Apple's Podcasts app sees widespread crashing issues, rendered unusable for many [update: fixed]
A number of iOS device owners on Thursday are experiencing major issues with Apple's first-party Podcasts app, saying the title is unusable due to constant hangs and crashes.
Following tips from readers, AppleInsider has confirmed that Podcasts, or perhaps the iTunes servers to which Podcasts connects, is crashing on multiple iOS devices.
The issue cropped up late this afternoon, with many reports claiming the app was stalling or crashing almost immediately after launch.
In most cases, users are able to launch and interact with the app for about five seconds before it unexpectedly crashes. Small amounts of data can be transferred from Apple's servers, usually in the form of podcast feed art or partial search results. Crash events appear to occur when the app attempts to connect with Apple's iTunes servers, as queries cause an almost immediate shutdown.
So far, the app is not working on multiple iPhone and iPad models, as well as devices testing out the latest beta build of Apple's iOS 8 mobile operating system. The company announced in June that the next-generation iOS will come bundled with Podcasts, meaning users cannot uninstall the app.
It is unclear what is causing the problem, though Apple's System Status is green across the board.
Podcasts, a free download from the App Store, was last updated on May 29.
Update: As Apple works toward a fix to the Podcasts issue, a workaround discovered by iMore serves as a temporary solution for reestablishing the app's connection with iTunes, which in turn will keep it from crashing. The procedure is as follows:
Following tips from readers, AppleInsider has confirmed that Podcasts, or perhaps the iTunes servers to which Podcasts connects, is crashing on multiple iOS devices.
The issue cropped up late this afternoon, with many reports claiming the app was stalling or crashing almost immediately after launch.
In most cases, users are able to launch and interact with the app for about five seconds before it unexpectedly crashes. Small amounts of data can be transferred from Apple's servers, usually in the form of podcast feed art or partial search results. Crash events appear to occur when the app attempts to connect with Apple's iTunes servers, as queries cause an almost immediate shutdown.
So far, the app is not working on multiple iPhone and iPad models, as well as devices testing out the latest beta build of Apple's iOS 8 mobile operating system. The company announced in June that the next-generation iOS will come bundled with Podcasts, meaning users cannot uninstall the app.
It is unclear what is causing the problem, though Apple's System Status is green across the board.
Podcasts, a free download from the App Store, was last updated on May 29.
Update: As Apple works toward a fix to the Podcasts issue, a workaround discovered by iMore serves as a temporary solution for reestablishing the app's connection with iTunes, which in turn will keep it from crashing. The procedure is as follows:
- Pull up from the bottom of the screen for Control Center
- Tap the Airplane mode icon to turn of the internet connection (presumably to prevent Podcasts from trying to contact iTunes).
- Pull to refresh on the main Podcasts screen (presumably that clears whatever bad bits got stuck).
- Pull up from the bottom of the screen for Control Center again.
- Tap the Airplane mode icon to turn the internet connection back on.
Comments
Speaking of betas, some iBooks Author files and templates are broken in Yosemite, too.
Hopefully, that is. I'd prefer not to have to rewrite hundreds of pages.
I DON'T BEED ANYMORE HOME SCREEN CLUTTER!!
PUT PODCASTS BACK IN THE MUSIC APP!!
I DON'T BEED ANYMORE HOME SCREEN CLUTTER!!
+1 all caps. They can hear you much better if you shout. I see you only added two exclamation points. You really should consider a few more. </troll>
I do agree with your point tho. I haven't found the perfect app yet but I do prefer Instacast.
PUT PODCASTS BACK IN THE MUSIC APP!!
I DON'T BEED ANYMORE HOME SCREEN CLUTTER!!
Crazy talk, its so much better being separate, for me.
Id rather have an extra app then having a cluttered or under featured music app & cluttered or under featured podcast app.
My guess is, the music app with podcasts was too messy for apple.
The bigger point here is that Podcasts, since its launch has been the WORST piece of software Apple makes currently, as attested by the countless 1-star reviews on iTunes of all versions. The sync is broken/slow/unreliable/insert-negative-comment-here. The app itself is unstable. Subscription to podcasts requiring login credentials is impossible on iOS, even though iCloud would sync those unplayable podcasts to your iOS devices.
As I wrote in my review: Apple should simply buy Downcast and rebrand it. Downcast uses iCloud for syncing and it actually works. UI is not exactly great, but again - the app, the sync, the login credentials, all that works.
And they still won't let you download podcasts larger than 100MB over the cellular network. For ****'s sake, I have unlimited wireless and it's faster than my cable connection, why is Apple preventing me from doing what I want?
If you're having problems with Apple's podcast app then I recommend Downcast as a great alternative. I've found it to be a lot more reliable and it has a lot of features missing from the official podcast app.
Same here, works fine, iPhone 5, 7.1.1