If you want listeners to actually find your show, learning how to submit your podcast to Apple and Spotify is one of the first steps that matters. You can have great episodes, clean audio, and a strong brand, but if your podcast is not properly submitted to the major directories, discovery gets much harder.
The good news: the process is simpler than many new podcasters expect. You do need a valid RSS feed, a few account details, and some patience while each platform reviews your show. Once it is set up, though, you only have to do it once.
In this guide, I’ll walk through the submission process for Apple Podcasts and Spotify, explain the common setup mistakes that slow approvals, and share a checklist you can use before hitting submit. If you are hosting with a platform like PoddyHost, much of the RSS groundwork is handled for you, which saves a lot of technical back-and-forth.
How to submit your podcast to Apple and Spotify
Before you submit anywhere, make sure your podcast has the essentials in place:
- A public podcast website or landing page
- A valid RSS 2.0 feed
- Podcast title, description, and artwork
- At least one published episode
- A consistent category and language setting
Apple Podcasts and Spotify both rely on your RSS feed as the source of truth. That means your feed needs to be accessible, properly formatted, and updated whenever you publish a new episode.
What your RSS feed should include
If the feed is incomplete, you may get rejected or see missing metadata in the directory listing. At minimum, confirm the following:
- Podcast title that matches your branding
- Description that clearly explains the show
- Cover art sized correctly, typically 1400 x 1400 or 3000 x 3000 pixels
- Episode titles and descriptions
- Audio files that are publicly accessible
- Explicit content flag if relevant
When you use a hosted platform, these elements are usually generated for you. For example, PoddyHost creates an RSS feed automatically when you publish episodes, so you are not manually stitching together XML or hosting files yourself.
How to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is still one of the most important directories for podcast discovery. The submission process starts in Apple Podcasts Connect, which is Apple’s dashboard for managing shows.
Step 1: Create or use an Apple ID
You need an Apple ID to access Podcasts Connect. If you already use Apple services, you can usually reuse that account. For team workflows, many creators set up a dedicated Apple ID just for the podcast business.
Step 2: Open Podcasts Connect
Go to Apple Podcasts Connect and sign in. From there, choose the option to add a show via RSS feed.
Step 3: Paste your RSS feed URL
Apple will check the feed for validity and metadata. If something is wrong, you’ll usually see an error message that points to the issue. Common problems include:
- Broken feed URL
- Missing artwork or wrong image dimensions
- Feed not publicly accessible
- Invalid characters in the title or description
- No episode content in the feed yet
Step 4: Confirm ownership
Apple may ask you to verify that you control the feed. This is often done through your hosting provider or a verification tag in the RSS feed. The exact method depends on how your podcast host works.
Step 5: Review and submit
Once Apple can read your feed and ownership is confirmed, you can submit for review. Approval is not always instant. Sometimes it takes a day or two, and occasionally longer if Apple needs to recheck metadata.
Tip: Submit only after at least one episode is live. A feed with no published audio is more likely to create confusion or delay.
How to submit your podcast to Spotify
Spotify makes podcast submission pretty straightforward, especially if your RSS feed is already clean. In many cases, Spotify only needs the feed URL and some basic account details.
Step 1: Sign in to Spotify for Podcasters
Use your Spotify account to log in or create one if you do not already have it. Spotify for Podcasters is the dashboard where you manage your show’s presence on the platform.
Step 2: Add your podcast by RSS feed
Enter your RSS feed URL and let Spotify scan it. If your feed is valid, Spotify will import the show information and episode list.
Step 3: Verify the email address or ownership details
Spotify may send a verification email or ask for additional confirmation. This is usually quick, but it helps to have access to the email address tied to your hosting account.
Step 4: Review podcast details
Check the title, description, artwork, language, and category. Small inconsistencies between your feed and your public website can make the show look less professional, even if the audio is fine.
Good to know: If your host already supports directory distribution, Spotify submission can be even easier. PoddyHost, for example, generates a one-click Spotify submission link on the podcast page, which reduces the usual copy-paste friction.
Podcast submission checklist before you hit publish
Use this checklist to avoid common approval problems:
- RSS feed loads in a browser
- Feed includes at least one published episode
- Cover art is square and high resolution
- Podcast title and description are finalized
- Language and category are correct
- Episode audio files are accessible
- Explicit tag is set correctly, if needed
- Website/contact info is easy to find
- No placeholder text remains in the feed
- You have access to the email tied to the submission
If you are launching a brand-new podcast, it helps to treat this like a preflight check. A few minutes of review can save days of back-and-forth with platform support.
Common mistakes that delay Apple and Spotify approval
Most submission delays are avoidable. Here are the issues I see most often:
1. The feed is not publicly accessible
If your RSS feed requires a login, blocks crawlers, or has firewall rules that stop Apple or Spotify from reading it, submission will fail. This is more common when creators test with a staging site or private hosting setup.
2. Artwork is the wrong size
Podcast artwork should be square and high-resolution. Low-res images, rectangular images, or designs with tiny text often cause problems or look poor in directory listings.
3. The first episode is missing metadata
Some creators publish an episode but leave the title generic, forget the description, or skip the audio file. That can make the podcast look unfinished.
4. There is a mismatch between platforms
If your website says one thing, your RSS feed says another, and your directory listing says something else, you create confusion for both listeners and reviewers. Keep branding, naming, and categories consistent.
5. The feed has not updated yet
If you just published your podcast, wait for your host to regenerate the feed before submitting. Sometimes the feed cache takes a few minutes to catch up.
What to do after your podcast is approved
Getting listed is not the end of the setup. Once Apple and Spotify accept your podcast, take a few minutes to verify that everything displays correctly.
- Confirm the show title and artwork
- Check that the latest episode appears
- Test playback from each directory
- Review episode descriptions for formatting issues
- Make sure your website and RSS feed link are visible
If something looks wrong, fix it at the source in your hosting dashboard, then wait for the directories to refresh. RSS-driven platforms usually update automatically, but not always immediately.
This is also the time to submit your show to other directories or tools that matter to your audience. Apple and Spotify are the biggest names, but they are part of a larger distribution strategy, not the whole thing.
How to keep submissions simple for future episodes
Once your podcast is approved, the real work shifts to consistency. The easier it is to publish, the easier it is to stay visible.
That is where automation helps. If your podcast host can generate episodes, update your feed, and keep your publishing workflow organized, you spend less time troubleshooting and more time creating.
For example, creators using PoddyHost can generate episodes from a topic or keyword pool, publish them to a public podcast page, and keep the RSS feed updated automatically. That makes directory management far less manual than exporting files and editing XML by hand.
A simple ongoing workflow
- Publish the episode in your hosting platform
- Confirm the episode appears in your RSS feed
- Check that Apple and Spotify have updated the listing
- Share the episode link on your site and social channels
- Repeat on a consistent schedule
Final thoughts on how to submit your podcast to Apple and Spotify
If you are wondering how to submit your podcast to Apple and Spotify, the short version is: build a clean RSS feed, verify your artwork and metadata, then follow each platform’s submission steps carefully. Most issues come from incomplete setup, not from the directories themselves.
Once the show is approved, your job becomes much easier. Keep your feed accurate, publish consistently, and check your directory listings when you make major changes. That small amount of maintenance protects your discoverability and makes your podcast look more professional everywhere it appears.
If you want a simpler path from episode creation to directory-ready publishing, a host like PoddyHost can take care of the RSS and publication side so you can focus on the content itself.