How can I watch podcasts on Spotify? Not listen.

[#1]

One day I accidentally touched my screen and the video version of the podcast I was listening to popped up. I have never been able to access video again. How do I WATCH podcasts v. Listen to them on Spotify?

[Maria]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out on the Community!

When playing a podcast episode, videos can be turned on from the bigger Now Playing View on the mobile app. You can find Now Playing just above the menu bar, and then simply just tap it for a bigger view. If the episode has a video, the Switch to video option should appear just underneath the cover photo.

Also, if you're using the mobile app and you're currently not connected to WiFi, it's worth having a look at the app settings to see if Stream audio only is switched on, as videos won't appear in this case. To check this, just follow these steps:

1. Tap your profile picture in the top corner.
2. Settings and privacy.
3. Data Saver. 
4. Stream audio only (under Video podcasts).

Just keep in mind that this option (Stream audio only switched off) will use more mobile data while streaming.

It's also worth noting that not all podcasts and episodes have videos available. So, if the option doesn't appear when listening to a specific podcast, most likely this episode doesn't have a video. You can give the episode linked below a try if you like, just to make sure that videos work on your account 🙂

spotify:episode:49Twbw9jGUAj3XOFsOiqse
 

Hope this helps! Let us know if anything else pops up.

[Spotflyoverload54]

Here is the thing for me whenever I try and use the podcast you have linked it does not show me the cover it only shows the subtitles which I have been trying to figure out for the last hour how to turn it off but I can't also I can find the feature for stream audio only I can only see download and streaming

[Dessi]

Hey @Spotflyoverload54,

Thanks for reaching out!

Since you mentioned only seeing download and streaming quality in the app settings, it looks like you're using the desktop app and the Stream audio only setting is a mobile-only feature. When it comes to the transcript appearing instead of the podcast cover, we can confirm that some podcasts are set as read along and this can't be disabled/changed on the user's end as mentioned in this thread, but that shouldn't be the case with this one:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/49Twbw9jGUAj3XOFsOiqse?si=810a6b3e60644fbd 

Can you send us a screenshot of what you see when you play the episode so we can have a closer look? When it comes to disabling the subtitles, this is how you can turn them off from the Now Playing View when the video is on:

Keep us posted.

[Spotflyoverload54]

I can upload what I see here

[Dessi]

Hey @Spotflyoverload54,

Thanks for the screenshots!

Since you're using the mobile app, you should be able to find the option to enable videos by clicking on Settings and privacy -> Data-saving and offline -> under Downloads and streaming make sure Auto-only streaming for video podcasts isn't toggled on. You should be able to see the Switch to audio and video options afterwards, but do let us know if you don't so we can investigate further.

If you've clicked on Read-along under the podcast episode, then it's expected to not see the podcast cover image there, but otherwise it should be visible if you dismiss it. I've also attached a screen recording in two parts of how the episode looks like on my end and the whole process of checking the settings so have a look.

Let us know how it goes.

[masterugway_]

Please I have tried all the suggestions here and I'm still unable to watch video podcasts 

[THICCaxolotl]

Hey! I've tried all of the suggestions you have listed and i still have no way to watch video podcasts and even though I know they are videoed there isnt a "video" button to trigger a switch! I had a pop up when I first opened a podcast for the first time and hit the decline button accidentally and since haven't been able to watch the videos! Id really appreciate some more help 🙂

[pammattheis]

Wondering the same thing. Do you have to have a "Premium" account to access the videos?