> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.podigee.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.podigee.com/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/import-a-podcast-from-another-host.md).

# Import a podcast from another host

Move an existing podcast to Podigee from its RSS feed and finish the move at the old host.

Use this tutorial to move a podcast from another host to Podigee and keep your subscribers. It uses the import in the Podigee web application. Podigee reads the RSS feed of your podcast, creates the episodes, and copies the audio files. The intro page describes the import as "Transfer your podcast to Podigee without losing subscribers".

If you work with an AI agent, the same import is available through the Podigee Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. See [Import a podcast into a new workspace](/documentation/start-here/ai-agents/import-a-podcast/import-a-podcast-into-a-new-workspace.md) and [Prepare a podcast feed for import](/documentation/start-here/ai-agents/import-a-podcast/prepare-a-podcast-feed-for-import.md).

## What you will complete

At the end of this tutorial, you have a Podigee podcast with all imported episodes and a Podigee feed address. You also have a checklist to finish the move at your old host.

## Before you start

* Imports are available on the current Podigee plans and on older paid plans. A trial, a free plan, or a collaborator plan cannot import. In an organization, only the owner or an admin can import.
* Have the RSS feed address of your podcast at the old host. The feed must be reachable on the internet and must not be locked against imports at the old host. See [Prepare a podcast feed for import](/documentation/start-here/ai-agents/import-a-podcast/prepare-a-podcast-feed-for-import.md).
* Optional: have the addresses of your podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Podimo. Podigee pre-fills them in the **Exports** tab.
* Decide whether the import creates a new podcast or adds the episodes to an existing Podigee podcast.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Classic view" %}

### Follow the tutorial

#### 1. Start the import

1. Open the podcast overview and select **Import an existing podcast** ("Already got a hosted podcast? Bring your existing podcast without losing your listeners.").
2. Read the intro page and continue to the import form.

Expected result: The import form with the field **Feed URL** opens.

#### 2. Validate the feed

1. Enter the feed address in **Feed URL**.
2. Wait while the form shows **Validating feed...**.

Expected result: The form shows **Feed is valid** with the number of **Episodes** and the **Total Duration**. If the form shows an error instead, see [If the result is different](#if-the-result-is-different).

#### 3. Choose the options

1. Optional: under **Platform URLs**, enter the addresses of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Podimo ("If your podcast is already listed on these platforms, provide the URLs so we can pre-fill them in the Export tab.").
2. Under **Import Options**, select **Import all episodes**, or select **Custom** and enter how many of the most recent episodes to import (1 to 1000). Podigee skips episodes without an audio file.
3. Under **Target Podcast**, keep **Create new podcast**, or select an existing podcast. For an existing podcast, read the warning and select **Yes, I understand and want to import into the existing podcast.**
4. Start the import.

![The Import podcast form with the field Feed URL, example feed addresses, the select Target Podcast set to Create new podcast, and the Platform URLs options](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-271debf9b211c362a1c85d071e3bca68ff26daf2%2Fdoc-hosting-013-classic-import-form.png?alt=media)

The import form takes the feed address, the target podcast, and the optional platform addresses.

Expected result: Podigee sends the email "Your podcast import has started". The page **Your Podcast Import Status** lists the import.

#### 4. Follow the progress

1. Open the podcast. While the first import runs, the podcast shows "Your podcast is being imported" and the progress "Progress: \[number] of \[number] episode(s)". You cannot edit the podcast until the import is complete.
2. Check the status on the import page. Statuses include analyzing, in progress, encoding, **Paused**, **Retrying**, finished, **Finished with errors**, **Failed, no audio**, and failed.

![The page Your Podcast Import Status with the section Your Imports showing No active imports and the button Start another import](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2a557080318f384a9b0a926fc3607c34cfabf455%2Fdoc-hosting-013-classic-import-status.png?alt=media)

The import status page lists active imports; without one it shows No active imports.

Expected result: The import finishes. Podigee sends the email "\[Action required] Your podcast '\[podcast title]' has been imported" with a three-step checklist. The podcast shows the note "Your podcast data has been imported" with your new feed address. Select **Acknowledge and close**.

