Submitting Your Podcast to Apple Podcasts: Complete Guide

TL;DR: Submit to Apple Podcasts through Podcasts Connect using your RSS feed URL. You'll need an Apple ID, valid RSS feed with at least one episode, compliant artwork (3000×3000 pixels), and complete show metadata. Approval takes 1-5 business days. Meet all requirements before submitting to avoid rejection delays.

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Table of Contents

• Why Apple Podcasts Matters
• Requirements Before Submitting
• Step-by-Step Submission Process
• After Submission: What to Expect
• Common Rejection Reasons
• Optimizing Your Apple Podcasts Listing
• FAQ

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Why Apple Podcasts Matters

Apple Podcasts remains the dominant podcast platform worldwide.

Here's the thing: even though Spotify has grown significantly, Apple Podcasts still represents a substantial portion of podcast listening, especially in the US and among dedicated podcast listeners. More importantly, many other directories and apps index from Apple's catalog—appearing on Apple often means appearing elsewhere automatically.

Apple Podcasts by the Numbers

• One of the largest podcast directories globally
• Pre-installed on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• Default podcast app for hundreds of millions of Apple users
• Many other directories reference Apple's index
• Critical for discoverability and legitimacy

Benefits of Listing

Discoverability:

• Search within Apple Podcasts app
• Category browsing
• Editorial features and recommendations
• "Listeners Also Subscribed To" suggestions

Credibility:

• Apple verification adds legitimacy
• Required for many advertising networks
• Professional appearance

Analytics:

• Apple Podcasts Analytics dashboard
• Listener demographics and behavior
• Episode performance data

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Requirements Before Submitting

Ensure you meet all requirements to avoid rejection.

Account Requirements

Apple ID:

• Free to create at appleid.apple.com
• Use a permanent email you'll always access
• Enable two-factor authentication for security

Note: You don't need an Apple Developer account (which costs $99/year). A free Apple ID works for podcast submission.

RSS Feed Requirements

Feed must include:

• Valid RSS 2.0 XML format
• At least one published episode
• All required iTunes namespace tags
• Publicly accessible URL (not behind login)
• Working HTTPS (SSL certificate valid)

Episode requirements:

• At least one episode with valid audio enclosure
• Audio file must be accessible
• Complete episode metadata

Artwork Requirements

Technical specifications:

Content guidelines:

• No explicit imagery (unless marked explicit)
• No misleading imagery
• Text must be legible at small sizes
• Avoid copyrighted images you don't own
• No screenshots of Apple products

Metadata Requirements

Show information:

• Title (clear, unique, not misleading)
• Description (comprehensive, not keyword-stuffed)
• Author name
• Owner email (for verification)
• Category selection
• Language setting
• Explicit rating (yes/no/clean)

Episode information:

• Title
• Description
• Valid audio file
• Publication date

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Step-by-Step Submission Process

Follow these steps exactly for successful submission.

Step 1: Access Podcasts Connect

1. Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com
2. Sign in with your Apple ID
3. Accept Terms of Service (first time only)
4. You'll see the Podcasts Connect dashboard

Step 2: Add Your Show

1. Click the "+" button in the top left
2. Select "New Show"
3. You'll see the submission form

Step 3: Enter Your RSS Feed

1. Paste your complete RSS feed URL
2. Click "Add" or "Validate"
3. Apple will fetch and analyze your feed

Feed URL examples:

• https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/123456.rss
• https://feeds.transistor.fm/your-show
• https://anchor.fm/s/abc123/podcast/rss

Step 4: Review Parsed Information

Apple displays information pulled from your feed:

• Show title
• Description
• Artwork preview
• Category
• Episode count

Verify everything is correct. If something's wrong, fix it in your hosting platform first, then re-validate.

Step 5: Verify Ownership

Apple sends a verification email to the address in your feed's <itunes:owner> tag.

1. Check your email for verification link
2. Click the link to confirm ownership
3. Return to Podcasts Connect

Common issue: Verification email doesn't arrive. Check spam folders. Ensure your feed's owner email is correct and accessible.

Step 6: Submit for Review

1. Review all information one final time
2. Click "Submit"
3. You'll see status change to "Submitted" or "In Review"

Step 7: Wait for Approval

Apple reviews submissions manually. This typically takes 1-5 business days, sometimes longer.

You'll receive email notification when:

• Approved (your podcast is now live)
• Rejected (with reason and instructions to fix)

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After Submission: What to Expect

What happens while you wait and after approval.

