Spotify is still known for music, but it has quietly become a capable podcast app as well. The problem is that many of its best podcast-related options are buried in Settings, and most people never touch them.
If you regularly listen to podcasts, changing a few defaults can save data, free up storage and make listening to longer episodes much easier.
Here are the most important Spotify Podcast settings worth adjusting.
1. Switch the video podcast to audio only
Spotify supports full video podcasts, but video streaming consumes data faster. If you mostly listen rather than watch, switching to audio only makes a big difference.
Where to find it:
Settings and Privacy? Data saving and offline? Able audio streaming only And Audio-only downloads for video podcasts
It retains the podcast audio while skipping the video feed entirely.
2. Enable Automatic Episode Downloads
Spotify can work like a traditional podcast app by automatically downloading new episodes from shows you follow. It is ideal for commuting or travelling.
How to enable:
Open Podcast? Settings (gear icon)? Able auto download episodes
You can also manage downloads for multiple shows from global download settings.
3. Limit downloads to Wi-Fi
If auto-downloads are enabled, limiting them to Wi-Fi prevents Spotify from silently eating up your mobile data plan.
Where to find it:
Settings and Privacy? Data saving and offline? turn off download on cellular
4. Low Podcast Download Quality
Podcast audio does not need a high bitrate. Spotify’s default podcast quality is already modest, but you can lower it further to save storage.
Where to change this:
settings? audio quality ? set download to Less (24Kbps)
Note: This setting affects music, not just podcasts.
5. Disable Autoplay for Podcasts
By default, Spotify keeps playing the next episode automatically. This can be annoying if you listen at bedtime or like to manually select episodes.
Where to find it:
settings? Playback? turn off auto play
6. Adjust playback speed
Spotify supports variable playback speeds, which is essential for long or slow-paced podcasts.
How to use it:
Play an episode? tap 1x button, choose anywhere from slow playback to fast speed
Even a small bump like 1.2x can save hours over time.
7. Reduce Podcast Notifications
Subscribing to multiple shows can flood your phone with alerts. If episodes are automatically downloaded anyway, notifications are often unnecessary.
Where to manage:
settings? Notifications? disable new podcast episodes or fine-tune by show
You can also turn off podcast recommendations altogether.
8. Clear cache and old downloads
Podcasts can quietly take up a lot of storage over time. Clearing the cache and old downloads keeps things under control.
Where to find it:
settings? Data saving and offline? storage ? Use clear cache And delete download
Be careful, this also removes the downloaded music.
final thoughts
With the right settings, Spotify becomes a more practical podcast player. It still lacks some of the advanced features found in dedicated podcast apps, but for many listeners, these changes are enough to make it efficient, predictable, and easy on data and storage.
If podcasts are part of your daily routine, it’s worth it to spend a few minutes in Spotify’s settings.
