iOS 17.4 Includes Podcast Transcripts

The iOS 17.4 beta that Apple seeded to developers yesterday introduces major app ecosystem changes in the European Union, but there are also a handful of other features that have been overshadowed. Once such new addition is a transcript option in the Apple Podcasts app, which is similar to the lyric feature in Apple Music.

podcast app transcript
Recent uploads in the Podcasts app have a new transcript icon, and if tapped, it shows a full transcript of the entire podcast. As with ‌Apple Music‌, the transcript scrolls as the episode plays.

Transcripts are automatically generated, but appear to be fairly accurate. The transcripts take just a few seconds to generate when a new podcast is played, so they can be useful for determining whether the content in a show is something worth the time to listen to. Searching for a specific word or phrase is supported, and tapping on that word or phrase jumps to that spot in the episode.

Note that not all podcast episodes have transcripts right now, but Apple says that transcripts for back catalog episodes are being added over time. Transcripts are available in English, French, German, and Spanish, and podcast hosts also have the option to upload their own transcripts rather than using the automatically generated version.

iOS 17.4 is available to developers at the current time, and Apple plans to release it to the public in March. Other features include sweeping updates in Europe, hints of new features coming to the updated CarPlay experience, and more, with details available in our iOS 17.4 beta 1 feature guide.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

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Top Rated Comments

steve09090 Avatar
14 months ago
Super handy feature. So many times I have gone to the podcast website to try and find a transcript on a small part I want to copy for information.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darngooddesign Avatar
14 months ago
Excellent for people with hearing issues.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TychoX Avatar
14 months ago
I wonder if third-party iOS apps will be able to access the transcripts as well, or if this will be exclusive to Apple's Podcasts app.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
14 months ago

Check for live caption. It could do the same and works for all app. Enable it in accessibility setting.
Thanks for the info but that option is probably not useful if you are trying to cut and paste a bit into something else.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sos47 Avatar
14 months ago
i like it. getting information is faster when reading the transscript. i do that on YT on many channels
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
14 months ago
Ok, but have they fixed the bug in the Podcasts app where the “continuous playback” setting keeps silently turning itself back ON every few days? This has been infuriating me for the past 2 years or so and is still present in iOS 17.3 :mad::mad:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)