How to Upload a Podcast to Spotify: Step by Step (2026)

Getting your podcast onto Spotify is one of the first jobs on any launch list, and it's simpler than it looks. There are two routes. You can host the show with Spotify's own creator tool, Spotify for Creators, and upload episodes straight into it. Or you can keep your current podcast host and give Spotify your show's RSS feed, so new episodes flow across on their own.

This guide walks through both routes, the verification email that trips people up, video episodes and what to do when something goes wrong. I've followed Spotify's own help pages for every step. Spotify updates its menus from time to time, and the mobile app and website don't always match, so look for the closest label if your screen looks a little different.

Choosing your route onto Spotify

Before you click anything, decide where your podcast will live. Spotify's help centre separates the two paths clearly.

• Create a new show is for brand new podcasts hosted with Spotify for Creators. Episodes you publish there go out on Spotify automatically, and you can distribute the show to other apps once your first episode is live.
• Find an existing show is for podcasts hosted somewhere else. Spotify gives Buzzsprout, Libsyn and Podbean as examples. You either claim a show that's already on Spotify, or submit one that isn't, and you'll need your RSS feed for both.

If you're still comparing hosts, my guide to podcast hosting tools looks at the main options before you commit.

Route	Where episodes live	What you need	Best suited to
Create a new show	Spotify for Creators	A Spotify account and your audio or video files	New podcasts starting from scratch
Find an existing show	Your current podcast host	Your RSS feed and access to its email address	Shows already hosted elsewhere

Uploading a new podcast with Spotify for Creators

This is the route if you're launching from scratch and want Spotify to host your episodes.

1. Go to creators.spotify.com and log in with your Spotify account. If you don't have one, you can create a free account.
2. Select your avatar, then choose Add a new show. On a phone, open the menu first.
3. Choose Create a new show, then add your show's details and cover art.
4. Verify your account. Spotify says you need to do this before you can publish your first episode, and the verification email is usually sent when you create the account.
5. Click New episode, then Select a file. In the mobile app, tap Podcast, then the plus button, then Select a file.
6. On the Details page, give the episode a title and description, and make your selections under Content checks.
7. Add season and episode numbers or episode artwork under Additional details if you want them.
8. Under Publish date, choose Now to go live straight away, or Schedule to set a future date.

Spotify's help page says audio uploads can be MP3, M4A or WAV files. There's no file size limit, but large files take longer to process and are more likely to fail on a weak connection, so upload from a stable network.

Submitting a podcast hosted elsewhere to Spotify

If your show already lives with another host, you don't upload episodes to Spotify at all. You connect your RSS feed once, and Spotify picks up new episodes from it.

1. Find your RSS feed link in your podcast host's dashboard. Spotify says to contact your host if you can't find it.
2. Log in at creators.spotify.com with any Spotify account.
3. Choose Find an existing show, then Somewhere else. If you already manage a show, open the menu at the top right, choose Add a new show, and then follow the same path.
4. Paste in your RSS feed link, or your Spotify show link if the podcast's already on Spotify.
5. Spotify sends an eight-digit code to the email address listed in your RSS feed.
6. Copy the code into the form to finish claiming or submitting your show.

Some hosts also offer a direct guide or button for sending your show to Spotify. Spotify's help centre links to guides for partner hosts such as Acast, Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean and Transistor, and for a few other hosts it says to contact your provider.

The Spotify verification email explained

The verification step is where most people get stuck, so it's worth knowing how it works before you start. Spotify sends the code to the address in your feed's email field, not to the address on your Spotify account.

• Check that your feed includes an email address you can open. Some hosts hide or replace it, and Spotify says they can help you show it temporarily so you can claim the podcast.
• If you've got a company or custom domain email, Spotify notes that verification emails sometimes don't get through. Your host can help you switch to an address from a service such as Gmail or Outlook.
• After you change the email in your feed, Spotify says it can take a couple of hours to see the update.
• Look in your spam or junk folder before you request another code.
• Remember that a show can only be claimed once. If someone else already manages it, the current owner or admin needs to invite you.

Publishing video podcast episodes on Spotify

Video episodes are supported, with a few conditions set out on its help pages.

• Video uploads only work on the Spotify for Creators website, not the mobile app, although you can save a draft on the web and publish it later from your phone.
• Supported video files are MOV, MPG and MP4.
• The upload flow is for shows hosted with Spotify. Shows hosted somewhere else have a separate help article to follow.
• Spotify says videos are only available on Spotify. On other podcast apps, the episode plays as audio only.

If you're thinking about video, plan your recording setup first. My guide to podcast editing software covers tools that handle both audio and video edits.

When your podcast should appear on Spotify

For shows hosted with Spotify for Creators, the help page says an episode goes live on Spotify instantly unless you've scheduled it. Scheduled times show in your local time, and you can change a schedule by reverting the episode to a draft on the web or using Edit schedule in the app.

For shows hosted elsewhere, the timing depends on your host and on how often your feed is checked, and Spotify's help pages don't give a fixed timescale for new submissions. Give it time, then search for your show by its exact name in the Spotify app.

Spotify podcast upload problems and fixes

• No verification code. Check the email field in your RSS feed, your spam folder, and whether your host masks the address.
• Upload keeps failing. Switch to a stronger connection, check the file is a supported type, and keep embedded artwork and tags in MP3 files small, as Spotify suggests.
• Can't publish the first episode. Make sure you've verified your account.
• Show already claimed. Ask the current owner or admin to invite you, rather than claiming it again.
• Video option missing. Use the website rather than the app, and check that your show is hosted with Spotify.
• Still stuck. Use the contact option at the bottom of the relevant Spotify help page.

Getting listeners once your show is live on Spotify

Being on Spotify is the start, not the finish. Write episode titles that tell people what they'll learn, add clear descriptions, and share each episode where your audience already spends time. My Spotify marketing strategy guide covers ways to get your show in front of more people once it's listed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I upload a podcast to Spotify for free?

Spotify's help pages say you can log in to Spotify for Creators with any Spotify account and create a free account if you don't have one. Check Spotify's current terms for the features you'd like to use.

Do I need an RSS feed to get my podcast on Spotify?

Only if your show is hosted somewhere else. If you create a new show with Spotify for Creators, your episodes are published to Spotify automatically. To claim or submit a show from another host, you'll need its RSS feed.

Why haven't I received the Spotify verification code?

Spotify sends the code to the email address in your RSS feed. Check that the address is correct and visible in the feed, look in your spam folder, and ask your host for help if it's masked.

Can I upload video podcasts to Spotify?

Yes, for shows hosted with Spotify, using the Spotify for Creators website. Spotify says videos only play on Spotify, and other apps get the audio version.

How quickly does a new episode appear on Spotify?

For shows hosted with Spotify for Creators, Spotify says an episode goes live instantly unless you've scheduled it. For other hosts, it depends on how your feed is picked up.