how to limit the number of downloaded episodes

  • Unknown's avatar
    smagluk8043e1b4391a · Member ·

    I have autoplay of new episodes turned on. I haven’t listened to podcasts for a while and have over 30 episodes piled up. That’s over 4.5 GB. How can I set the download limit so that no more than 5-10 episodes are downloaded, and new episodes are downloaded only after deleting the listened episodes? 1) I tried to customize through filters, set the download limit to 5, but new episodes continue to be downloaded. 2) I tried enabling autodownload only for the next episodes, and restricting the next episodes. But as a result only stopped working adding new episodes to the next when the limit is reached. I had to add the next ones manually.

  • staff-joey8 · Staff ·

    Hi there, @smagluk8043e1b4391a

    This is a good question. We do not have a way by default to restrict the amount of episodes which are auto-downloaded, unless you make use of auto-archiving features.

    So for example, you could go to Profile > Auto Archive > Archive Inactive Episodes, and then set a time-limit to remove episodes after a certain period of time. This will delete the downloaded files too.

    For a more fine-tuned approach with Auto-Archive, you can open up the Podcast Settings for specific podcasts, go to Auto-Archive > enable ‘Custom For This Podcast’ > Episode Limit, and configure this to how many episodes you want shown. This feature will ensure only the latest episodes are kept.

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattcd216 · Member ·

    Hello! New user, similar problem. iOS device. I’d like to download just the latest episode for each of my podcasts and remove if listened or a newer episode becomes available.

    I am looking in profile > settings > auto download. I have toggled on ‘new episodes’ and have set the ‘limit downloads’ to ‘latest episode’. However I am seeing multiple episodes downloading and taking up too much storage.

    Reading the docs and using the AI chatbot, the instructions seem to point to individual podcast settings. I can do this, but wouldn’t that make the global setting pointless?

    Thanks for any advice out there :)

  • staff-joey8 · Staff ·

    @mattcd216 this is another good question!

    I am looking in profile > settings > auto download. I have toggled on ‘new episodes’ and have set the ‘limit downloads’ to ‘latest episode’. However I am seeing multiple episodes downloading and taking up too much storage.

    Reading the docs and using the AI chatbot, the instructions seem to point to individual podcast settings. I can do this, but wouldn’t that make the global setting pointless?

    We have a few ways to address this, as shared earlier but I would recommend using Episode Limits to ensure only the latest episode is retained: https://support.pocketcasts.com/knowledge-base/episode-limits/

    The rest will be archived, and downloads removed.

    The other global option would be via Profile > Settings > Auto Archive > Inactive Episodes, but this uses a time period, not episode limit. We have a feature request open to investigate adjusting this in the future.

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattcd216 · Member ·

    Thanks. I’ll try the custom settings for each podcast.

    Slightly annoying as I’ll have to do this for all the podcasts I follow…

    In the global Auto Download settings, the ‘limit downloads’ just doesn’t seem to work. Bug?

  • staff-eleanor · Staff ·

    In the global Auto Download settings, the ‘limit downloads’ just doesn’t seem to work.

    Hi there! Could you give me an example of how you’ve setup the downloads, and what you would like to see happen when using the “limit downloads” feature? Once I have more details I can determine if it’s a bug or the expected behavior. If it’s not a bug, I can make a feature request so our team can take it into consideration for future updates.

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattcd216 · Member ·

    Thank you :)

    So I’ve recently switched to pocketcasts and have followed a load of podcasts. In the iOS app I’ve gone to Profile > Settings > Auto Download and there is a Limit Downloads option that I’ve set to ‘latest episode’.

    I expect this to download the latest episode of all my podcasts and if a new episode is released that new episode should be downloaded and the older download removed. This doesn’t happen.

    I’ve started setting custom Auto Archive settings for each podcast, setting the Episode Limit to ‘1 most recent’ and I can see that this is working. There’s even a nice ‘limited to 1’ orange text next to the episode list.

    I can achieve my aim (episodes downloaded on wifi, but not too much space taken up), but I think the bug could be that the global Limit Downloads setting doesn’t seem to do anything.

    Thanks for the help :)

  • staff-donnie · Staff ·

    Hi @mattcd216 When you enable Auto Download New Episodes in the global settings, you also have to select which podcasts to apply that to.

    Under the New Episodes toggle, there is a podcast selection menu. If you haven’t selected any it will say ‘No Podcasts Selected’, otherwise it will say e.g. ’14 podcasts selected’.

    If you tap that and then ‘Select all’ it will apply to all of your podcasts, including ones you follow in future.

    Those selected podcasts should respect the Limit Downloads setting.

    Let us know if that helps.

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattcd216 · Member ·

    hi @staff-donnie thanks for the help. All of my podcasts were selected already when I enabled auto-download. I haven’t changed anything there.
    I don’t seem to have permissions to upload a screenshot, sorry.

    In the global auto download settings I have:

    • New episodes toggled on
    • all podcasts selected
    • Limit downloads: latest episode on

      I still get multiple episodes downloading, unless I set custom auto archive limits for each podcast

    thanks

  • staff-joey8 · Staff ·

    Hi @mattcd216

    Good question again!

    Limit downloads: latest episode on

    I still get multiple episodes downloading, unless I set custom auto archive limits for each podcast

    So if you have it set to latest episode, every new episode from your selected podcasts will have the latest episodes downloaded when released. This can add up if the podcasts publish a lot of new episodes. Can you verify if that might be the case?

    Remember, even if latest episode is enabled, this does not remove the downloaded file when another new episode is released

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattcd216 · Member ·

    Hello @staff-joey8 thanks – that is how it’s behaving, yes.

    I might suggest that the UI wording needs updating, then. The menu in the global settings is “Limit Downloads: Latest Episode” (other options include “2 latest episodes per show” etc.) and the explanation underneath says “… and manage your storage by setting a limit on how many episodes are saved”.

    (I don’t have permissions to attach a screenshot, sorry).

    This, to me at least, says I want just the latest episode only downloaded. If I wanted it to keep downloading all new episodes I wouldn’t set a Limit Downloads option.

  • staff-eleanor · Staff ·

    Here’s a screenshot of the Auto Downloads sections for reference. This is the section from Profile > Settings > Auto Download.

    The description is: “Automatically download new episodes, save episodes from newly followed shows, and manage your storage by setting a limit on how many episodes are stored.”

    Thank you for your feedback regarding the description of the limit downloads feature. I can see how it can be confusing as you may to use both the Auto Download and Auto Archive options to get the desired effect. I have shared this with the team for consideration. Let me know if you have other questions about managing downloads.

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