Apple will copy a signature YouTube Music feature with this upcoming iOS 26 update

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Apple is set to bring one‑tap switching between audio and video in the Podcasts app.
• The button placement is identical to YouTube Music.
• The feature unifies audio and video streams for podcasts, which were previously available only separately.

Apple rolled out the iOS 26.4 beta 1 for enthusiasts yesterday. If you’re an Apple user, you might want to prepare for some exciting new upgrades, such as the Music app’s redesign with AI playlist creation and end‑to‑end encryption for RCS messages (currently only when communicating with other iPhone users). In addition, Apple’s Podcasts app is getting a major upgrade that appears to borrow a page from YouTube Music’s playbook.

Video Podcast Experience

Apple is expanding support for videos in the Podcasts app. While the app has always supported videos, creators could only upload audio and video versions of the same podcast to different feeds, forcing users to switch manually and scrub to a specific timestamp. The latest iOS beta addresses this by enabling a seamless transition between audio and video feeds and consolidating them into a single stream rather than two.

The upgrade is significant enough that Apple dedicated an entire blog post to explaining the framework and its benefits. The improved Podcasts app will utilize the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) standard to power the easy transition between audio and video.

How It Works

• Episodes that include video will automatically load with video enabled.
• Users can switch to audio‑only playback by tapping the “Turn video off” button above the play/pause controls.
• The toggle appears in the same spot as YouTube Music’s audio/video switch.
• Switching should not disrupt cadence or affect synchronization with transcripts or auto‑generated chapters.

When switching to landscape mode, users can view the video in full‑screen. Previous videos will migrate to the integrated HLS feed from the older RSS‑based video feed. For creators, this likely means using a third‑party hosting provider and linking it to the Podcast Connect account, as noted in the updated support page.

Creator Impact

• The feature is currently soft‑launching for a handful of creators; broader access is expected when the stable version of iOS 26.4 rolls out.
• Creators will also be able to insert “dynamic” video ads, including host‑read placements.

Known Issues

At the moment, the feature is buggy. YouTuber Stephen Robles notes in his latest video that transcripts and chapters are glitchy, indicating Apple still has work to do before a wider release.

Other Upcoming iOS 26.4 Features

In addition to the Podcasts upgrade, Apple is expected to bring an overhauled Siri with iOS 26.4, slated for a Spring 2026 rollout. It’s unclear whether the timelines for Siri and Apple Intelligence features still stand, especially after Apple decided to use Google’s foundation models to power them. More details will likely emerge closer to launch.