How to listen to YouTube in Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts is one of the most powerful podcast players available, featuring robust cross-device sync and folder organization. While it cannot play YouTube directly, you can easily convert any YouTube channel into a podcast RSS feed and follow it in Pocket Casts.
Updated 2026-07-07
Why Listen to YouTube in Pocket Casts?
Treat your favorite YouTube lectures or talk shows just like regular podcast episodes with background playback and offline downloads.
Pocket Casts also syncs your playback progress across iOS, Android, and its Web/Desktop apps, making it a great companion for YouTube content.
- Background playback & offline downloads
- Cross-device progress sync
- Organize feeds into dedicated folders and filters
Step 1: Convert YouTube to a Podcast RSS Feed
Using PigeonPod, search for the YouTube channel or playlist by name, or paste its URL to create a subscription.
- Optional: Set up a duration filter to exclude YouTube Shorts, keeping your queue clean.
Step 2: Add the RSS Link to Pocket Casts
On Mobile: Open Pocket Casts, go to the Discover tab, and paste the RSS URL directly into the search bar. Tap Search and the feed will appear, then tap Subscribe.
On Desktop/Web: Click on Discover in the left sidebar, paste the URL into the search box, and hit Enter.
Important: Understanding Update Delays in Pocket Casts
When you paste a new RSS link into Pocket Casts for the first time, its servers need to fetch and parse the feed. This means it might take a few moments longer to load initially compared to Apple Podcasts.
Similarly, new episodes or cover image updates might appear in Pocket Casts a little later than they do in PigeonPod. This is normal and is just how Pocket Casts' syncing engine works.
Pro Tip: Keep Your Queue Organized
If you subscribe to many YouTube channels, use Pocket Casts' “Up Next” queue or create a custom “Filter” to automatically group all your YouTube episodes in one place, separate from your regular podcasts.