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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To free iPhone storage used by Apple Podcasts, remove downloaded episodes in Podcasts > Library > Downloaded. You can delete one episode, downloads from a particular show, or every downloaded episode. To keep storage from filling again, limit automatic downloads or enable automatic removal of played episodes.
Remove downloaded episodes from your iPhone
These controls remove the local download from your device. Apple provides separate controls for saving an episode to your library, so choose the removal option rather than a save or library-management control. The Downloaded view shows episodes downloaded to the device for offline playback (Apple: Organize your podcast library on iPhone).
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Remove one episode
- Open the Podcasts app and go to Library > Downloaded.
- Open the show containing the episode.
- Swipe left on the episode and tap Remove Download. Alternatively, open the episode’s More menu and choose Remove Download.
Remove downloads from one show
- In Podcasts, go to Library > Shows.
- Touch and hold the show.
- Choose Remove Downloads and confirm.
Remove all downloaded episodes
- Go to Library > Downloaded.
- Tap More, then choose Remove All Downloads.
- Confirm the removal.
This is the broadest option: it removes downloads across your library, so use it only if you want to clear them all. Apple documents these removal options in its instructions for downloading and deleting episodes.
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Stop Podcasts from downloading so many episodes
Automatic downloads can be switched off or limited to a smaller number of episodes or a timeframe. You can set a general rule for Podcasts or a different rule for an individual show.
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Set the general download rule
- Open the iPhone Settings app.
- Go to Apps > Podcasts > Automatically Download.
- Choose Off to stop automatic downloads, or select a lower episode count or timeframe.
Set downloads for one show
- In Podcasts, open Library > Shows.
- Touch and hold the show, then tap Settings.
- Adjust Automatically Download for that show.
Apple documents the global and show-specific controls in its guide to changing Podcasts download settings. Menu labels or their location can vary by iOS version.
Automatically remove episodes after you play them
To let Podcasts clear played downloads, open Settings > Apps > Podcasts and turn on Remove Played Downloads. Apple also provides this setting for individual shows. Apple Support says episodes delete automatically 24 hours after they are played when this removal setting is enabled (Download and delete episodes in Apple Podcasts on iPhone and iPad). If you want to keep played episodes downloaded, leave the setting off.
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Check whether saving episodes is causing downloads
By default, saving an episode also downloads it. If you want to save episodes without automatically keeping a local copy, go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts and turn off Download When Saving.
Video podcasts have a separate download choice. Apple says Podcasts downloads audio only by default; use Download Video to control whether video is downloaded as well. These options are described in Apple’s guide to downloading, saving, and removing podcast episodes.
Quick Recap
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Which option should you choose?
| What you want | Use this control |
|---|---|
| Free space from one episode | Library > Downloaded, then remove that episode’s download. |
| Clear downloads for one show | Library > Shows, touch and hold the show, then choose Remove Downloads. |
| Clear all downloaded episodes | Library > Downloaded > More > Remove All Downloads. |
| Prevent future automatic downloads | Set Automatically Download to Off, or choose a smaller limit globally or for a show. |
| Keep a bounded download set and clean up played episodes | Set an automatic-download limit and enable Remove Played Downloads. |
| Save an episode without downloading it | Turn off Download When Saving. |
| Download audio but not video episodes | Leave Download Video off; audio is the default download. |
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