Review Timeline

Typical timeline:

• 24-48 hours: Many straightforward submissions
• 3-5 business days: Standard review period
• 1-2 weeks: During busy periods or for complex cases

After Approval

Your podcast is live:

1. Search for your show in Apple Podcasts app
2. Verify all information displays correctly
3. Test playback of episodes
4. Share your Apple Podcasts link

Find your Apple Podcasts link:

• Search your show in iTunes or Music app on desktop
• Click "Share" → "Copy Link"
• Format: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/your-show/id1234567890

Access to Analytics

After approval, you can access Apple Podcasts Analytics in Podcasts Connect:

• Listener demographics
• Episode performance
• Listening patterns
• Device breakdown

Analytics appear after listeners start streaming—expect a few days delay initially.

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Common Rejection Reasons

Understand why podcasts get rejected to avoid delays.

Artwork Issues

Problem: Artwork doesn't meet requirements.

Common causes:

• Wrong dimensions (not 3000×3000)
• File too large
• Contains Apple product imagery
• Blurry or low quality
• Inappropriate content

Fix: Upload compliant artwork to your hosting platform, wait for feed to update, resubmit.

Feed Technical Problems

Problem: RSS feed has errors.

Common causes:

• Invalid XML structure
• Missing required tags
• Audio files not accessible
• HTTPS certificate issues
• Feed URL not publicly accessible

Fix: Run your feed through a validator, fix errors in hosting platform, resubmit.

Metadata Issues

Problem: Show information doesn't meet guidelines.

Common causes:

• Misleading or spammy title
• Keyword stuffing in title or description
• Impersonation or trademark issues
• Missing required information

Fix: Review Apple's content guidelines, update metadata honestly, resubmit.

Content Violations

Problem: Content violates Apple's policies.

Common causes:

• Illegal content
• Hate speech or harassment
• Misleading health/safety claims
• Copyright infringement
• Explicit content not properly marked

Fix: Review Apple's content policies, remove or modify violating content, resubmit.

Empty or Test Shows

Problem: No substantial content.

Common causes:

• No episodes published
• Only test episodes
• Placeholder content

Fix: Publish at least one complete, legitimate episode before submitting.

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Optimizing Your Apple Podcasts Listing

Maximize discoverability once approved.

Title Optimization

Do:

• Use your actual show name
• Be memorable and searchable
• Include subtitle for clarity if needed

Don't:

• Stuff keywords (Apple may reject)
• Use "Podcast" unless it's truly part of your brand
• Use misleading names

Description Writing

Write for both listeners and search.

First 100 characters: Appear in search results. Make them count.

Full description:

• Explain what the show is about
• Describe who it's for
• Include relevant keywords naturally
• Mention episode format and frequency

Category Selection

Primary category: Most relevant to your content Secondary category: Extends discoverability

Choose categories where your target audience browses, not just where you technically fit.

Episode Optimization

Titles: Clear, descriptive, searchable Descriptions: Include key topics and guest names Episode numbers: Help with organization and navigation

Ratings and Reviews

Reviews impact visibility. Encourage them by:

• Asking listeners directly in episodes
• Making it easy (provide direct link)
• Responding to reviews when possible (shows engagement)

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FAQ

How long does Apple Podcasts review take?

Most submissions are reviewed within 1-5 business days. Simple, compliant submissions often approve within 24-48 hours. Complex cases or busy periods can extend to 1-2 weeks. There's no way to expedite review. Submit early and have backup content planned while waiting.

Why was my podcast rejected?

Check your email—Apple sends specific rejection reasons. Common issues include artwork not meeting specifications, RSS feed errors, misleading or incomplete metadata, or content policy violations. Fix the specific issue mentioned, update your feed, and resubmit. Don't resubmit without addressing the stated problem.

Can I edit my listing after approval?

Yes. Update information in your hosting platform, and changes propagate to Apple automatically (usually within 24-48 hours). Some changes—like show title—may trigger re-review. Major changes to artwork or title should be made carefully, as they can temporarily affect your listing.

Do I need to resubmit for new episodes?

No. Once approved, new episodes appear automatically when you publish them to your hosting platform. Apple checks your RSS feed regularly and indexes new episodes without any action from you. If episodes aren't appearing, the issue is usually with your hosting platform or feed—not Apple submission.

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Ready to Reach Apple's Massive Audience?

Submitting to Apple Podcasts is a crucial step in building your podcast's audience. Follow the requirements, submit correctly, and you'll be live on one of the world's largest podcast platforms.

Once your episodes are live and growing your archive, make them discoverable beyond Apple's search. Try PodRewind free and search every word across your entire catalog—find any moment in seconds.