The fastest way to delete a podcast
Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone, go to the Library tab at the bottom, and find the show you want to remove. Swipe left on the podcast title, and a red Delete button appears — tap it. The podcast and all its episodes are gone from your phone when ready.
If swiping does not work, tap Edit in the upper left corner of the Library screen instead. Red circles appear next to each podcast. Tap the circle next to the show you want to delete, then tap Delete in the red box that appears at the bottom right.
This removes the podcast from your iPhone only. If you subscribed through Apple Podcasts, the subscription stays active in your account, and the show will reappear if you search for it and tap Subscribe again. If you want to cancel the subscription itself, you need to do that separately in the Settings app.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe left on any podcast in your Library and tap Delete to remove it from your iPhone in one motion.
- Deleting a podcast from your phone does not cancel your subscription — the show can reappear if you subscribe again.
- To actually cancel a subscription, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and turn off the podcast there.
- Downloaded episodes take up storage space; deleting the podcast removes them all at once.
- If you use a third-party podcast app instead of Apple Podcasts, the delete process works the same way but only affects that app.
The difference between deleting and unsubscribing
Deleting a podcast from your Library removes it from the list you see in the app, but your subscription remains active. This means Apple Podcasts still tracks your listening, the show can send you notifications about new episodes, and you remain subscribed in your account settings.
To actually stop the subscription, open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find the podcast, and tap Manage Subscription. Then choose Cancel Subscription. After you cancel, the show will not send you notifications, and it will not appear in your Library even if you search for it — until you subscribe again.
Most people delete a podcast because they have finished it or stopped listening, not because they want to keep the subscription active. If that is your situation, canceling the subscription is the cleaner choice. If you think you might come back to the show later, deleting it from your Library keeps the subscription ready without cluttering your app.
Freeing up storage space when you delete
Podcasts take up storage on your iPhone because episodes are downloaded to your phone, not streamed. When you delete a podcast from your Library, all downloaded episodes are removed at once, which can free up several gigabytes if you have been listening to long-form shows.
You can also delete individual episodes without removing the entire podcast. In your Library, tap the show, swipe left on an episode, and tap Delete. This removes just that episode from your phone while keeping the podcast in your Library and the subscription active. This is useful if you have finished listening to older episodes and want to make room without losing the show itself.
To see how much space podcasts are using, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll down to find the Podcasts app and tap it. The screen shows the total size of all podcast data on your phone. If podcasts are taking up more than a few gigabytes and you are not actively listening, deleting shows you have finished is one of the fastest ways to reclaim space.
What happens to your listening history
When you delete a podcast, your listening history for that show remains in your Apple account. If you subscribe to the same podcast again later, Apple Podcasts will remember where you left off and which episodes you have already heard. This is helpful if you take a break from a show and want to pick it back up without losing your place.
Your listening data is tied to your Apple ID, not to the app on your phone. This means the history syncs across all your devices — if you delete a podcast on your iPhone but still have it on your iPad, the listening history stays the same on both devices until you delete it everywhere.
Deleting podcasts from third-party apps
If you use a podcast app other than Apple Podcasts — such as Pocket Casts, Overcast, or Podcast Addict — the delete process is similar but happens only within that app. Swipe left or long-press the podcast title, select Delete or Remove, and it disappears from that app's Library.
Third-party apps do not connect to Apple's subscription system, so deleting a podcast from Overcast, for example, does not affect your subscription in Apple Podcasts or any other app. Each app keeps its own list of subscriptions and downloaded episodes. If you use multiple podcast apps, you will need to delete the show from each one separately if you want it gone from all of them.
Some third-party apps also let you archive a podcast instead of deleting it. Archiving hides the show from your main Library but keeps it in a separate section so you can restore it later without resubscribing. Check your app's settings to see if this option is available.
Recovering a deleted podcast
If you delete a podcast by mistake, you can get it back by searching for the show in the Podcasts app and tapping Subscribe again. Your listening history and the point where you left off will still be there because that data is stored in your Apple account, not on the podcast itself.
The only exception is if you also canceled the subscription in Settings. In that case, you can still search for and resubscribe to the show, but Apple Podcasts will treat it as a fresh subscription. You will still see your listening history, but the app may not remember exactly where you stopped in the most recent episode.
Managing notifications after you delete
Deleting a podcast from your Library does not stop notifications about new episodes if your subscription is still active. You will continue to receive alerts when the show releases a new episode, even though it no longer appears in your Library.
To stop notifications, cancel the subscription in Settings, or go to the podcast's page in the Podcasts app (search for it), tap the three dots in the upper right, and select Notification Settings. From there you can turn off notifications, set them to arrive only for certain episodes, or choose to be notified only when you open the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a podcast delete it from my other Apple devices?
No. Deleting a podcast from your iPhone only removes it from that device. If you have the same podcast app on your iPad or Mac, the show stays in your Library there. Your listening history syncs across devices, but the podcast itself remains subscribed on your other devices until you delete it from each one.
Can I delete a podcast episode without deleting the whole show?
Yes. In the Podcasts app, open the show, swipe left on the episode you want to remove, and tap Delete. The episode is removed from your phone, but the podcast stays in your Library and you remain subscribed. New episodes will still read or be available to stream.
What if I delete a podcast but want to keep one episode?
Delete the podcast as normal, then search for it in the Podcasts app and tap the episode you want to save before you unsubscribe. You can also save individual episodes to your library by tapping the bookmark or save icon on each episode — saved episodes stay accessible even after you delete the podcast.
Does deleting a podcast stop Apple from tracking my listening?
Deleting the podcast from your Library stops new episodes from being downloaded or tracked, but your past listening history remains in your Apple account. To fully stop Apple from tracking a show, cancel the subscription in Settings. This prevents future episodes from being tracked and removes the podcast from your subscription list.
Why do I still get notifications after deleting a podcast?
Because your subscription is still active. Deleting a podcast from your Library is separate from canceling the subscription. To stop notifications, either cancel the subscription in Settings or find the podcast in the app, tap the three dots, and turn off notifications there.