In iOS 15.5, Apple added an option that lets iPhone and iPad users automatically limit the number of episodes stored on their device. This article explains how it works.

Podcasts Feature
Downloading podcasts to your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ is a great way to ensure that you have something interesting to listen to on your commute or on your travels, regardless of whether you have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

However, if you subscribe to several shows that tend to publish new episodes at a rate that means you struggle to listen to them before the next episode arrives, your ‌iPhone‌ can quickly fill up with unplayed podcasts.

Given that everything from music to photos and video are continually vying for your ‌iPhone‌ storage space, this doesn't make for an ideal situation. Fortunately, Apple has realized this, and in the latest iOS 15.5 update it has added options for its official Podcasts app that let you limit automatic downloads based on a set criteria.

You can now opt to download and keep only the latest episode per show, or the latest 2, 3, 5, or 10 episodes per show. Or if you'd rather limit downloads to only those published within the last day or days, you can do that instead, up to a maximum of 30 days. Alternatively, if storage isn't an issue, you can opt to download and keep all new episodes.

Before you follow the steps below, make sure your device is running iOS 15.5 or iPadOS 15.5 or later. You can check that your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ is up-to-date with the latest version by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update.

  1. Launch Settings on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.
  2. Scroll down and tap Podcasts.
  3. Under "Automatic Downloads," tap Automatically Downloaded.
  4. Choose your preferred option to download and keep podcasts either by basing it on the number of latest episodes per show or by the number of days that have passed.

settings

Note that when episodes fall outside of the limit you impose, they will automatically be removed from your device, although this doesn't apply to episodes you saved or manually downloaded. It's also worth bearing in mind that the option you choose will not affect shows with customized settings.

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Apple Maps 2024

Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again. This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
m2 pro mac mini

Apple is Now Selling a Refurbished Mac Mini for Just $319 (!)

Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note. Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal. That's no longer...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
Tim Cook Apple Park

10+ Announcements Apple Could Have Rolled Into a February Event

Saturday February 15, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead. There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event: ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

Apple's Next iPhone SE Launching on Wednesday - Here's What We Know

Friday February 14, 2025 4:04 pm PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an Apple announcement that's coming on Wednesday, February 19, and it's looking like that mystery announcement will be the next-generation iPhone SE. We've been hearing about the iPhone SE 4 for quite some time now, and we essentially know everything to expect. If you want a sneak peek at what's coming, read on. Naming Apple first introduced the iPhone SE in...