Pocket Casts is excellent for private podcasts because it syncs across all your devices: phone, tablet, and computer. This guide walks you through both one-click and manual methods.
What You'll Accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have:
✅ Successfully subscribed to your private podcast in Pocket Casts
✅ Found and started playing your episodes
✅ Learned how to fix common Pocket Casts subscription issues
This usually takes less than a minute with the one-click method, or about 2 minutes manually.
Step 1: Try the One-Click Subscribe Method First
If you see a Pocket Casts button on your invitation page:
Click the "Pocket Casts" button on your invitation page
Pocket Casts will open automatically with your private podcast ready to subscribe
Tap "Subscribe" or "Follow" when prompted
Your private podcast appears in your library immediately
That's it! Most private podcast platforms offer this simple one-click method.
Step 2: Manual RSS Method (If No One-Click Button Available)
If you don't see a Pocket Casts button:
Copy the RSS feed URL from your invitation page
Open Pocket Casts on your device
Paste your RSS feed URL in the field that says "Search podcasts or add RSS URL"
Tap "Follow"
Step 3: Finding Your Episodes
After successful subscription:
Your private podcast appears in your Pocket Casts library
Tap the podcast image to see all available episodes
Episodes are ready to play immediately
New episodes will appear automatically as your creator releases them
What Happens Next
Your private podcast appears in your Pocket Casts library with your other shows
New episodes will appear automatically across all your devices
You can download episodes for offline listening
The podcast syncs perfectly between your phone, tablet, and computer
Troubleshooting Common Pocket Casts Issues
"It gets stuck on the Loading Podcast screen"
This is super common with Pocket Casts' one click subscribe for some reason.
If it never actually sends you to the show, close the app and go through the process again. That means going back to your invitation page and hitting the subscribe button one more time.
That usually does it!
"How do I get the episodes to play in the correct order?"
Most podcast apps show newest episodes first, but you might want to start from the beginning:
Open your private podcast in Pocket Casts
Look for the three dots button next to the Search Bar
Select "Sort Episodes" and pick your preference "Oldest to Newest" or "Newest to Oldest"
"I don't see the Pocket Casts button on my invitation page"
Your creator's hosting platform may not offer one-click Pocket Casts integration. Use the manual RSS method described in Step 2 above.
"The RSS feed won't accept or gives an error"
Try these solutions:
Make sure you copied the complete RSS URL with no extra spaces
Check that the RSS link is still active by contacting your creator
Try closing and reopening Pocket Casts, then attempt again
Verify you're pasting in the URL field, not the search field
"I subscribed but don't see any episodes"
Try these solutions:
Wait 2-3 minutes for Pocket Casts to process the feed
Tap directly on the podcast image to open the full episode view
Pull down on the episode list to refresh
Check your internet connection and try refreshing again
"The podcast isn't syncing to my other devices"
Pocket Casts syncing solutions:
Make sure you're logged into the same Pocket Casts account on all devices
Check that sync is enabled in Settings → Account
Try manually syncing by pulling down in your podcast list
Give it a few minutes - syncing can sometimes be delayed
"Episodes aren't downloading for offline listening"
Check your download settings in Pocket Casts preferences
Make sure you have enough storage space on your device
Verify you're connected to WiFi if you have cellular download restrictions
Try manually downloading by tapping the download icon next to episodes
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a Pocket Casts account to listen to private podcasts?
A: You can listen without an account, but creating a free Pocket Casts account enables syncing across all your devices, which is one of Pocket Casts' best features.
Q: Can I listen to private podcasts on my computer with Pocket Casts?
A: Yes! Pocket Casts has a web player at play.pocketcasts.com that syncs with your mobile app. Your private podcasts will appear there too.
Q: Does Pocket Casts work on both iPhone and Android?
A: Yes, Pocket Casts works great on both platforms and syncs perfectly between them. You can start listening on your iPhone and continue on your Android tablet.
Q: Can I download private podcast episodes for offline listening?
A: Yes, Pocket Casts has excellent offline capabilities. You can download episodes and listen without an internet connection.
Q: Will my private podcast show up in Pocket Casts search or discovery?
A: No, private podcasts don't appear in search results or discovery features. You can only access them through your subscription link.
Q: What makes Pocket Casts good for private podcasts?
A: Pocket Casts excels at cross-device syncing, so your private podcast progress, downloads, and settings stay in sync whether you're on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Still having trouble with Pocket Casts? Here are additional resources:
📘 Pocket Casts Help: https://support.pocketcasts.com/
Or email us directly: [email protected] with screenshots of any error messages and we'll get you sorted out quickly.
This guide was created to help listeners access private podcasts on Pocket Casts, regardless of which hosting platform their creator uses.