Apple Podcasts users with valid subscriptions being told to subscribe again, fix in the works

Apple’s Podcasts app is having a moment — and not the good kind. In the past 24 hours, frustrated users have flooded forums and social media with tales of paid podcast subscriptions suddenly playing hard to get. The issue? Subscriptions are vanishing into thin air, leaving listeners with ad-filled episodes instead of the premium, ad-free bliss they paid for.

This glitch seems to be a universal disruptor, affecting various podcasts on Apple Podcasts. Users say their active subscriptions — confirmed as valid in the App Store — are met with prompts to resubscribe. But when they try, they’re told they’re already subscribed.

The problem isn’t tied to a recent iOS update, as complaints are pouring in from users running everything from iOS 17.7 to the new iOS 18.1. The timeline suggests the issue began late yesterday evening, with no prior warning. Apple’s official System Status page acknowledged the hiccup, admitting to “intermittent issues” impacting some users. Unfortunately, the details stop there, leaving affected fans clutching their AirPods in frustration.

This isn’t just about one or two podcasts. Subscriptions to NPR’s Up First+, Origin Story, The Rest is History, and even bedtime stories for kids have been hit. One particularly irritated parent shared that their child’s nightly ritual was interrupted when the app refused to play a paid-for episode. Bedtime tantrums? Check. Parental exasperation? Double check.

This problem isn’t device-specific either. The glitch has been reported across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even Apple TVs, ensuring everyone gets a taste of the inconvenience. Users have tried all the usual troubleshooting tricks — restarting devices, reinstalling the app, signing in and out — to no avail. Some even attempted to cancel and renew subscriptions, only to be looped back into the same “already subscribed” limbo.

While Apple hasn’t shared the cause of this subscription snafu, the quick acknowledgment suggests they’re already working on a fix. And let’s be real, this isn’t their first tech stumble this year. From Apple Music bugs on PS5 to new iCloud terms and conditions quirks, the tech giant has been keeping its engineers busy.

While waiting for Apple to sort things out, why not explore some alternatives? Competitors like Spotify and YouTube are increasingly challenging Apple’s dominance in the podcast space. In fact, YouTube recently made waves by surpassing Apple in podcast listenership, according to The Wrap. So if your favorite premium content isn’t working, this might be the nudge you need to test new waters.

Apple’s Podcasts app will likely return to normal soon, but this glitch highlights a growing trend: even the most polished tech ecosystems can stumble. Until then, subscribers may need to endure a bit of turbulence — or, at the very least, a few ads. You might also want to check out the web version.

Let’s hope this gets sorted before Nelson from The Rest is History decides to haunt the folks in Cupertino.