Downloading Apple Podcasts to MP3 is not as hard as you might think. In fact, there are several methods you can use to achieve this goal. In this post, I will show you five ways to download Apple Podcasts offline listening.
Method 1: Apple Podcast Downloader Shortcut for iPhone or Mac
For iPhone or Mac users, the easiest way to download Apple podcast episodes is to use an Apple Podcast Downloader Shortcut. This is a custom shortcut that I created for saving podcasts as MP3 files.
The Shortcuts app allows you to automate tasks with actions and parameters. Once you have my shortcut, you can also modify it and create an automation task to download your favorite podcast automatically.
Here are the steps for using my Apple Podcast Downloader Shortcut:
Step 1. Get or update the shortcut by clicking the button above. It works on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Step 2. Copy the link to the Podcast episode that you want to download. If you use iPhone or iPad, you can run it from the Podcast app share sheet.
Step 3. Select the Apple Podcast Downloader shortcut and tap to run it.
Step 4. Wait for the shortcut to finish downloading and converting the episode. You will get prompted to select a location to save the downloaded podcast.
You can select to save the file on iCloud or your iPhone. To access the downloaded MP3 file, go to the Files app and navigate to the folder that you chose. If you are familiar with shortcuts, you can customize the shortcut according to your preferences and needs. Otherwise, you can get more useful shortcuts to learn what shortcuts can do.
Method 2: Convert Apple Podcasts to MP3 with iTunes
For Windows users, you can use iTunes on your computer to download Apple Podcasts to MP3. iTunes is a media player and manager that allows you to sync your music, videos, podcasts, and other files between your computer and your Apple devices. You can also use iTunes to download podcast episodes from Apple Podcasts and convert them to another format.
Here are the steps for downloading podcast episodes via iTunes on a computer:
Step 1. Open iTunes and go to the Store tab. Click on Podcasts in the menu bar.
Step 2. Find the podcast you want to download and click on it. You will see a list of available episodes.
Step 3. Click on the Get button next to the episode you want to download. The episode will be added to your library and start downloading.
iTunes will download podcasts to MP3 by default. You can click the three-dot icon and select “Show in Windows Explorer” to view the MP3 files. You can then copy or move the file to any location or device you want.
iTunes helps you manage your podcast library more easily. However, you need a computer and iTunes installed on it. Also, iTunes may not have all the podcasts available on the Apple Podcasts app.
Method 3: Apple Podcast Downloader Online
A third way to download podcast episodes is to use third-party podcast downloading websites. These are online tools that allow you to download podcast episodes by entering the podcast URL. Here are the steps for using these websites to download Apple Podcasts:
Step 1. Copy the URL to an Apple podcast episode.
Step 2. Go to an Apple podcast downloader website.
Step 3. Paste the podcast URL in the input box and click on the “OK” button.
Step 4. Wait for the website to process the podcast and generate a download link. Click on the link to download the podcast episode to your device.
This method is convenient and fast when you want to download an episode occasionally. You don’t need to install any software or register for any service. You can also use any device or browser to access these websites.
Method 4: Podcast Downloading Software
A fourth way to download podcast episodes is to use podcast downloading software. These are applications that you can install on your computer to download podcast episodes from Apple Podcasts.
Among them, I recommend 4K Video Downloader. It is a versatile video downloader that can help you download podcasts from Apple Podcasts or other video platforms in MP3 format or other formats. You can use it to download playlists, channels, subtitles, annotations, etc. It is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
Step-by-step guide on how to use such software to download episodes
Step 1. Download and install one of the software mentioned above on your PC or Mac.
Step 2. Launch the software and paste the URL of the podcast that you want to download. If you enable the Smart Mode, you can paste multiple URLs.
Step 3. Click on Download and choose the output format, quality, and location of the downloaded files.
That’s it! You have successfully downloaded Apple podcasts to MP3 with 4k Downloader. You can now enjoy them offline or on any other device you want.
Method 5: Apple Podcasts App
If you only need to download podcast episodes for offline listening, you can use Apple Podcasts app itself. This app is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. You can download any episode as MP3 within the app and listen to it offline without using any data or Wi-Fi.
Here are the steps for downloading podcast episodes within the Apple Podcasts app:
Step 1. Open the app and find the podcast you want to download.
Step 2. Tap on the episode you want to download. You will see a plus icon (+) next to the episode title. Tap on it to add the episode to your library.
Step 3. Once the episode is added to your library, you will see a cloud icon with a down arrow next to it. Tap on it to start downloading the episode.
Step 4. To listen to a downloaded episode offline, just tap on it and enjoy.
The Apple Podcasts app also has some features that make offline listening more convenient. You can also customize your settings to automatically download new episodes of your favorite podcasts or delete played episodes.
However, you can only access the downloaded episodes within the app. If you want to transfer them to other devices or locations, you can use an iTunes alternative, Anytrans. As the screenshot above, Anytrans will display all your downloaded podcasts with the Podcasts app. You can easily transfer them to any location that you prefer.
Conclusion
With these five methods, you can easily download Apple Podcasts episodes to MP3 format. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences.
By downloading podcasts to MP3 format, you can listen to them offline on any device and media player. You can also save space on your device and manage your podcast library efficiently.