Google is closes its Podcasts app in the USA within a few days. The company has begun warning app users that they must migrate their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2 in order to track and stream their favorite shows going forward. Users who don't make the switch immediately will still have additional time to migrate, but will no longer be able to stream through the Podcasts app immediately after that date.

The Google Podcasts app is installed over 500 million times On Android devices worldwide for over half a decade, it has provided a simple and streamlined interface for discovering, tracking and listening to podcasts, as well as tools for adding podcasts via RSS feed. Unfortunately for fans of the app, the tech giant said last September The company would begin discontinuing the Podcasts app in early 2024 as part of its broader plan to centralize its audio services under YouTube.

In 2020, YouTube Music offered a similar transition strategy Keep music listeners away from Google Play Music before it closes the same year. However, the Google Podcasts app continued to be maintained for years as YouTube Music only recently became ready to support podcasts. By the end of 2023, YouTube Music was able to support podcasts worldwide, and in February it was able to do so Also upload their RSS feeds.

The move to move podcasting to YouTube could help Google become a bigger player in the space, not only by combining its efforts and sharpening its focus, but also because of the growing interest in video podcasts – those on YouTube were already popular – is increasing. This week for example Spotify has signed a deal with Universal Music Group (UMG). At the beginning of March, the company plans to make video podcasts available to US users of its streaming app Announcement of testing of video podcasts in 11 additional markets worldwide.

Beeping computer was the first to notice the shutdown date for Google Podcasts in the US, and a Support page on Google's website confirms that users in the US will only be able to use the Podcasts app until the end of March 2024. For those who miss the in-app pop-ups, Google is giving users additional time to save their subscriptions by allowing them to use the app's export feature until July 2024.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but responded after publication by saying that while it was still “moving toward” the April 2 schedule for the U.S., it did not yet have a schedule for the rest of the world have announced.

From the past TestifyHowever, Google Podcasts is scheduled to be shut down worldwide in 2024.

Updated 3/29/24, 5:00 p.m. ET with Google comment.