#### 5. Finish the move

1. Before you publish, change the web address of the new podcast to the name you want. See [Edit podcast information](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/edit-podcast-information.md).
2. Check the imported episodes and the podcast information.
3. Publish the podcast. See [Publish or unpublish a podcast](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/publish-or-unpublish-a-podcast.md).
4. At your old host, redirect the old feed address permanently (301) to your new Podigee feed address. Keep the old host active until podcast apps and directories follow the redirect.

### Check your result

The import page lists the import under **Import History** with the number of episodes and the media hours. The Podigee feed lists all imported episodes. Podcast apps that use the old feed address receive the new address through the redirect.

### If the result is different

* Podigee rejects the feed: the form explains the reason, for example "The URL does not contain a valid podcast RSS feed", a feed that is not accessible, or "Import blocked: The feed is protected by a security lock (Podcasting 2.0 Locked)...". Unlock the feed at the old host and validate again.
* "This podcast is already hosted on Podigee...": the feed belongs to a Podigee podcast. Use [Clone or redirect a podcast](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/clone-or-redirect-a-podcast.md) instead.
* "You've already imported this feed into a podcast. Please pick that podcast...": select that podcast as the target.
* "The system is currently busy. Please try again later.": start the import again later.
* The import is **Paused**: an audio file at the old host was missing or temporarily unavailable. Podigee sends an email with the affected episode. Select **Retry**, or **Skip episode** to continue without that episode.
* The import failed: select **Retry**. You can delete an import that you cannot retry. If you delete an import that created a new podcast, Podigee also deletes that podcast permanently.
* For an agent-based import, see [Monitor, resume or cancel an import](/documentation/start-here/ai-agents/import-a-podcast/monitor-resume-or-cancel-an-import.md).
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Podigee workspace" %}
The workspace covers the complete move: the import form, the start, the progress, the recovery, and the steps after the import. These steps show only for an import that created a new podcast. To unpublish a podcast, use the classic view.

You see the steps after the import only when you have the permission to edit the podcast. To publish the podcast, you must have the permission to publish it. Only a show administrator can run feed checks.

### Follow the tutorial

#### 1. Open the import form

1. Select **Shows** in the sidebar and select **Add a new show**.
2. On the page **Start your first episode**, select the card **Import an existing show**.

Expected result: The page **Import a show** opens with the form. There is no intro page.

If the page shows **Import is unavailable for this account**, read the reason: **Only an account owner or admin can start or resume an import.** or **Starting or resuming an import needs a plan that includes show imports.**

#### 2. Enter the feed and the options

1. Under **Where is your show now?**, enter the **RSS feed address**.
2. Under **Which show should these episodes go to?**, keep **Create a new show**, or select one of your podcasts. Podigee adds the episodes to that podcast and removes nothing from it.
3. Optional: enter the **Number of episodes (optional)**. Leave it blank to import every episode. A number imports only that many episodes, starting with the newest.
4. Optional: select **Skip episodes that don't have an audio file**.
5. Optional: under **Where your show is already listed**, enter the directory addresses. The fields are **Apple Podcasts address**, **Spotify address**, **Deezer address**, **Amazon Music address**, and **Podimo address**. Podigee records these listings with the new podcast instead of a second submission.
6. Select **Check this feed**.

![The Import a show form with the feed address, the target show, and the episode count](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-aa948de00ae9afdd360f7cce93f1b80e5036e7e8%2Fdoc-hosting-013-import-form.png?alt=media)

The Import a show form collects the feed address and the import options on one page.

Expected result: The page **Review your import** opens. The card **Ready to start?** shows "This import includes \[number] episodes from the feed." and the note **Keep your current host running**. If the form shows an error under **RSS feed address** instead, see [If the result is different](#if-the-result-is-different).

#### 3. Start the import

1. Read the card **Ready to start?**. Select **Use a different feed** to go back to the form.
2. Select **Start import**.

