Listen to Podcasts on Kodi: Apple iTunes Add-on Status and Setup

If you want to listen to podcasts on Kodi, the classic Apple iTunes Podcasts add-on may not be available in a current installation. Kodi’s older wiki page still documents the add-on’s catalog search, genre browsing, and “My Podcasts” list, but the currently published Omega music add-ons catalog lists RSS Podcasts instead. Check your own Kodi repository first; if the Apple add-on is missing, use RSS Podcasts with a show’s feed URL or an OPML subscription file.

What happened to the Apple iTunes Podcasts add-on?

The Apple iTunes Podcasts add-on was a Kodi browser for audio and video podcasts. Its archived Kodi wiki page says it could search by podcast name, browse genres, and keep a “My Podcasts” list. That page was last edited in 2021 and links the add-on to older Kodi repository generations. Kodi’s published Omega catalog currently includes RSS Podcasts, which has a different workflow: it imports podcasts from direct feed URLs, OPML files, gPodder, or Nextcloud Gpoddersync. It does not provide the same built-in Apple catalog search.

Kodi add-ons are tied to release branches, so availability can differ by the version installed on your device. The built-in repository is the safest place to check compatibility. If Apple iTunes Podcasts does not appear there, do not assume a ZIP file from an unfamiliar site will work with your version.

How to check for and install the legacy add-on

1. Open Settings in Kodi and choose Add-ons.
2. Select Install from repository, then open Kodi Add-on repository.
3. Check Music add-ons and, on versions that list it there, Video add-ons. Select Apple iTunes Podcasts if it appears.
4. Open the add-on information page and choose Install. Wait for Kodi’s installation notification, then open the add-on from the Add-ons section.

Some skins show an open-box icon for the add-on browser, while other versions place the same options under Settings. If the name is not listed, the old instructions no longer match your repository branch. Kodi’s repository guide explains that the built-in browser presents add-ons compatible with each release.

Install Kodi’s current RSS Podcasts add-on

If the Apple add-on is absent, RSS Podcasts is the current official-repository option for adding feeds. Kodi’s Omega listing describes support for direct podcast URLs, OPML files, gPodder, and Nextcloud Gpoddersync, plus categories for organizing shows.

1. Go to Settings → Add-ons → Install from repository.
2. Open Kodi Add-on repository → Music add-ons and select RSS Podcasts.
3. Choose Install. After installation, open the add-on’s information page and select Configure to add subscriptions.

Add a podcast feed and play an episode

Find the show’s public RSS feed on the podcast publisher’s website. Look for a link labeled RSS or Podcast feed. A show page in Apple Podcasts or another directory is not necessarily the feed itself; if the publisher provides an OPML file, you can import that instead.

In RSS Podcasts settings, add the feed URL or browse to an OPML file. The add-on also supports subscriptions from gPodder and Nextcloud Gpoddersync. If you manage several shows, use the available categories to keep them organized. Save the settings, then open RSS Podcasts from Kodi’s Add-ons list and select the show you added.

Choose an episode to open its details, then select it to start playback. The episode list, artwork, dates, and descriptions depend on the information supplied by each podcast feed. Kodi streams the episode from the feed’s media link, so an internet connection and a working publisher server are required.

If a podcast does not appear or play

• The Apple add-on is missing: Check the repository installed for your Kodi version. If the name is absent, use RSS Podcasts or another current add-on shown in Kodi’s own catalog.
• A show or episode list is empty: Confirm that you entered the direct RSS feed URL, not just a directory listing or the show’s home page. Recheck the URL for typos and try the publisher’s feed link in a browser.
• An OPML import fails: Make sure the file is a valid OPML export and that Kodi can access its location. Copy it to storage visible to Kodi if it is on another device.
• An episode stops or never starts: Check Kodi’s internet connection and whether the publisher’s media link still works. If the feed has not refreshed, reopen the add-on after the network is available.

You do not need the desktop iTunes app to use a podcast RSS feed in Kodi. The main limitation is discovery: the legacy Apple add-on browsed a catalog, while RSS Podcasts expects you to bring a feed URL or OPML list.

Official references

• Kodi Wiki: Apple iTunes Podcasts add-on
• Kodi: RSS Podcasts add-on details
• Kodi: Omega Music add-ons catalog
• Kodi Wiki: Official add-on repository