Are podcasts clogging up your iPhone storage? Over time, downloaded episodes can easily eat up several gigabytes—especially if you’re subscribed to multiple shows. Whether you want to delete a few episodes or wipe everything at once, this guide will show you how to clean up your iPhone’s podcast clutter quickly and easily.
1. Stop Podcasts from Automatically Downloading
Prevent future episodes from piling up in the background.
- Open the Podcasts app.
- Tap Library, then select a podcast.
- Tap the three dots in the top right > Settings.
- Under Download Episodes, select Off.
- Repeat this for other podcasts you want to manage manually.
2. Delete Individual Episodes
To clean out specific episodes you’ve already listened to:
- Open the Podcasts app > tap Library > Downloaded Episodes.
- Swipe left on an episode and tap Delete.
- This frees up space immediately.
3. Remove an Entire Podcast Series
Done with a show altogether? Here’s how to clear it out completely:
- Go to Podcasts > Library > Shows.
- Swipe left on the show you want to remove.
- Tap Delete from Library > Confirm.
This deletes all downloaded episodes and removes the show from your list.
4. Automatically Delete Played Episodes
Let your iPhone do the cleanup for you.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Podcasts.
- Turn on Delete Played Episodes.
Once an episode is fully played, your iPhone will automatically remove it to save space.
5. Delete Podcasts from iPhone Storage Settings
Want to see how much space podcasts are using?
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down and tap Podcasts.
- Tap Edit, then tap the red minus next to the podcasts you want to delete.
- Tap Delete to confirm.
This gives you a bird’s-eye view of storage usage and lets you delete in bulk.
6. Use a Podcast Cleaner App
For mass deletion or deeper cleanup, try third-party apps:
- iMyFone Umate: Bulk deletes podcast files and caches.
- PhoneClean: Finds large and outdated podcast data.
- iCleaner: Erases podcast storage and caches.
- CleanMyMac X (Mac): Great for cleaning backups from synced iPhones.
7. Remove Podcasts Using iTunes or Finder
Prefer managing files on your computer?
Using iTunes (Windows/macOS Mojave or earlier):
- Connect iPhone to computer via USB.
- Open iTunes, click your device, and go to the Podcasts section.
- Right-click episodes > Delete, then Apply.
Using Finder (macOS Catalina and later):
- Connect iPhone to Mac via USB.
- Open Finder, select your iPhone > click Podcasts.
- Click the minus – button next to shows you want to delete > click Apply.
8. Reset the Podcasts App
To wipe everything and start fresh:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset Podcasts.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
This will delete all downloaded episodes and reset the app without removing subscriptions.