Expected result: The status page opens with the title **Import queued**, then **Checking the show**, then **Importing episodes**. The card **Episode arrival** counts "\[number] of \[number] expected episodes have arrived." The page refreshes itself; select **Refresh status** when it stops. You can leave this page and return to its address later.

#### 4. Follow the progress

1. Read the title of the status page. **Processing recordings** means that the episodes arrived and Podigee processes the audio files. **Ready to check your show** means that the import is complete.
2. Open **Shows**. The table **Show import overview** lists every import of the account with its status; imports that need something come first.

Expected result: The status page shows **Ready to check your show** and the button **Go to your show**. Podigee also sends the email "Your show import status".

#### 5. Finish the move

When the import is complete, the status page shows the card **Finish your move** ("Your episodes are here. Do these steps in this order, so the address you give your old host stays valid."). Each step shows the pill **Done**, **To do**, or **To review**. Do the steps in this order:

1. Select **Go to your show** and check the imported episodes. Then go back to the status page.
2. Under **Check your web address**, read your feed address. It contains the web address of the podcast. To use a different name, select **Change web address** and change the Podigee address on the **Website** tab of **Reach**. See [Set up the podcast website](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/set-up-the-podcast-website.md). Change the name before you publish the podcast and before you set the redirect.
3. Under **Publish the show**, select **Publish show**. Podigee publishes the podcast at once. There is no confirmation dialog. When the step shows a sentence instead of the button, see [If the result is different](#if-the-result-is-different).
4. Under **Save your original catalog**, select **Run feed check**. The check saves the episode list of your old feed, so that you can compare it later. The **Feeds** tab of **Reach** opens.
5. Under **Redirect your old feed**, read the Podigee feed address. At your old host, set a permanent redirect (301) from your old feed to this address. Then select **Open feed checks** and select **Check feeds** to check again. Keep the old host active until podcast apps and directories follow the redirect. The status page reminds you: a finished import does not confirm that listeners have moved.
6. Under **Review your directory listings**, select **Open channels**. The import added the podcast directories from your old feed. On the **Channels** tab of **Reach**, make sure that each directory lists this podcast.
7. When you completed the steps, select **Hide these steps**. This also closes the import note on the episodes of the podcast in the classic view.

![The import status page in the Podigee workspace with the card Finish your move, its five steps, and the pills Done, To do, and To review](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5cedd8dd849e49c26f021b82e3e599b94ae9e9cb%2Fdoc-hosting-013-ready-next-steps.png?alt=media)

The card Finish your move lists the steps after the import in the order in which you do them.

Expected result: After **Publish show**, Podigee shows "Your show is published." and the step shows "The show is published.". After the feed check, the step **Save your original catalog** shows "Your original catalog is saved.". When a check confirms the redirect, the step **Redirect your old feed** shows "Your old feed redirects to Podigee.". After **Hide these steps**, Podigee shows "Next steps hidden." and the card closes.

### Check your result

The table **Show import overview** on the **Shows** page lists the import with the status **Import finished**. The podcast is published, and your old feed redirects to your new feed address. Open the podcast, select **Settings**, and select **Review feed** on the card **Feed and public presence**. On the card **Feed and website**, the row **MP3 feed** shows your new feed address.

