Apple will copy a signature YouTube Music function with this upcoming iOS 26 replace

[ad_1] <img class="e_Gh" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Apple Podcasts review mobile app 2" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737.jpg 1843w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-1000w-562h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="A hand holds an iPhone 12 Mini with the Apple Podcasts app open to the SoundGuys Podcast page." src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Apple-Podcasts-review-mobile-app-2-scaled-e1645255528737.jpg"/> Lil Katz / Android Authority

TL;DR

Apple is about to deliver one-tap switching between audio and video within the Podcasts app. The button placement is equivalent to YouTube Music. The function unifies audio and video streams for podcasts, which had been beforehand obtainable solely individually.

Apple simply rolled out the iOS 26.4 beta 1 for lovers yesterday. In case you’re an Apple person, you may wish to put together for some thrilling new upgrades, such because the Music app’s redesign with AI playlist creation in addition to end-to-end encryption for RCS messages (presently solely when speaking with different iPhone customers). As well as, Apple’s Podcast app is getting a serious improve, which seems to borrow a web page from YouTube Music‘s playbook.

Apple is increasing assist for movies within the Podcasts app. Whereas the app has all the time supported movies, creators may solely add audio and video variations of the identical podcast to totally different feeds. That may additionally imply customers must swap between audio and video variations and manually scrub to a selected timestamp. That is being addressed within the newest iOS beta, which is able to allow a seamless transition between audio and video feeds and consolidate them right into a single stream slightly than two. Curiously, Apple’s Music app misses out on the function presently and as a substitute lists audio and video tracks individually.

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<img class="e_Gh" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_Gh" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> The improve is so vital that Apple even devoted a whole weblog put up to explaining the framework and its advantages. Within the put up, Apple notes that the improved model of the Podcasts app will make the most of the HTTP Dwell Streaming (HLS) commonplace to energy the straightforward transition between audio and video.

With this variation, episodes that function movies will robotically load with video enabled, however customers can swap to audio-only playback by tapping the “Flip video off” button above the play/pause controls. In case you aren’t too deep into the Apple ecosystem, you'll know YouTube Music already presents the toggle between audio and video on the precise spot. Hopefully, switching between audio and video received’t disrupt the cadence or have an effect on synchronization with the transcript or auto-generated chapters.

<img class="e_Gh" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="apple podcasts video update" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update.jpg 2000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="apple podcasts video update" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/apple-podcasts-video-update.jpg"/> As well as, customers can view the video in full-screen mode when switching to panorama mode. Moreover, earlier movies will migrate to the built-in HLS feed from the earlier RSS-based video feed. For creators, that most likely means utilizing a third-party internet hosting supplier after which linking it to the Podcast Join account, as famous within the up to date assist web page.

Apple additionally notes that the function is presently soft-launching for a handful of creators, however we count on extra creators to realize entry when the secure model of iOS 26.4 rolls out. The replace also needs to enable creators can even be capable of insert “dynamic” video advertisements, together with host-read placements.

For the time being, the function is buggy as YouTuber Stephen Robles notes of their newest video. Transcripts and chapters are glitchy, which matches on to indicate Apple has work to do earlier than broader launch.

Along with the massive Podcasts improve, Apple was beforehand additionally anticipated to deliver the overhauled Siri with iOS 26.4, which is about to roll out in Spring 2026. It’s unclear whether or not these timelines for Siri and Apple Intelligence options nonetheless stand, particularly after Apple determined to make use of Google’s basis fashions to energy them. We’ll most likely know nearer to launch.