Title: Google Podcasts to Shut Down – How to Migrate Your Subscriptions
Google is about to shut down a popular app used by millions of people. The Google Podcasts service will go dark on Tuesday, April 2 – with users urged to switch to a rival app instead. Google first announced that it was killing off the podcasting app in September last year. And it is now warning users about the imminent shutdown with notices on the website and inside the app. There’s a chance to export your data however, with the option to move to Google’s YouTube Music instead. Google Podcasts launched back in June 2018 on Android. This was followed by an iOS (for iPhone) version in March 2020. But Google sounded the death knell for the app in February 2023 when it announced that podcasts would be coming to YouTube Music.
GOOG BYE!
In September 2023, an official Google blogpost confirmed that Google Podcasts would be sunsetted in 2024. “Looking forward to 2024, we’ll be increasing our investment in the podcast experience on YouTube Music,” Google wrote at the time. “Making it a better overall destination for fans and podcasters alike with YouTube-only capabilities across community, discovery and audio/visual switching. Later in 2024, as part of this process, we’ll be discontinuing Google Podcasts.” Google said that we are “living in the golden age of podcasts”, and noted that it wants to create a “single destination” for them.
HOW TO MIGRATE GOOGLE PODCAST SUBSCRIPTIONS
To migrate your podcasts, you’ll need YouTube Music installed on your device. The app will also need to be updated to the latest software version. Now go to the Google Podcasts app and choose Export Subscriptions at the top of the screen. Then under Export To YouTube Music, tap Export – and then tap Transfer from the YouTube Music app. Make sure to read the disclosure and then tap Continue. “It may take a few minutes for your subscriptions to transfer,” Google explained. “When complete, you’ll find confirmation on your YouTube Music home screen. Tap Go to Library to view your subscriptions.” Note that some shows may be missing after migration, because they might have not been available in YouTube Music. It should say “Content is unavailable” next to the show title if this is the case.
Google Podcasts – a brief timeline:
- June 18, 2018 – Google Podcasts released on Android
- May 7, 2019 – Web version of Google Podcasts announced at Google I/O developer conference
- March 25, 2020 – iOS version of Google Podcasts launches, allowing users to use app on iPhone instead of web version
- May 12, 2020 – Option added to transfer podcast subscriptions and history from Google Play Music to Google Podcasts
- February 23, 2023 – Google announces the podcasts would be added to rival app YouTube Music
- September 26, 2023 – Google announces that Google Podcasts would be discontinued in 2024, with YouTube Music prioritized instead
- April 2, 2024 – Google Podcasts officially shuts down on all platforms