In iOS 18, a new feature makes it easier to browse audio in Apple’s Podcasts app. You need to know this.
Podcasts app gets a new feature
In iOS 18, Apple’s Podcasts app now shows chapter segments of a podcast when you fast-forward through an episode that’s currently playing. This makes it easier to go directly to the desired section. Reddit user WristNut discovered this.
Now when you fast-forward through the podcadst timeline, the chapter name will appear above the line. This only happens in the Podcasts app itself. So it doesn’t work if you try the same in the media controls on the Lock screen in iOS 18 beta 2.
Creators must add chapters
While the ability to scroll through chapter segments is new, the chapters themselves are not. You may still not know them, because creators have to manually add chapters and many podcasts do not yet use the function. Probably because they need to specify the chapters in the heading of an MP4 file, or adjust the ID3 tags of MP3 or AAC files with third-party tools.
If creators have added chapters, the new feature in the Podcasts app will allow listeners to find them by swiping up on the play screen in iOS and iPadOS. Or by tapping the Chapters button in the top right corner of the Podcasts app for macOS. Creators can also provide artwork for each chapter that will appear on the play screen and Lock screen of iOS and iPadOS.
Apple Podcasts supports chapters for MP4, MP3, and AAC files, even if they have been manually added to the library via an RSS feed. Some of the tools used to add chapters are: Ferrite on iOS and iPadOS, Forecast by Overcast, Podcasts Chapters on macOS, and Vizzy on the web.
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