet, it could be that your device doesn’t support the MP3 format (or any audio at all).
You might need to download a different player app if you want to listen on your phone or tablet.
If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, there are two things to check:
- First, make sure that iTunes is updated by going into Settings -> [Your Name] > iTunes & App Store > Updates.
- Second, make sure that “Podcasts” is turned on in Settings -> Music > Podcasts—it may be off by default after updating iOS 11! If this setting isn’t turned on when trying to play a downloaded podcast with no audio coming out of the speaker then go back into settings and turn off AirPlay so that it plays through headphones instead – this will solve most problems where no sound is coming from any headphones connected via Lightning port/cable vs Bluetooth pairing between devices like Beats headphones which have both types available
2. You might have a corrupted file
If you’re downloading a podcast via iTunes, the file may be corrupted.
To check this, you can look at the size of the file and compare it to other episodes in your library.
If there is a discrepancy between the size of your downloaded episode and other episodes in your library, then it’s likely that something went wrong with its transfer.
Another way to tell if a podcast episode is corrupted is by checking its MD5 hash (a unique identifier for each file).
If two files have different hashes, then one of them must be corrupt; if they share similar values though, both files are likely fine.
You can also use a tool like iMazing or Disk Drill to scan your entire drive for any issues with downloaded podcasts; these tools will find any corrupt files so that they can be deleted or repaired before being played again.”
3. The file might be too large for your device to handle
Podcasts can be large.
If you don’t have enough space on your device, you might see a message that says “Cannot Play,” or “The podcast file is too large.”
You can delete some podcasts from iTunes to free up space. Here’s how:
- In the main window of iTunes, click Library on the left side of the screen (or press Ctrl-2).
- Select Podcasts in the section on the right side of the screen (or press Ctrl-P).
- Right-click any unwanted podcast and choose Delete from Library (Ctrl-Del).
4. You might not have enough space on your phone or tablet to download the podcast and listen to it at once
You might not have enough space on your phone or tablet to download the podcast and listen to it at once.
If you are running out of storage space on your device, try deleting old podcasts or episodes from the app that you don’t need anymore.
You can also delete old audiobooks from Audible, which will free up more space for you.
If all else fails, consider buying more storage space for your device.
You can unsubscribe from podcasts that you don’t want to listen to by tapping on “Podcasts” in Google Play Music’s menu bar and then choosing “Manage Subscriptions.”
5. You may need to update your device’s operating system
If you’re still having trouble, check for updates on your device.
If you have an iPhone, you might need to connect it to iTunes.
If you have an Android phone, update your operating system through the Play Store.
You can also try streaming podcasts from websites like NPR One or Apple Podcasts on desktop or laptop computers; this may not be as convenient as listening on a mobile device but it’s much better than getting no audio at all!
If updating doesn’t work for you and the podcasts are still playing silently in iTunes instead of playing over the speakers, that means there’s something wrong with your computer’s settings—but don’t worry!
There are plenty of other ways to listen while keeping things simple (or complicated if that’s more fun). Here are some options:
6. Your battery might be dying, so the device is shutting off between podcasts
Your battery might be dying, so the device is shutting off between podcasts.
- If you’re using a laptop, make sure your battery is fully charged before you start playing podcasts.
- If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, check the battery settings and make sure it’s not set to low power mode (this will limit the amount of time that each podcast can play).
7. If you’re using iTunes, check the settings for automatic downloads and make sure they’re set correctly
If you’re using iTunes, here are a couple of things to check:
- Make sure that automatic downloads are turned on. Open iTunes and go to the Podcast section of the Library (on Mac computers, click the “Podcasts” button in the navigation bar). Then click on your subscribed podcast in the list of subscriptions and choose “Get Episodes” from its menu. If this option is grayed out, then it probably means that you haven’t set up automatic downloads for podcasts in iTunes. To do so, go to Preferences (Edit > Preferences on Mac) and select Podcasts in the sidebar menu on the left side of your screen. Click “Automatically Download New Episodes” under When A Podcast Subscriber Adds Or Updates Feeds In The Feeds List And I Don’t Have It Downloaded Yet; then click OK when finished.
- Make sure it’s set to download over Wi-Fi only: if your podcast is still not playing after turning on automatic downloads, open up Settings for iOS devices or System Preferences for OS X/macOS computers; scroll down until you find Podcasts (or App Store if using iOS), tap or click it again so that there’s no checkmark next to Automatic Downloads; then slide Automatic Downloads back over towards Off as needed until you see an arrow pointing down next to an On/Off switch (you should also see Wi-Fi only listed underneath).
Conclusion
If none of these solutions work for you, try downloading another podcast and see if that works.
If not, contact the podcast’s creators or host to let them know about your issue.
