Google Home users have long enjoyed the convenience of listening to their favorite podcasts through their smart speakers. But as Google Podcasts shuts down, users are being nudged towards YouTube Music as the new home for podcasts. Unfortunately, for some, the transition isn’t entirely smooth.
While Google suggests former Google Podcasts users switch to YouTube Music, the option to set it as the default podcast provider in the Google Home app is still missing for me. This is surprising, considering the shutdown of Google Podcasts as from April 2. It means I have to manually specify “on YouTube Music” each time I want to listen to a podcast, which can be a hassle. The alternative is Spotify, which Google says is the only other podcast service that you can set as your default on Google Nest or Home speakers.
Interestingly, the experience isn’t universal. Some users have confirmed that YouTube Music does appear as an option for them within their Google Home app’s default podcast settings. This suggests that the rollout of the feature might be gradual. It’s possible that it started in the US, where Google Podcasts has already shut down, and will slowly expand to other regions as the service’s termination date approaches globally.
Google has been actively pushing YouTube Music as the replacement for Google Podcasts. It would be ideal for them to make the integration seamless by allowing users to quickly set YouTube Music as their default podcast provider. Hopefully Google speeds up the rollout of this feature for a smoother podcast experience for all Google Home users ahead of the global Google Podcasts shutdown.
Hillary Keverenge
2110 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.