The Apple Watch finally supports local playback of podcasts from watchOS 5 . From now on you can listen to podcasts on the Apple Watch without the iPhone in the vicinity. In this tip, we show how it works.
Play podcasts in watchOS 5 on the Apple Watch
One of the most important improvements of watchOS 5 is the new podcast app. This is standard on every Apple Watch that supports the new version. This app can be used to control podcasts that you listen to on your iPhone. The function of storing podcasts locally on the watch is much more convenient so you can listen to it in the neighborhood without an iPhone.
Useful when you exercise for example, and your iPhone is not around. All you need is an Apple Watch with watchOS 5 and a set of wireless earphones that you can pair with the smartwatch.
Stream podcasts on the Apple Watch
If you have access to a wireless internet connection, you can simply stream podcasts directly to the watch. This works as follows.
1. Pair the wireless headphones with your Watch;
2. Open the Podcasts app;
3. Scroll with the Digital Crown or swipe the screen to scroll through your episodes;
4. Tap Library for a complete list of episodes;
5. Select an episode and start listening.
If you want to add a new podcast without your iPhone, you can do this via Siri. Simply ask the assistant if she wants to subscribe you to the name of a podcast. Siri then ensures that you are subscribed and new episodes automatically appear in the app.
Use Apple Watch podcasts offline
Sometimes it is useful to download an episode locally on the Watch. For example, if you do not have an internet connection, if you are running outside without an iPhone in the vicinity. The offline saving of podcasts works as follows.
1. Subscribe to the podcasts you want to listen to offline;
2. Connect the Watch to the charger;
3. The latest episodes are now being downloaded, this can take a while;
4. Remove the watch from the charger and connect headphones to the watch to start listening.
Podcasts that are stored locally can be recognized by the absence of the cloud icon in the bottom right corner of the illustration. This indicates that an episode can only be streamed and therefore not locally on the watch.
