In September 2023, Google announced that it would be shutting down its dedicated podcast app, Google Podcasts, sometime next year. Now that the end of 2023 is nearing, the company has launched a new migration tool in the US that will allow users to shift their existing podcast subscriptions over to YouTube Music, which will be Google's new home for podcasts.
Key Dates:
- April 2024: Google Podcasts app will shut down
- March 2024: Last day to listen to podcasts on Google Podcasts in the US
- July 2024: Deadline to migrate or export subscriptions
Migration Tool:
The new migration tool is currently only available for US users, but will be rolled out to other regions soon.
- US users:
- Look for a banner at the top of your Google Podcasts app in the coming weeks.
- Follow the instructions to migrate your subscriptions to YouTube Music.
- Non-US users:
- Wait for the migration tool to become available in your region.
- In the meantime, you can export your subscriptions to an OPML file that can be uploaded to another podcast app.
Exporting Subscriptions:
If you don't want to move to YouTube Music, you can export your subscriptions to an OPML file. This will allow you to import them into another podcast app.
What to Expect:
The Google Podcasts app will be discontinued in April 2024, but you will still be able to listen to your podcasts in the app until March 2024. After that date, you will need to migrate your subscriptions to YouTube Music or another podcast app.
Why the Shutdown?
Google is shutting down Google Podcasts in order to focus its efforts on YouTube Music. YouTube Music has been adding podcasts to its platform in recent months, and it is now home to a large library of podcasts. By shutting down Google Podcasts, Google will be able to concentrate its resources on making YouTube Music the best podcast platform possible.
What are your options?
If you are a Google Podcasts user, you have a few options:
- Migrate to YouTube Music: This is the easiest option, and it will allow you to keep listening to all of your favorite podcasts.
- Export your subscriptions to another podcast app: This is a good option if you don't want to use YouTube Music. There are many other great podcast apps available, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Overcast.
- Do nothing: If you don't listen to podcasts very often, you may not need to do anything. After April 2024, you will no longer be able to use the Google Podcasts app, but you will still be able to access your podcasts through the web browser.
Conclusion:
The shutdown of Google Podcasts is a big change for podcast listeners, but it is also an opportunity to explore new podcast apps and discover new content. With the new migration tool and the option to export subscriptions, it is easy to make the transition to YouTube Music or another podcast app
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