Apple Podcasts Now Auto-Generates Links & Chapters
▼ Summary
– Apple Podcasts will soon add automatically-generated chapters for English shows and allow creators to include timed links in episodes.
– Creators can opt-out of both features, and auto-generated chapters are only used if creators don’t add their own.
– Automatically generated chapters will be clearly marked, and Spotify introduced a similar feature earlier this year.
– Timed links can direct listeners to Apple services like Apple Music and Apple TV, appearing as banners during playback.
– These features will be released with iOS 26.2, which is currently in developer beta testing.
Apple Podcasts is introducing two powerful new features designed to enhance both listener experience and creator capabilities: automated chapter generation and timed episode links. These additions, arriving with the upcoming iOS 26.2 update currently in developer beta, aim to make navigating and interacting with podcast content more intuitive.
For creators, the platform will now automatically generate chapters for shows in English, structuring episodes into easily navigable segments. This automatic process only activates if a creator has not manually added their own chapters, and these system-generated sections will be clearly labeled to maintain transparency. Creators retain full control, with the ability to opt out of this feature entirely. This move follows a similar initiative launched by Spotify earlier in the year.
The second major innovation allows podcasters to embed clickable links at precise moments within their episodes. This timed links feature enables hosts to direct their audience to relevant content on services like Apple Music, Apple News, Apple TV, and other Apple Podcasts shows. Whenever a creator mentions another podcast, the system can even automatically suggest adding a corresponding link. For listeners, these links will appear as a banner on the Now Playing screen and will also be accessible via the episode’s transcript and details page. As with chapter generation, creators have the option to disable the automatic linking functionality.
(Source: The Verge)
