How to organise downloaded podcasts and archived shows
At a glance
- Group downloaded episodes by show and keep a backup before adding the folders to Audely.
- Correct titles, artwork, and episode details in the listening library while leaving the original audio unchanged.
1. Find and back up the audio
Audely can organise episode files even if the show has disappeared from its feed. Start with one show before adding the whole collection.
Look for accessible MP3, M4A, or other supported audio in Files, Finder, or iCloud Drive. A download held inside another app is not necessarily a file that Audely can open.
Keep a separate backup before renaming or editing your episode files. Audely leaves source audio unchanged, but other tools may alter it. Audely Pro cloud backups contain library data, not the audio itself.
2. Group episodes by show
Use a simple structure such as Podcasts/Show name/Episode files. One folder is enough for a single show.
Preserve useful metadata. When it is missing, clear filenames can help with order:
001 - Opening episode.mp3002 - The second episode.mp32020-06-15 - Episode title.m4a
Numbers suit serial programmes, while dates suit chronological shows. Test a few files before renaming the complete collection.
3. Add the folder as podcasts
- iPhone or iPad: open Settings › Library › Add folder and select the folder through Files.
- Mac: open Audely › Settings › Library › Add folder.
Choose Podcasts. If the folder also contains audiobooks, choose Audiobooks and podcasts, then mark the book files. Audely uses metadata, filenames, and folder context to organise the audio.
4. Check the resulting library
Open Library › Podcasts and review show names, episode order, dates, and artwork.
Use Show settings for shared details and episode ordering, or Episode settings for an individual recording. Partial publication dates are supported when you only know the year or month. These corrections change Audely’s library, not the source files.
On Mac, Edit metadata can update several selected episodes. See Edit details for the full workflow.
Listen offline and add episodes later
Download any iCloud Drive audio to the listening device before going offline. A visible file may still be a placeholder. Test playback before travelling.
To add more episodes, put them in the linked folder and run Scan folder from its options in Settings › Library on iPhone or iPad, or Scan all folders on Mac.
Audely does not find missing episodes or rebuild a feed. For subscriptions and automatic downloads, use a conventional podcast client. For everyday listening with your existing files, follow the downloaded-podcast walkthrough.