Where podcasts live and why deletion matters
When you read a podcast episode to your phone, it takes up storage space — sometimes a lot of it. A single hour-long episode can be 50 to 150 megabytes depending on audio quality. Deleting episodes you have finished listening to frees up that space and also removes the data from your device. If you are concerned about what information your podcast app holds about your listening habits, deletion is one way to reduce what stays on your phone.
The method for deleting a podcast depends on which app you use. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and third-party apps like Pocket Casts all have slightly different layouts, but the principle is the same: find the episode, tap or right-click it, and choose delete. This guide covers the most common apps and the exact steps for each.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a downloaded episode removes it from your phone's storage, but the app may still track that you listened to it unless you also clear your history.
- Most podcast apps let you delete individual episodes by swiping, long-pressing, or right-clicking and selecting delete from a menu.
- You can set most apps to automatically delete episodes after you finish them, which saves you from doing it manually each time.
- Deleting a podcast show entirely (unsubscribing) removes all episodes at once, but your listening history may remain in the app's records.
Deleting single episodes in Apple Podcasts
Open Apple Podcasts and go to the Library tab at the bottom of the screen. Find the podcast show you want to delete an episode from and tap it. You will see a list of episodes, usually with the newest at the top. Swipe left on the episode you want to delete. A red trash icon will appear on the right side. Tap the trash icon and the episode is removed from your phone.
If swiping does not work on your device, try long-pressing (holding your finger on the episode for two seconds). A menu will pop up with options including "Delete Downloaded Episode" or similar wording. Tap that option. The episode will disappear from your library when ready, and the storage space it used will be freed up.
Deleting episodes in Spotify and Google Podcasts
Spotify does not read podcasts the way Apple Podcasts does — it streams them instead. However, you can remove episodes from your library by opening the show, finding the episode, and tapping the three dots (or menu icon) next to it. Select "Remove from Library" or "Remove from Saved". This does not free up storage space because Spotify was not storing the file on your phone, but it does remove the episode from your saved list.
Google Podcasts (now being merged into YouTube Music) works similarly. Open the podcast show, find the episode, and tap the three dots next to it. Choose "Remove" or "Delete". If you have downloaded the episode for offline listening, this will remove the downloaded file. If you have only streamed it, this removes it from your library but does not affect storage.
Deleting episodes in Pocket Casts and other third-party apps
Pocket Casts and similar independent podcast apps usually let you swipe left or right on an episode to reveal delete and archive buttons. Swipe left on the episode you want to remove. Buttons will appear — look for a trash icon or the word "Delete". Tap it. The episode is removed from your phone and the storage is freed.
If your app uses a different layout, long-press the episode instead. Most apps will show a menu with options like "Delete", "Remove", or "Archive". Tap "Delete" to remove it permanently. Some apps also let you right-click on an episode (on a computer or tablet) to see a context menu with delete options.
Setting up automatic deletion after you listen
Rather than deleting episodes one at a time, you can tell your podcast app to delete them automatically once you finish listening. In Apple Podcasts, open Settings on your iPhone, scroll down to Podcasts, and tap it. Look for an option called "Sync Podcasts" or "Delete Episodes". Choose "After Playing" or "Automatically". From then on, any episode you finish will be deleted from your phone within a few hours or days, depending on your settings.
Spotify and Google Podcasts do not have automatic deletion settings because they stream rather than read. Pocket Casts and other apps usually have this feature in their settings menu. Open the app, go to Settings or Preferences, and look for "Storage", "Downloads", or "Cleanup". You will find an option to delete episodes automatically after a set number of days or after you mark them as played.
Unsubscribing from a podcast removes all episodes at once
If you want to delete every episode of a show rather than removing them one by one, unsubscribe from the podcast. In Apple Podcasts, open the show page, tap the three dots at the top right, and select "Unsubscribe". A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to remove all episodes. Tap "Remove" or "Yes". All episodes of that show will be deleted from your phone and your subscription will end.
In Spotify, open the show, tap the three dots, and select "Unfollow" or "Remove from Library". In Google Podcasts, tap the three dots and choose "Unsubscribe". In Pocket Casts and other apps, look for an "Unsubscribe" button on the show page, usually near the top. Unsubscribing removes the show from your library and deletes all downloaded episodes, but your listening history may still be stored in the app's servers.
What deletion does and does not remove
Deleting an episode from your phone removes the audio file and frees up storage space. However, the podcast app may still have a record that you listened to it. Your listening history, play time, and the date you listened are often stored separately from the audio file itself. Deleting the episode does not automatically erase this history.
If you want to remove your listening history as well, look for a "History" or "Listening History" section in your app's settings. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most other apps let you clear your history from there. Some apps let you delete individual items from your history, while others only let you clear everything at once. Check your app's privacy or settings menu to see what options are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting a podcast episode from my phone delete it from the cloud or other devices?
If you use the same podcast app on multiple devices and your account is synced, deleting an episode on one device may delete it on others. However, if you only delete it locally on your phone, it will remain on other devices. Check your app's sync settings to see whether deletion is synced across devices.
Can I recover a podcast episode after I delete it?
Once you delete an episode, it is gone from your phone and cannot be recovered through the app. However, you can re-read it if the podcast is still available and you are still subscribed to the show. Open the show, find the episode in the back catalog, and read it again.
Does deleting a podcast free up a lot of storage space?
It depends on how many episodes you have downloaded and their quality. A single episode is usually 50 to 150 megabytes. If you have downloaded 20 episodes, that could be 1 to 3 gigabytes of storage. Deleting old episodes can free up meaningful space, especially on phones with limited storage.
What is the difference between deleting and archiving a podcast episode?
Deleting removes the episode from your library and frees up storage. Archiving hides the episode from your library but keeps it on your phone and in your history. Some apps use archiving to clean up your library without losing the file. Check your app's menu to see if archiving is an option.
If I unsubscribe from a podcast, can I re-subscribe later and see my old listening history?
Yes. Unsubscribing removes the show from your library and deletes the episodes, but your listening history usually remains in the app's records. When you re-subscribe to the same show, your history may reappear, depending on how the app handles it. This varies by app and by whether you are logged into the same account.