How to Submit Your Podcast to Apple Podcasts (Step-by-Step)

Apple Podcasts is the largest podcast directory in the world. Getting listed there is essential for reaching your audience. Here's exactly how to do it.

Prerequisites

Before you submit, make sure you have:

At least one published episode on your Dropwave account
Cover art that meets Apple's requirements (minimum 1400x1400 pixels, maximum 3000x3000)
An Apple ID (free to create at appleid.apple.com)
Your Dropwave RSS feed URL (found in your show settings)

Step-by-Step Submission

1. Go to Apple Podcasts Connect

Navigate to podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.

2. Add a New Show

Click the + (plus) button in the upper left corner, then select "New Show".

3. Choose RSS Feed

Select "Add a show with an RSS feed" and paste your Dropwave RSS feed URL.

4. Validate Your Feed

Apple will validate your RSS feed. If there are any issues (missing artwork, incomplete metadata), they'll tell you what to fix. Go back to your Dropwave dashboard, make the corrections, and try again.

5. Review Show Details

Apple will pull your show title, description, artwork, and categories from your feed. Review everything and make sure it looks correct.

6. Set Content Rights

Confirm that you own the rights to your content and set your content advisory (clean or explicit).

7. Provide Contact Information

Enter your contact email. If you've enabled email privacy in Dropwave, you can use your masked @feeds.dropwave.io address here.

8. Configure Availability

Choose which countries your podcast should be available in. Most creators select "All countries."

9. Submit

Click Save and then Submit. Apple will review your podcast, which typically takes 24-48 hours. You'll receive an email when your show is approved.

After Approval

Once approved, your show will appear in Apple Podcasts search results. New episodes are picked up automatically from your RSS feed -- usually within an hour of publishing on Dropwave.

Tips for Success

Don't resubmit if your show doesn't appear immediately. Give it 48 hours.
Update your artwork through Dropwave, not through Apple Podcasts Connect. Your RSS feed is the source of truth.
Check your categories periodically. Being in the right subcategory improves discoverability.