To stop podcasts from automatically playing the next episode on your iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Podcasts (on iOS 17 and earlier, Settings > Podcasts) and turn off Continuous Playback. The Podcasts app will stop when an episode ends instead of moving on to the next one in Up Next. If podcasts start playing on their own when you get in the car or connect headphones, that’s a different issue, and the fixes are further down.
Stop podcasts from playing the next episode
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Apps, then Podcasts. On older iOS, tap Podcasts directly.
- Under Playback, turn off Continuous Playback.
You can also clear the queue in the Podcasts app: tap the mini player to open Now Playing, tap the Up Next (list) button, and swipe left on episodes to remove them, or tap Clear if you see it.
Stop podcasts from starting in the car or on headphones
When your iPhone connects to CarPlay, a car’s Bluetooth, or headphones, it may resume the last thing you were listening to. Try these:
- CarPlay: Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, tap your car, and tap Customize to move Podcasts off the first screen. Some cars also have their own “auto play” setting in the car’s media menu. Check your car’s manual.
- Siri Suggestions: Go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts > Siri (or Siri & Search) and turn off Learn from this App and the suggestion options. This stops iOS from suggesting or resuming Podcasts as often.
- Bluetooth auto-resume: iOS doesn’t offer a setting to stop audio from resuming when a Bluetooth device connects. A common workaround is a Shortcuts automation: in the Shortcuts app, tap Automation > New Automation > Bluetooth (or CarPlay), choose your device, set it to Run Immediately, and add the Play/Pause action set to Pause.
Stop other podcast apps from auto-playing
- Spotify: Open Spotify, tap your profile picture > Settings and privacy > Playback, and turn off Autoplay.
- YouTube Music and other apps: Look for Autoplay or Continuous play in the app’s settings.
Other Podcasts settings worth checking
- Automatic downloads: In Settings > Apps > Podcasts, turn off Enable When Following if you don’t want new episodes downloading and filling up Up Next.
- Remove played downloads: Turn this on to delete episodes after you finish them and save storage.
- Sleep timer: In Now Playing, tap the Sleep Timer (moon) button and choose When Current Episode Ends to stop after one episode, even with Continuous Playback on.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the next episode still play after I turned off Continuous Playback?
Make sure you changed the setting in the Podcasts section of Settings, then close and reopen the Podcasts app. If you’re using a different podcast app, change the setting in that app instead.
Does this work on iPad and Apple Watch?
On iPad, the same setting is in Settings > Apps > Podcasts. Apple Watch follows the Podcasts settings on your iPhone for synced episodes.
How do I stop a podcast from playing right now?
Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tap Pause, or press the button on your headphones.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.