Apple is testing three upgrades to the Podcasts app in iOS 26.2. Auto-generated chapters help you jump to the part you want. Mentions turn word-of-mouth into one-tap discovery. A new From This Episode section collects the links hosts reference so you don’t hunt through notes. These changes landed in the first iOS 26.2 developer beta on November 4, 2025.
Creators have long added chapters by hand. iOS 26.2 now generates chapter markers automatically when a show doesn’t provide them, while still honoring creator-supplied chapters. You get faster navigation through long episodes and a clearer view of an episode’s structure. Creators can turn the automation off in Podcasts Connect.
Mentions address a common discovery problem. When a host name-drops another show, the player and transcript will surface that podcast so you can see it and follow it from the screen you are already on. No separate search. No guessing spellings.
From This Episode tackles show links. Instead of digging through show notes, you’ll find a dedicated section on the episode page with the links the host mentioned, ready to open while you listen. Support is limited in this first beta and should expand before public release.
What’s new at a glance
- Automatic chapters when creators don’t supply them, with creator control to disable.
- Mentions that let you see and follow referenced podcasts from the player and transcript.
- From This Episode section that surfaces links hosts talk about on the episode page.
These upgrades cut friction for listeners and give creators a clearer context for their episodes. Chapters reduce scrubbing. Mentions turn recommendations into conversions. Link surfacing brings calls to action into the app, where listeners can tap in the moment. Together, they make long shows easier to navigate and easier to act on.
Early notes
This is developer beta 1. Features can change before the public release. Expect Apple to refine chapter accuracy, broaden link support, and polish how mentions appear across transcripts and the player UI. Keep an eye on subsequent betas for rollout details.
Here’s what we know. iOS 26.2 focuses the Podcasts app on navigation, discovery, and action. If Apple sticks to this plan through the beta cycle, listening gets simpler and show recommendations finally meet you where you are: on the player screen.
