Submitting a podcast to Apple Podcasts (historically iTunes) is the process of making your show available in the world’s largest podcast directory through Apple’s reviewed submission system. This evergreen explainer outlines the eligibility requirements, the exact steps to submit via Apple Podcasts Connect, what to expect during review, how to optimize your show for discovery, and how to maintain your listing after approval. Because Apple does not allow direct uploads outside its RSS-driven submission flow, you submit not to iTunes itself but to Apple’s hosting and directory via an approved RSS feed and an Apple ID with publishing permissions.
Basic eligibility and prerequisites
Before you submit, confirm that your podcast meets Apple’s baseline rules. Your content must be original, lawful, and follow Apple’s podcast policies; you must own or have rights to all audio, music, and branding; you must use an eligible host that publishes an RSS 2.0 feed with standard fields; and your show must have at least one episode. Apple typically reviews within a few minutes to 48 hours. If you use a reputable host such as Anchor (via RSS export), Buzzsprout, Captivate, Podbean, or Transistor, the feed will already be compliant. Check your host’s documentation for the public RSS URL you will need during submission.
Step-by-step submission process
To submit a podcast to Apple Podcasts, you work inside Apple Podcasts Connect with an Apple ID that has publishing rights. Prepare your artwork, episode details, and RSS URL beforehand so the listing is accurate at launch.
1) Sign in to Apple Podcasts Connect
Open podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in with the Apple ID you want to use for publishing. If you do not already have a podcast listed, choose the option to add a new show. If you manage shows for a team, ensure the Apple ID is added as a publisher in the team settings.
2) Create a new show listing
You will be guided through a form to create your show. Provide the exact title you want in iTunes/Apple Podcasts, a concise description that includes key keywords without stuffing, your chosen category and subcategory, and your language and territory. Select your desired artwork; Apple requires specific sizes (square and landscape for artwork) and advises against including price or URLs on the artwork that cannot be updated later.
3) Connect or confirm your RSS feed
Paste the full URL of your podcast’s RSS 2.0 feed. Apple will validate the feed to confirm it follows their required tags and includes essential fields such as title, description, author, owner, image URLs, and explicit flag. If any required tags are missing, fix them in your host’s settings and wait for Apple to re-crawl the feed before proceeding.
4) Add your first episode (optional but recommended)
You can submit an episode during setup or add it afterward. Recommended fields include episode title, description, audio file URL, duration, release date, explicit flag, and a compelling episode artwork. Accurate metadata now reduces the chance of rejection later and improves search relevance inside Apple Podcasts.
5) Review and submit
Before you submit, double-check spelling, category, artwork specs, and that your RSS feed returns a 200 status with valid XML. When ready, submit the listing for review. You will see a confirmation screen with a summary; from here you can save as a draft or submit.
6) Await approval and publish
Apple typically reviews within minutes, but in some cases or regions it can take up to 48 hours. You will receive an email or in-app notification of approval or requested changes. Once approved, your show will appear in Apple Podcasts search and browse. New episodes you add later go through a lighter review and usually appear faster if the show is already live.
What Apple checks during review
Apple’s review ensures compliance with content policy, proper metadata, valid technical feeds, and correct artwork. They verify that the feed is reachable, contains required fields, and matches what you submitted. They also check for explicit content flags, required owner information, and that the feed returns appropriate HTTP status codes. If something is wrong, you will get a rejection or guidance list in Apple Podcasts Connect; address the items, update your host if needed, and resubmit.
Common issues and fixes
Many submission problems come from RSS errors, artwork issues, or mismatched information. If Apple rejects your feed, read the specific notes, correct the affected field in your host, and trigger a re-crawl. Keep your feed stable after approval; changing core fields like title or owner frequently can delay re-indexing. Make sure your host supports full iTunes compatibility tags such as explicit, author, block, and keywords. For best results, publish a test episode to your own device and confirm how it appears in the Apple Podcasts app before wider promotion.
Post-approval maintenance and optimization
After you learn how to submit a podcast to Apple Podcasts, ongoing maintenance matters for visibility and reliability. Update episode metadata consistently, keep your feed stable, and respond promptly to policy or ownership updates from Apple. Monitor error reports in Apple Podcasts Connect, fix broken links or incorrect artwork, and refresh keywords in descriptions to align with how listeners search. A well-maintained listing sustains discoverability and avoids unnecessary takedowns or delistings.
Quick submission checklist
- Use an Apple ID with publisher rights.
- Prepare show title, description, category, and artwork before you start.
- Confirm your host provides a valid, public RSS 2.0 feed.
- Validate RSS fields (title, description, owner, author, image, explicit) before submitting.
- Submit during off-peak hours if your region is known for slower reviews.
- Check Apple Podcasts Connect for status emails and rejection notes.
- After approval, publish episodes consistently and update metadata as needed.
Verification notes and limits
Apple does not publish formal turnaround-time SLAs; typical reviews range from immediate to 48 hours. There is no paid expedite option for standard listings. Apple may occasionally require additional information for content such as health, financial advice, or regulated topics. This process applies to new shows and updates to existing shows; changes to core fields like title or ownership may require additional review. Results can vary by territory and are subject to Apple’s policy enforcement at their discretion.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Review timeframe | Typically minutes; up to 48 hours | Apple support and widespread reporter data |
| Required feed standard | RSS 2.0 with required iTunes tags | Apple Podcasts Connect Help and RSS spec |
| Eligible hosts | Most major hosts that export compliant RSS | Host documentation and Apple requirements |
| Artwork guidance | Square and landscape sizes; avoid on-artwork text | Apple Human Interface Guidelines |
| No paid expedite | Standard listings cannot be paid-urged | Apple published policies |
Key terms explained
- RSS feed — the structured XML feed that tells Apple Podcasts your episodes, artwork, and metadata.
- Apple Podcasts Connect — Apple’s official dashboard for managing shows, episodes, and metadata in Apple Podcasts.
- Explicit flag — a setting indicating whether an episode contains explicit content, required by Apple.
- Territory — the country or region where your show is listed and available in the Apple Podcasts Store.
Related actions
Once you know how to submit a podcast to Apple Podcasts, consider complementary distribution steps: submit to other major directories (Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music), implement tracking tokens for attribution, and configure social sharing cards for consistent branding. These actions do not replace the Apple submission but help maximize reach while keeping your listing authoritative and stable across platforms.
Conclusion
Submitting a podcast to Apple Podcasts involves preparing compliant metadata and RSS, using Apple Podcasts Connect, and waiting for a standard review. By meeting eligibility rules, validating your feed, and maintaining your listing post-approval, you ensure durable availability in the Apple Podcasts directory. Follow this verified workflow to submit accurately, avoid common rejections, and keep your show discoverable in one of the most important podcast directories.