How to Slow Down or Speed Up an Apple Podcast

The Apple iPhone or your Apple Watch can download any number of apps that can play podcasts, but one of the most popular to use is Apple’s own Podcast app because of the harmonious synchronization between the phone and watch.

With the Podcasts app, you get many built-in audio functions so you can listen to podcasts with the playback settings that work best for you.

One of the most popular functions is playing podcasts at faster speed so you can get through them faster. Others might also be looking for how to slow the podcast down because they’ve accidentally changed the speed and don’t know how to get it back to standard speed. Continue with our guide so you can adjust the settings.

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How to change playback speed on an Apple iPhone – if a podcast IS playing or active

If you’re currently playing a podcast, getting to the playback setting is simple:

1. From the iPhone lock screen, tap the Podcast widget.
2. Tap the Playback Speed number multiple times to cycle through until Playback Speed is at the desired speed setting.
3. The speed will increase by 1/4 until it reaches max speed of 2X. Once you reach 2X, tap to reach the lowest speed setting (1/2 speed). Here’s all the speed options:
   • 1/2
   • 1 (standard)
   • 1 and 1/4
   • 1 and 1/2
   • 2

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How to change playback speed on an Apple iPhone – if NO podcast is playing or active

1. Navigate to and tap the Podcasts app.
2. Start start listening to an episode for the setting to appear.
3. Tap the player at the bottom to expand the audio controls.
4. Tap the Playback Speed button to choose a speed (1X is standard speed). The speed will increase by 1/4 until it reaches max speed of 2X. Once you reach 2X, tap to reach the lowest speed setting (1/2 speed).
5. Here’s all the speed options:
   • 1/2
   • 1 (standard)
   • 1 and 1/4
   • 1 and 1/2
   • 2

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How to change playback speed on an Apple Watch

The option to change the speed only appears when you’re actively playing a podcast on your Apple Watch.

If the Watch screen already has the podcast open

Look in the lower left for the playback speed, then tap the Speed until you reach the desired setting (1X is standard speed).

If the Watch screen does NOT have the podcast open but it’s playing

Step 1 – Tap the small podcast icon at the top of the Watch.

Step 2 – Once the podcast opens, tap the Speed until you reach the desired setting (1X is standard speed).