How to Submit Your Podcast to Spotify With an RSS Feed (August 2026)

Submitting your show to Spotify does not have to be a technical nightmare. Once you understand how to submit your podcast to Spotify with an RSS feed, the process takes about 10 minutes of active work. Your hosting platform generates the feed, Spotify pulls your episodes from it, and you never have to manually upload a file again. This guide walks you through the entire submission process, covers every error you might hit along the way, and gives you the exact steps to get your show live on the largest podcast directory in the world.

Spotify has over 600 million active users. If your podcast is not listed there, you are missing the single biggest audience in audio. The good news is that the submission is free and the approval process typically takes a few days at most. Let me walk you through everything from finding your RSS feed URL to resolving the GUID and email verification errors that trip up most first-time submitters.

What Is an RSS Feed and Why Spotify Uses It?

An RSS feed is a standardized XML file that contains your podcast metadata, episode details, cover art, and media links. Spotify reads this file to import your show into its directory and keep it updated automatically whenever you publish a new episode. Instead of uploading audio files to Spotify manually each week, you publish through your hosting platform, and the RSS feed handles distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and dozens of other platforms simultaneously.

Spotify uses RSS feeds because they follow a universal format called RSS 2.0 with the iTunes namespace extension. This standard ensures that every podcast platform can read your episodes the same way, pulling titles, descriptions, cover art, and audio links from a single source of truth. When you update your show description in your hosting dashboard, that change propagates through the RSS feed to Spotify and every other directory that reads it.

One thing that confuses a lot of people is whether Spotify lets listeners add RSS feeds directly. Spotify does not have a feature that allows listeners to subscribe to a custom RSS feed URL in the app. RSS feed submission is a creator-side process designed for podcast hosting platforms to distribute shows to Spotify. If you are a listener trying to add a Patreon or private RSS feed to Spotify, you will need a dedicated podcast app like Pocket Casts or Overcast instead.

What You Need Before Submitting Your RSS Feed?

Before you start the submission process, make sure you have the following in place. Most submission errors come from missing one of these requirements.

A podcast hosting account. You need a hosting platform that generates an RSS feed for you. Common options include Libsyn, Buzzsprout, Podbean, RSS.com, and Spotify for Creators (formerly Anchor). If you already host somewhere, you already have an RSS feed URL even if you have never used it.

At least one published episode. Spotify will reject an empty feed. You need at least one episode published in your hosting dashboard before submitting. This can be a trailer or a full episode, but the feed cannot be empty.

Cover art that meets specifications. Your podcast artwork must be a square image at 3000 x 3000 pixels minimum in JPEG or PNG format. Spotify also requires your cover art to be under 4 MB and free of text that violates content policies.

A valid GUID for each episode. The GUID is a unique identifier assigned to every episode in your RSS feed. Most hosting platforms generate this automatically, but if your feed is malformed or missing GUIDs, Spotify will reject the submission with an error message.

A public email address in your RSS feed. This is the requirement that trips up the most people. The email address associated with your podcast must be visible inside the RSS feed for Spotify to verify ownership. Some hosting platforms hide this email by default, which causes the verification step to fail.

How to Submit Your Podcast to Spotify With an RSS Feed: Step-by-Step

Here is the complete step-by-step process for submitting your RSS feed to Spotify. Follow these steps in order, and you should have your show submitted in under 15 minutes.

Step 1: Copy your RSS feed URL from your hosting dashboard. Log into your podcast hosting platform and locate your RSS feed URL. This is usually found under Settings, Distribution, or Podcast Info. Copy the entire URL, which typically looks like a long link ending in .xml or containing your show name.

Step 2: Log in to Spotify for Creators. Go to creators.spotify.com and sign in with your Spotify account. If you do not have a Spotify account, create one first. Spotify for Creators is free and is the portal where you manage your podcast listing.

Step 3: Navigate to Settings, then Availability. Once you are logged in, click on Settings in the left sidebar, then select Availability. This section controls where your podcast appears across Spotify and other platforms.

Step 4: Scroll to RSS Distribution. In the Availability section, scroll down until you see the RSS Distribution area. This is where you add an external RSS feed from a third-party hosting platform.

Step 5: Paste your RSS feed URL. Click the option to add a podcast by RSS feed. Paste the URL you copied from your hosting dashboard into the field provided. Double-check that you copied the full URL with no trailing spaces.

Step 6: Fill in your podcast details. Spotify will read your RSS feed and auto-populate fields like your show title, description, and cover art. Review these fields carefully and make corrections if the metadata did not transfer correctly. Select the category that best matches your show.

Step 7: Verify your email address. Spotify will send a verification code to the email address listed in your RSS feed. Check your inbox, enter the code in Spotify for Creators, and confirm ownership. If the email does not arrive within a few minutes, check that the email address is not hidden in your RSS feed.

Step 8: Review and submit. Review your podcast details one final time, then click Submit. Spotify will process your submission and notify you by email when your show goes live.

How to Find Your RSS Feed URL in Your Hosting Dashboard?

If you are not sure where your RSS feed URL lives, here are the common locations for popular hosting platforms. The exact menu names vary, but every host has a way to access your feed URL.

On Buzzsprout, go to your Dashboard, click on Podcast Settings, then look for the RSS Feed URL field. On Libsyn, navigate to Settings then Destinations to find your RSS feed URL. On Podbean, go to Settings then RSS Feed. On RSS.com, click on Distribution in the left sidebar where your RSS feed URL is displayed prominently.