### If the result is different

* The form shows **Nothing was found at that address. Check it in your current hosting account, and make sure it is the RSS feed rather than a website or directory page.**: check the address and select **Check this feed** again.
* The form shows **The source feed is locked for import. Unlock it at your current host, then check again.**: unlock the feed at the old host.
* The form shows **This show is already hosted on Podigee, so it cannot be imported.**: the feed belongs to a Podigee podcast. Use [Clone or redirect a podcast](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/clone-or-redirect-a-podcast.md).
* The form shows **This feed has already been imported. Check the existing show before importing it again.**: select that podcast under **Which show should these episodes go to?**.
* The form shows **An import of this feed is already running.**, **Imports are busy right now. Try again later.**, or **This account has reached its import limit for today. Try again later.**: follow the running import, or start the import again later.
* The status page shows **Import needs your attention**: an audio file at the old host is missing or not available. Select **Retry import**, **Skip this episode**, or **Stop import**, and confirm the dialog with the same label. Select **Go back** to keep the import unchanged.
* The status page shows **Import needs repair** or **Import stopped**: the episodes that arrived are kept. Select **Retry import** to continue from the last episode that arrived.
* The status page shows **Some recordings could not be processed** or **Some episodes still need attention**: compare the list **Arrived episodes** with your source feed. Change the feed address only after that.
* You want to remove the import: select **Delete import**. If the import created a new podcast, Podigee deletes that podcast with everything in it. This cannot be undone.
* The page shows **This import is unavailable or you no longer have access to its show.**: the import was deleted, or you lost access to the podcast.
* The status page shows no card **Finish your move**: the card shows only for a finished import that created a new podcast, and only when you can edit the podcast. After **Hide these steps**, the card does not show again. Use the **Website**, **Feeds**, and **Channels** tabs of **Reach** for the remaining steps. To publish the podcast, use the classic view. See [Publish or unpublish a podcast](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/publish-or-unpublish-a-podcast.md).
* The step **Publish the show** shows "Publish at least one episode first.": the podcast has no published episode. Publish an episode, then go back to the status page.
* The step **Publish the show** shows "Ask the show owner to publish the show.": you do not have the permission to publish the podcast. Ask the podcast owner to publish it.
* The step **Publish the show** shows "This show is hosted elsewhere, so it is published there.": the podcast is hosted at another host. Publish it at that host.
* The step **Publish the show** shows "This show is over the number of shows its plan includes. Delete a show or upgrade the plan to publish it.": the account has more podcasts than its plan includes. Delete a podcast or upgrade the plan. All other people see "This show is over the number of shows its plan includes. Ask the show owner to upgrade the plan or remove a show.". They ask the podcast owner.
* After **Publish show**, the page shows **The action could not be completed** with one of these messages:
  * "This show cannot be published from here. That needs a finished import that created the show, a show hosted here that is not published yet, and at least one published episode.": the podcast is already published, or it does not meet one of these conditions. Reload the status page.
  * "Your account no longer permits this action. Ask the account owner or admin to check access.": you lost the permission to publish the podcast. Ask the account owner or an admin.
  * "This show is over the number of shows its plan includes. Delete a show or upgrade the plan to publish it." or "This show is over the number of shows its plan includes. Ask the show owner to upgrade the plan or remove a show.": do the step above for the plan.
  * "The show could not be published. Try again.": select **Publish show** again.
* The step **Save your original catalog** shows "Only a show administrator can run feed checks.": ask a show administrator to run the feed check. The step shows "Feed checks are not available for this show." when the podcast cannot use feed checks.
* The **Feeds** tab of **Reach** shows "Your account has started several feed checks recently. Wait up to five minutes, then try again. Your saved results are still available.": wait five minutes, then select **Check feeds**.
* The step **Redirect your old feed** stays at **To do**: the latest check did not confirm the redirect. Make sure that the old host sends a permanent redirect (301) to the Podigee feed address that the step shows. Then select **Open feed checks** and select **Check feeds** again.
* For an agent-based import, see [Monitor, resume or cancel an import](/documentation/start-here/ai-agents/import-a-podcast/monitor-resume-or-cancel-an-import.md).

What is different:

* The feed check is a separate step: **Check this feed**, then **Review your import**.
* An optional episode number replaces **Import all episodes** and **Custom**. There is no confirmation checkbox for an existing podcast.
* The **Show import overview** on the **Shows** page replaces **Import History**.
* The card **Finish your move** on the status page replaces the note with **Acknowledge and close**. **Hide these steps** closes both.
* You publish the imported podcast with **Publish show** on the status page.
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

## Next step

[Publish or unpublish a podcast](/documentation/create-and-publish/hosting-and-management/publish-or-unpublish-a-podcast.md), then [Publish your podcast to directories](/documentation/create-and-publish/publishing-and-distribution/publish-your-podcast-to-directories.md).


---

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