Apple is upgrading its Podcasts app to let users “seamlessly” swap between audio and video podcasts using its HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology. While listening to a show, users will be able to switch to a horizontal video version of a podcast and download video versions of podcasts for offline viewing.
By giving users the option to quickly change between audio and video, Apple may be able to prevent users from moving to other platforms to watch episodes of their favorite shows. Video is becoming an increasingly popular way to consume podcasts, with YouTube saying last February that more than 1 billion people watch podcasts on the platform each month. Spotify is also making a big contribution to video, and Netflix recently launched its own original podcasts and licenses shows from Spotify and iHeartMedia.
The new features in Apple’s Podcasts app will officially launch this spring, but they’ll be available for testing starting Monday as part of the beta for iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and VisionOS 26.4. HLS videos will also come to the web version of the Podcast app in the spring. Apple says the videos will “seamlessly integrate into existing shows without disrupting followers or downloads, and creators can monetize through sponsorships and dynamic advertising.”
<a href