How to use Podcasts in Google Play Music on the web

By Mick Symons
last updated

First it was its own streaming service and now Google Play Music has evolved to include podcasts in its library. Gone are the days of needing a third party app to subscribe and listen to your favorite podcasts ( the Android Central Podcast (opens in new tab), of course!); you can now centralize all of your listening habits, thanks to Play Music.

We'll walk you through how their web interface works to get you on your way to podcast paradise.

How to find and subscribe to your favorite podcast in Google Play Music

There are a couple easy ways you can find podcasts through Play Music on the web.

  1. Visit Google Play Music (opens in new tab) in your favorite web browser.
  2. Click the menu button in the top lefthand corner of your screen.
  3. Click Podcasts.

  1. Top Charts: These are promoted podcasts or podcasts with the most subscribers.
  2. Categories: Click All categories just under Your Podcasts, to browse the top-rated podcasts in each category.
  3. Search: Click the search bar and type in the name of the podcast you're looking for or search by topic. Podcast results will appear under Podcasts.

  1. Click on the podcast you'd like to subscribe to.
  2. Click the Subscribe button below and to the right of the podcast's title. Click the same button to unsubscribe.

At the moment, you can't manually add an RSS feed, so for now you'll have to be happy with searching.

How to view your subscribed podcasts in Google Play Music

Now that you've subscribed to all your favorite podcasts, you don't have to search for them every time you want to listen.

  1. Visit Google Play Music (opens in new tab) in your favorite web browser.
  2. Click the menu button in the top lefthand corner of your screen.
  3. Click Podcasts.
  4. Click Your Podcasts next to Top Charts.

All the podcasts you're subscribed to will appear here. You can listen to and manage them all from here.

How to share a podcast on Google Play Music on the web

There are a few different ways you can share your favorite podcasts.

How to share a podcast via a link with in Google Play Music

  1. Find or view the podcast you'd like to share.
  2. Click the podcast.
  3. Click the Share button next to Subscribe.
  4. Click Copy Link.
  5. Paste the link wherever you'd like to share it.

How to share a podcast to Facebook with Google Play Music

  1. Find or view the podcast you'd like to share.
  2. Click the podcast.
  3. Click the Share button next to Subscribe.
  4. Click Facebook.
  5. Click Post to Facebook.

The link for that podcast will now be shared on your wall.

How to share a podcast to Google+ with Google Play Music

  1. Find or view the podcast you'd like to share.
  2. Click the podcast.
  3. Click the Share button next to Subscribe.
  4. Click Google+.
  5. Click Share.

How to share a podcast to Twitter with Google Play Music

  1. Find or view the podcast you'd like to share.
  2. Click the podcast.
  3. Click the Share button next to Subscribe.
  4. Click Twitter.
  5. Click Tweet.

How to share specific podcast episodes with Google Play Music

  1. Find or view the podcast you'd like to share.
  2. Click the podcast.
  3. Click an episode.

  1. Click the episode menu button. It's the three vertical dots to the left of the episode description.
  2. Click Share.
  3. Share, as described above.

How to listen to a podcast in a pop-up window in Google Play Music in Chrome

If you want to listen to a podcast but still want to search around in Google Play Music, you can listen to the podcast in a separate pop-up. Here's how:

  1. Find or view the podcast you'd like to listen to in your Chrome browser.
  2. Click the podcast.
  3. Click the mini player button in the bottom right of the screen. It's a square with an arrow pointing upward and to the right.
  4. Click Install.

  1. Click Add app.
  2. Find or view the podcast again.
  3. Click the podcast.

  1. Double-click the episode you want to listen to.
  2. Click the mini player button in the bottom righthand corner of the screen.

Note: this feature is only available in Google Chrome.

A small pop-up window will appear wherein you can control the episode you're listening to using traditional music control.

Submit your podcast to Google (opens in new tab)

Mick Symons
Mick Symons
Mick is a writer and duty editor for Android Central. When he's not on the job, he can usually be found vacuuming up pet hair or trying to convince his wife that he needs more guitars.
16 Comments
  • Any way to play a paid subscription podcast in Google Play? I used to use Pocketcasts, now it quit working for the paid version. Not sure if it is the podcast Artiequitter or the podcast app
  • Pocket casts doesn't support podcasts that require a login to download unless the username and password can be embedded in the URL. That's why I've never used it and have instead use BeyondPod for the past 5 years or so.
  • Confused. Does this work in the app or only the web version? Be Together Not The Same
  • Both, just like music. Everything syncs between them.
  • Weird I don't see the podcast option on my google play app in my phone
  • Podcasts in GPM suck. There's no way to close the podcast that is playing when it's over, without going through settings to clear queue. Otherwise, it just wants to keep playing podcasts from the same podcast. Google half-@ssed this. Posted via the app ~ GS7
  • Finally podcasts are available in the UK but they have a tiny selection at the moment. :-( I'll stick with Pocketcasts for now.
  • "At the moment, you can't manually add an RSS feed, so for now you'll have to be happy with searching." Ridick.
  • Is this a joke. They barely have podcast, only a few. None of the more common podcast are there. Smh Posted via the Android Central App
  • Downloaded & attempted to listen to AAA through Play Music, sounded tinny as ****. Ran through Pocket Casts without issue. A dedicated podcast app is the way to go for now imo.
  • It will always be the way to go, hope Google isn't going the "Web apps" direction. Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • Better to wait to release to get it right, this is awful.
  • But, isn't Google Play Music a "third party app"? The Derp is Strong. Unlocked Marshmallow Nexus 6 on Verizon. I'm a happy guy.
  • Still wait podcast on google music Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yeah, mine isn't showing up just yet either. Play store says I'm updated to the latest version that's supposed to have podcasts on it. I tried logging into my two different Google accounts and it doesn't show up on either one. Is this just for paid subscribers? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Is this US only. I am in the UK and using Google Apps for Work, is this another reason i am not seeing Podcasts options?