How to Import OPML on Android

What's an OPML file?

OPML stands for Outline Processor Markup Language. In the podcast world it's the standard format for exporting and importing subscription lists. Most podcast apps support it, which is what makes switching apps painless: you don't lose your library, you just take it with you.

An OPML file is plain text. It lists every show you subscribe to and its RSS feed URL. No listening history, no play positions, no settings — just the subscriptions themselves.

Step 1 — Export OPML from your current podcast app

Every app has its own location for this. Common spots:

• Pocket Casts — Profile → Settings → Import / Export → Export Subscriptions.
• AntennaPod — Settings → Storage → OPML Export.
• Podcast Addict — Settings → Backup & Restore → Export OPML.
• Spotify — Spotify does not export OPML. You'll need to rebuild the list manually or via a third-party tool.
• Apple Podcasts — On iPhone, Apple does not export OPML directly. On iTunes (older macOS), File → Library → Export Library produces an OPML file.

Once exported, save the .opml file somewhere accessible: your Downloads folder, Google Drive, or email it to yourself.

Step 2 — Open the file with Shuttle

Install Shuttle Podcasts from Google Play if you haven't already.

Then there are two ways to hand the file off:

Method A — Tap the file in your file manager

1. Open Files (or your preferred file manager) and find the .opml file.
2. Tap it.
3. Android shows a list of apps that can open it. Pick Shuttle Podcasts.
4. Confirm the import.

Method B — Share to Shuttle

1. From wherever the file is — email attachment, Google Drive, Dropbox — tap the share button.
2. Pick Shuttle Podcasts from the share sheet.
3. Confirm the import.

Both methods land in the same place: Shuttle reads your OPML, fetches artwork and recent episodes for each show, and your library is restored.

Step 3 — Wait for episode metadata to populate

The first sync after a fresh import takes a minute or two. Shuttle has to fetch the latest episode list for every show. You can start using the app immediately — search, listen to a sample, browse trending — while the import settles in the background.

Troubleshooting

"Shuttle isn't in the share sheet"

Make sure Shuttle is installed and has been opened at least once. If your file's MIME type is unusual, try renaming the file to end in .opml and tap it directly from a file manager rather than sharing it.

"Some shows didn't import"

The most common cause is dead RSS feeds — shows that have moved hosts, been deleted, or had their feed URL changed. Shuttle will skip feeds it can't reach. Check the app's import summary (if shown) for the list of skipped shows, then search for them by name and resubscribe manually.

"Subscriptions imported but I don't see episodes"

Episode lists fetch in the background after import. Give it a minute. If a specific show still has no episodes after a few minutes, the source feed may have temporarily gone offline — try again later.

What about my listening progress?

OPML doesn't carry play positions, listened/unlistened state, or queue order. That's a limitation of the format, not the app. Shuttle will treat every imported show as fresh — newest episodes at the top of the feed, nothing marked as played.

If you want to migrate listening history, most apps don't support it across vendors. Worth checking your old app's specific export options before assuming it's gone.

Building an OPML from scratch in the browser

Don't have an OPML file yet? You can build one without installing anything. Open shuttlepodcasts.app in your browser, search for shows, add them to the cart, and export the cart as an OPML file. Then import that file into Shuttle (or any other OPML-compatible podcast app).