Plex users who enjoy podcasts are in for some disappointing news. As announced on their forum, Plex has officially discontinued its Podcast and Web Shows features as of April 15th, 2022. While web shows are finding a new home within the Plex ecosystem, podcasts are being removed entirely.
Plex Web Shows
In their forum announcement, Plex stated that the decision to remove these features was made to allow them to focus on areas that better serve their user base. They explained that maintaining Podcasts and Web Shows was no longer an efficient use of their resources:
As part of our ongoing effort to make sure we’re spending our time and energy in ways that best serve our awesome user community, we’ve made the decision to end support for Podcasts and Web Shows within Plex.
While users who enjoy web shows can still access them through other sections of the Plex app (though the exact location wasn’t specified beyond mentions of the Discover and Live TV sections for related content like trailers and news), the podcast section is being completely eliminated. This is a surprising move considering the increasing popularity of podcasts across various platforms, including major players like Spotify which is actively promoting podcasts with new ad formats.
Plex initially introduced podcast support in 2018. However, the feature seems to have suffered from neglect and unresolved user issues. Numerous complaints on Plex forums highlighted problems such as entire podcast queues being filled after playing a single episode, and inconsistencies in marking episodes as listened across different Plex apps.
Instead of investing in fixing these long-standing issues and improving the podcast experience, Plex has opted to remove the feature altogether, choosing to concentrate its development efforts on video content. This decision leaves Plex users who relied on the platform for Serving Podcasts With Plex needing to find alternative solutions.
How to Export Your Podcast Subscriptions from Plex
Despite the discontinuation of podcasts on Plex, there is a way to preserve your podcast library. Plex allows users to export a list of their podcast subscriptions in the OPML format. This file can then be imported into another podcast application, ensuring a smooth transition to a new platform.
Plex Podcasts
To export your podcast subscriptions, you will first need to obtain your X-Plex-Token. This requires having a Plex Media Server already configured. Access the Plex web app, navigate to your Library, and select any file. Hover over the file, click the three-dot menu, and choose Get Info. In the information card, click View XML. This action will open a new browser tab displaying XML data. Examine the URL in the address bar; you will find X-Plex-Token= followed by a string of characters. Copy this entire token string.
Once you have your X-Plex-Token, replace “TOKEN” in the following URL with the token you just copied:
**https://metadata.provider.plex.tv/podcasts/export?X-Plex-Token=TOKEN**Paste the modified URL into a new browser tab and press enter. This will initiate the download of a file named plex.opml to your device. This .opml file contains your podcast subscription list and can be used to import your subscriptions into a different podcast player. Remember to complete this export process before April 15th, 2022, as the podcast feature will no longer be accessible after this date.
Finding Alternatives for Serving Podcasts After Plex
With Plex removing podcast support, users need to explore alternative platforms for listening to their favorite podcasts. Fortunately, numerous excellent podcast platforms and “podcatcher” applications are available, offering a wide range of features and content.
While the need to migrate your podcast subscriptions from Plex might be inconvenient, it also presents an opportunity to explore podcast platforms specifically designed for podcast consumption. Many free and feature-rich alternatives exist, ensuring you can continue enjoying your favorite podcasts without interruption. Consider exploring dedicated podcast apps for a superior experience now that serving podcasts with Plex is no longer an option.
