How to Set Sleep Timer in Podcasts on iPhone to Automatically Stop Playing

How to Set Sleep Timer in Podcasts on iPhone to Automatically Stop Playing

If you want a podcast to automatically stop playing after a designated period of time, the little-known Sleep Timer feature in Podcasts for iPhone or iPad is for you. Much like the name implies, Sleep Timer will play a podcast until a specified time completes, or when the current episode is done playing, and then the podcast automatically stops playing. Sleep Timer on Podcasts for iOS is great for people who like to listen to podcasts before sleep, while going to bed, while exercising, on a consistent commute, or performing other tasks where its appropriate to end a podcast in a determined amount time. The Sleep Timer feature of Podcasts has long been available, but with the latests versions it is hidden within the Podcasts app, tucked underneath a gesture that many iPhone and iPad owning Podcasts app users probably dont even know exists. But not to worry, well show you how to access the feature and use it to automatically stop playing a podcast in an allotted time. This works the same on Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad, though the demonstration screen shots here show the Sleep Timer feature accessed on an iPhone. Heres what youll want to do: In the example screen shots here, the Sleep Timer is configured to stop playing the podcast when current episode ends. You can also cancel the Sleep Timer at any time by swiping back to the hidden section of the Podcasts area and then again tapping on the Sleep Timer moon button. Many Podcasts users may not even know this feature exists, probably because its tucked behind a swipe-up gesture that there isnt any particular indicator for. Just dont swipe up from too low on the screen otherwise youll access the Control Center on some iPhone devices, or youll go to the Home Screen on the iPhone X style device, as that swipe-up gesture performs various tasks depending on the device in use, and where the gesture for swipe up begins from in the first place. That makes Sleep Timer a bit of a hidden feature, but whether its hidden in the Podcast app interface or not, its just as useful in the end. And now you know about it, so its no longer hidden for you anyway! Of course this is for Podcasts, but you can do the same with Music if youd like thanks to features that allow you to , and a free third party app lets you too. Its not just the official Podcasts app for iOS that has a sleep timer feature though, an the excellent Overcast app for iPhone also includes a sleep timer feature to stop playing a podcast automatically after a predetermined amount of time. Do you know of any other helpful or interesting tricks for podcasts, or timing app behavior to cease after a determined amount of time? Then share them with us in the comments below!