On Spotify for Creators (formerly Anchor), log in, go to Settings, then Availability, and scroll to RSS Distribution to find your feed URL. If you host your show on Squarespace, WordPress, or a custom platform, your RSS feed URL typically lives at yourdomain.com/feed/podcast or a similar path.

When in doubt, contact your hosting provider support team. They can point you to the exact location in your dashboard. Never guess your RSS feed URL because an incorrect URL will cause the submission to fail silently.

How to Fix the Email Verification Error?

The email verification error is the most common problem people encounter when submitting to Spotify. Here is what causes it and how to fix it.

Spotify sends a verification code to the email address listed inside your RSS feed to confirm you own the podcast. If that email address is hidden, Spotify cannot deliver the code and the submission stalls. Many hosting platforms hide the owner email by default for privacy reasons, so you need to toggle it visible.

To fix this, log into your hosting platform and find the setting that controls email visibility in your RSS feed. On most hosts, this is under Podcast Settings or Feed Settings. Look for a checkbox or toggle that says something like Show email in RSS feed or Make email public. Enable it, save your changes, and resubmit your RSS feed to Spotify.

After enabling the email visibility toggle, wait a few minutes for the feed to update, then try submitting again. Spotify should send the verification code to the now-visible email address. If the code still does not arrive, check your spam folder and ensure the email address in your feed is correct and active.

If automated verification fails after multiple attempts, you can contact Spotify for Creators support directly. Several podcasters on Reddit have confirmed that support staff can manually verify your account and push the submission through. Include your RSS feed URL and the email address you are trying to verify in your support request.

How to Resolve the GUID Error?

The GUID error happens when Spotify cannot find a unique identifier for your episodes in the RSS feed. Every episode in an RSS 2.0 feed should have a GUID tag that distinguishes it from other episodes. Without it, Spotify cannot track which episodes have already been imported and which are new.

If you are using a major hosting platform like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, or Podbean, this should never happen because these hosts generate GUIDs automatically. The GUID error typically appears when you are hosting on a custom or self-managed platform where the feed XML is edited by hand.

To fix the GUID error, open your RSS feed in a feed validator. I recommend the W3C Feed Validation Service at validator.w3.org. Paste your RSS feed URL and the validator will flag any missing GUID tags along with other XML errors. Add a GUID tag to each episode entry in your feed, republish, and resubmit to Spotify.

Each GUID should be a unique string that never changes for that episode. Most podcasters use the episode URL or a permanent identifier as the GUID value. Once the GUIDs are in place, run the validator again to confirm a clean feed, then resubmit.

RSS Feed vs Direct Upload: Which Should You Choose

Spotify for Creators offers two ways to get your podcast on Spotify: submitting an external RSS feed from a third-party host, or using the built-in hosting tools to upload episodes directly. Understanding the difference helps you pick the right approach.

RSS feed submission is the right choice if you already host your podcast on a platform like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, or Podbean. Your hosting platform manages your feed, and Spotify pulls episodes automatically. When you publish a new episode, it appears on Spotify without any extra work. This approach also lets you distribute to Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and other directories from a single source. You maintain full control of your feed, can switch hosting platforms if needed, and keep your analytics in one place.

Direct upload through Spotify for Creators is the better option if you are brand new to podcasting and do not want to pay for hosting. You record your episode, upload it directly to Spotify for Creators, and it publishes instantly. The downside is that Spotify becomes your only distribution channel unless you set up a separate RSS feed for other directories. You also lose some flexibility if you ever want to migrate away from Spotify hosting.

For most podcasters who want to build a sustainable show, RSS feed submission is the recommended path. It gives you ownership of your content and lets you reach every major platform from one hosting account.

How Long Until Your Podcast Goes Live on Spotify?

Most podcasts appear on Spotify within 2 to 5 days after submission. Some shows go live in as little as a few hours, while others can take up to a week during busy periods.

Spotify reviews every submission to ensure it meets content guidelines and technical requirements. If your RSS feed is valid, your cover art meets specifications, and your email is verified, the review process moves quickly. If any of these elements are missing or incorrect, the process stalls until you fix the issue.

You will receive an email from Spotify when your podcast is approved and live. If you have not heard back after 7 days, log into Spotify for Creators and check your submission status. If it shows an error message, address it and resubmit. Do not submit the same feed multiple times, as this can create duplicate listings that delay approval further.

Tips to Optimize Your Podcast for Spotify Discovery

Getting your podcast on Spotify is only the first step. Once your show is live, a few optimizations can help listeners find it more easily.

Write a clear, keyword-rich podcast description that tells listeners exactly what your show is about. Spotify’s search algorithm weighs your title and description heavily, so include relevant keywords naturally. Choose the most accurate primary category for your show, as Spotify uses categories to recommend podcasts to listeners browsing by topic.

Make sure every episode has a descriptive title and a written description. Episode metadata helps Spotify understand what each installment covers and surface it in search results. Use consistent naming conventions so listeners can easily identify episode sequences. Finally, upload high-quality cover art that looks good at small sizes on mobile screens, since most Spotify listeners browse on their phones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap-Up: Getting Your Podcast on Spotify With an RSS Feed

Learning how to submit your podcast to Spotify with an RSS feed is one of the highest-value tasks you can complete as a podcaster. A single submission unlocks access to the biggest podcast audience in the world, and your hosting platform handles all future episode updates automatically.

The process comes down to copying your RSS feed URL from your hosting dashboard, pasting it into Spotify for Creators under Settings then Availability, verifying your email, and waiting a few days for approval. If you hit the email verification or GUID errors, the troubleshooting steps above will get you through them quickly. Once your show is live, focus on optimizing your metadata and cover art so listeners can find and subscribe to your podcast easily.