How to Upload a Podcast to Spotify: Step-by-Step

To upload a podcast to Spotify, record and edit your episode, create a free Spotify for Creators account, fill in your show details and cover art, then upload the file with New episode and publish. Spotify for Creators hosts your show and distributes it for free, so you don’t need a separate hosting service unless you want one. This guide walks you from recording to a live episode, explains what hosting actually does, and flags the mistakes that trip up first-time podcasters.

What podcast hosting does (and whether you need it)

A podcast host stores your audio files and provides an RSS feed, the link that podcast directories use to find your episodes. You should not park audio on your regular website hosting: audio files can get large, and every listen consumes bandwidth, which can cause problems if many people listen at once. Our course Launching a Successful Podcast: From Concept to Cash Flow covers what to look for in a dedicated host, such as unlimited storage and bandwidth and an RSS feed that is ready for distribution.

You have two routes to Spotify:

Route	Best for	How it works
Spotify for Creators (host with Spotify)	Brand-new shows	Create a show and upload episodes directly. Spotify says you can host and distribute your podcast for free and manage your RSS feed.
Third-party host (for example Transistor or Buzzsprout)	Existing shows, or people who want one hub for everything	Upload to your host, then send the show to Spotify from the host’s Distribution tab or with your RSS feed URL.

So no, you don’t need a separate hosting service to be on Spotify. If you already have one, you can still manage the show in the Spotify for Creators app.

Step 1: Record and export your first episode

Before you open Spotify, finish an episode you’re happy with. If you need help with the earlier stages (picking a concept, gear, planning), our practical checklist for starting a podcast is a good companion. For the upload itself, keep these file rules in mind:

Audio formats: audio-only episodes can be MP3, M4A or WAV.
File size: there is no file size limit.
Metadata: if you use MP3, Spotify recommends keeping embedded artwork, ID3v2 tags and other metadata as small as possible.
Ownership: only upload audio you own. Uploading someone else’s audio breaks Spotify’s terms of service.

Our sources don’t give specifics on bitrate or exact cover art dimensions, so check Spotify’s current creator support pages before you export and design your artwork.

Step 2: Create your Spotify for Creators account and show

Go to Spotify for Creators and click Get started.
Log in with your existing Spotify account or create a new one.
Choose Create a new show.
Under the “Launch your show” checklist, click Set up your show. Enter your podcast name, description, creator name, category and language, and upload your show art (your cover image).
Confirm your email address. Spotify sends a confirmation email; click the button inside it and you should see a success screen.

The service was previously known as Spotify for Podcasters and Anchor, so older tutorials may use those names. There is also a Spotify for Creators mobile app, which lets you manage your show, check analytics and publish on the go, even if your show is hosted elsewhere.

Step 3: Upload and publish your episode

On the web app, click Publish an episode from the checklist (or New episode later) and choose Select a file, or drag and drop the file in. On mobile, tap Podcast, then +, then Select a file.

Then work through the episode details:

Title and description: write them for a listener who has never heard of you.
Season and episode number: optional, but useful for organisation.
Episode type: full episode, trailer or bonus.
Explicit or clean: mark it honestly.
Episode art: your show’s cover art is the default, but you can upload unique art for a specific episode.

You can publish right away, schedule a release, or save a draft and publish later. For a walkthrough of these screens, see our course Podcasting on Spotify: From Setup to Success.

Uploading a video podcast

Yes, you can upload a video podcast to Spotify. Use the same New episode flow on the Spotify for Creators web app. Spotify currently supports MOV, MPG and MP4 files, with no file size limit but a maximum duration of 12 hours. If you encode your own video, make sure the file has only one video track and one audio track. Spotify recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio and desktop-only uploads for video episodes. Drafts appear in your episodes area marked as video, where you can edit or delete them before publishing. Our course notes that the video version may take some time to show up on your public Spotify page after you publish, so don’t panic if it isn’t there at once.

Already have a show? Connect it to Spotify

If your podcast already lives on a host, you don’t need to re-upload every episode by hand. One common path, described for hosts such as Transistor and Buzzsprout, is:

Open your show at your host and go to the Distribution tab.
Select the Spotify icon and press Activate.
Read and accept Spotify’s terms of service when prompted.

Exact steps vary from one host to the next. You can also submit an existing podcast to Spotify using its RSS feed URL. Your host will show you where to copy that link, and Spotify for Creators’ own help pages cover the current submission screen. Once connected, you can still manage the show from the Spotify for Creators mobile app.

For other directories such as Apple Podcasts, our sources don’t spell out the process, so check each platform’s current submission instructions. Our course suggests submitting to as many podcast directories as possible once you have your title, description, artwork and a few episodes ready.

Common mistakes to avoid

Hosting audio on your website. Large files and listener traffic can overload ordinary web hosting. Use a podcast host.
Using audio you don’t own. Music, clips or samples that belong to someone else can violate Spotify’s terms.
Heavy embedded metadata. Oversized artwork and tags inside an MP3 go against Spotify’s recommendation to keep them small.
Skipping show details. A missing description or category makes your show harder to find. Fill in every field during setup.
Publishing with no plan to promote. Share the episode link on your social channels, add it to your blog with show notes, and ask early listeners to follow you. More ideas are in Launching a Successful Podcast.

Frequently asked questions

Can I upload a podcast to Spotify for free?

Yes. Spotify for Creators lets you host and distribute your podcast for free, including RSS feed management. Some monetization options are only available in select markets, so check the current details if earning from your show matters to you.

Do I need a podcast hosting service to put my podcast on Spotify?

No. You can host directly with Spotify for Creators. Many podcasters still use a third-party host such as Transistor or Buzzsprout, then activate Spotify from the host’s Distribution tab. Either works; pick the one that fits how you want to manage your show.

How long does it take for a podcast to appear on Spotify after submitting?

Our sources don’t give a firm timeframe, so I won’t guess. Video episodes can take a little while to show up on your public Spotify page after publishing, so check back later and see Spotify’s creator support pages if it still hasn’t appeared.

Can I upload a video podcast to Spotify?

Yes, through the Spotify for Creators web app. Use MP4, MOV or MPG files up to 12 hours long, with one video track and one audio track. You can publish immediately, schedule it, or save a draft and finish later in the mobile app.

Do I need to upload my podcast to each platform (Spotify, Apple) separately?

Our sources only cover Spotify in detail. Spotify says its free hosting manages your RSS feed so your audio can reach major listening platforms, and third-party hosts typically have a Distribution tab for connecting each directory. Check each platform’s current submission page for the exact steps.

Sources

Ready to publish your first episode this week? Follow along with our course Podcasting on Spotify: From Setup to Success, and check our pricing page for current plan and trial details.