Overcast - how to make it sync?

[mrochester]

Hi all

I finished listening to a podcast on my iPhone last night. 9 hours later, when I pick up my iPad, it's still showing that very same episode as partially played. I've always had the same issue with Downcast too.

Can anyone tell me how to get my podcasts to be reliably in sync across my iPhone and iPad?

Many thanks

M.

 

[chrfr]

Hi all

I finished listening to a podcast on my iPhone last night. 9 hours later, when I pick up my iPad, it's still showing that very same episode as partially played. I've always had the same issue with Downcast too.

Can anyone tell me how to get my podcasts to be reliably in sync across my iPhone and iPad?

Many thanks

M.

Are you signed in with the same account on both copies of Overcast? Downcast uses iCloud to sync but Overcast uses its own account sync system, so it can't be anything but coincidental that both apps don't work for you.

 

[metsjetsfan]

Are you signed in with the same account on both copies of Overcast? Downcast uses iCloud to sync but Overcast uses its own account sync system, so it can't be anything but coincidental that both apps don't work for you.

Personal experience is that if I delete an episode on one device it doesnt delete on the other but if you add or subscribe it does. i think that is intentional

 

[blairh]

I don't want podcasts to download automatically. Do I need to change a setting? Is there a way where I open Overcast and it will show me what shows have new episodes (with a badge?) and then I can manually download them?

I also don't want to receive notifications of new episodes. I want my old setup with PocketCasts where I open the app and it shows me what shows have new episodes available for download which I then select from.

 

[a7thton]

I don't want podcasts to download automatically. Do I need to change a setting? Is there a way where I open Overcast and it will show me what shows have new episodes (with a badge?) and then I can manually download them?

I also don't want to receive notifications of new episodes. I want my old setup with PocketCasts where I open the app and it shows me what shows have new episodes available for download which I then select from.

I haven't used Overcast in a long while but I'll try to help.

In settings, there is a way to turn off notifications. And there is a way to turn off autodownload too. Just hunt around in settings....shouldn't take too long to see it.

In Overcast, there is a default playlist called "unplayed" or something like that. I will list all the unplayed podcasts there...then you can choose which to download (after you have turned autodownload off). This is very similar to Pocket Casts (they both have this playlist by default).

 

[blairh]

I haven't used Overcast in a long while but I'll try to help.

In settings, there is a way to turn off notifications. And there is a way to turn off autodownload too. Just hunt around in settings....shouldn't take too long to see it.

In Overcast, there is a default playlist called "unplayed" or something like that. I will list all the unplayed podcasts there...then you can choose which to download (after you have turned autodownload off). This is very similar to Pocket Casts (they both have this playlist by default).

The only option I see in settings for this is under 'new episode' and my options are 'stream when played' 'download on wifi' or 'download on wifi or cellular'. I'm guess I want 'stream when played'? I have no idea. I don't see any other options for this.

I just want to be able to download what I want when I want from my subscribed podcasts.

 

[mrochester]

Are you signed in with the same account on both copies of Overcast? Downcast uses iCloud to sync but Overcast uses its own account sync system, so it can't be anything but coincidental that both apps don't work for you.

Hi, yes I'm signed in with the same account. I realise Downcast uses iCloud and Overcast its own syncing. I've also tried Pocketcasts too. None of them have ever reliably synced played positions or listened to episodes.

 

[a7thton]

The only option I see in settings for this is under 'new episode' and my options are 'stream when played' 'download on wifi' or 'download on wifi or cellular'. I'm guess I want 'stream when played'? I have no idea. I don't see any other options for this.

I just want to be able to download what I want when I want from my subscribed podcasts.

Go to the download menu in the upper left hand corner. It looks like a circle with an arrow in it.

Where it says "set all to" select stream.

Now find the podcast episode that you want to listen to.

Swipe to the left on the podcast episode and you should see a menu. From left to right you'll see a download symbol (circle with an arrow), a star, and "delete".

Press the download symbol.

Good?

 

[a7thton]

I feel compelled to add that I find Overcast a bit hard to use. Pocket Casts is much easier to use and has better features.

IMHO, of course.

 

[rantor49]

You want to download via wifi unless you have a large data plan. I download them before I leave the house so I don't use my data in the car.

 

[blairh]

Go to the download menu in the upper left hand corner. It looks like a circle with an arrow in it.

Where it says "set all to" select stream.

Now find the podcast episode that you want to listen to.

Swipe to the left on the podcast episode and you should see a menu. From left to right you'll see a download symbol (circle with an arrow), a star, and "delete".

Press the download symbol.

Good?

I actually figured this out yesterday but thank you for explaining it. I find this to be a big flaw. Very convoluted way of doing things if you simply want to download manually from subscribed podcasts.

The only thing that I prefer from Overcast over PocketCasts is that it will play the next episode of a specific podcast after one episode is done. I wish PocketCasts could do this.

Otherwise I prefer the grid layout of PocketCasts and how it will provide me with a badge notification within the app to show me what new episodes are available. Overcast only gives you the option of receiving a notification in notification center which I do not want. I also find it easier to delete episodes in PocketCasts before the episode is finished playing versus Overcast.

I'm going to use Overcast until PocketCasts finally offers an Apple Watch app which they say is coming before the end of the year. Also the Overcast Watch app is terrible. If I let an episode finish and I want to play an episode from a different podcast I cannot select it on the Watch. Among other issues.

 

[blairh]

You want to download via wifi unless you have a large data plan. I download them before I leave the house so I don't use my data in the car.

I don't like this option because it automatically downloads all new episodes of all your podcasts.

 

[metsjetsfan]

There are so many podcast apps out there. If overcast isnt working for you try another. Id rather overcast do fewer things really well then add a ton of confusing features.

 

[a7thton]

The only thing that I prefer from Overcast over PocketCasts is that it will play the next episode of a specific podcast after one episode is done. I wish PocketCasts could do this.

In PC, you can go to the podcast episode you want to play next and then tap the "+" button. It will play that episode next.

I realize that what you are looking for is an automatic way to do that, but it really doesn't take much time to tap on a few episode titles and hit "+".

 

[blairh]

There are so many podcast apps out there. If overcast isnt working for you try another. Id rather overcast do fewer things really well then add a ton of confusing features.

I'm only using Overcast because it has a Watch app.

 

[blairh]

In PC, you can go to the podcast episode you want to play next and then tap the "+" button. It will play that episode next.

I realize that what you are looking for is an automatic way to do that, but it really doesn't take much time to tap on a few episode titles and hit "+".

I agree but I would prefer at least a setting in PC that will allow it to play the next episode available for said podcast.

 

[mrochester]

I've found that to make Overcast sync reliably I have to open the app on the device I last listened on and force a refresh of the podcasts. When I then pickup my other device, it tends to have synced the play positions correctly. Does anyone know why it doesn't just do this automatically?

Another interesting thing I've found is that although I have Downcast set to refresh in the background on both my iPad and iPhone, it only seems to do so on the iPad. I currently have 29 unplaced episodes on the iPad but only 8 on the iPhone. The only way to get the iPhone to update that is to open the app. Does anyone know why background app refresh doesn't work on this instance?