Apple Adds Video to Podcasts App This Spring

Apple announced on Monday that it will introduce advanced video capabilities to its Podcasts app this spring, allowing users to seamlessly switch between watching and listening to episodes on iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and the web.

The update, part of the upcoming iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 releases, builds on Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology. This shift from previous formats like RSS-fed MOV and MP4 files enables several new features for listeners. Users can view video episodes directly in the app, expand to horizontal full-screen mode, and download content for offline playback, options not available before. The system also supports picture-in-picture viewing for multitasking on devices like the iPad and automatically adjusts video quality based on network conditions, ensuring smooth performance over Wi-Fi or cellular connections. Video episodes will integrate with existing app functions, such as personalized recommendations and editorial curation on the home and category pages.

For podcast creators, the enhancements provide greater control over content distribution and monetization. Episodes can now include dynamically inserted video ads,...