FAQ
Find short answers to the questions PodNotes users ask most. Each answer links to the page that covers the topic in full.
Setup and installation
Section titled “Setup and installation”Where is the player?
Section titled “Where is the player?”Run PodNotes: Show player from the command palette, or select the Show PodNotes podcast icon in the ribbon. Both open the player or reveal it if it is already open. On a phone, the player stays closed until you open it. See Use PodNotes on your phone.
Why are some commands missing?
Section titled “Why are some commands missing?”Most commands appear only while an episode is loaded. A paused episode counts. PodNotes: Capture Timestamp needs a note open in an editor, and PodNotes: Reorder Queue needs at least two episodes in the queue. PodNotes: Show player is always available. Commands lists what each command needs.
How do I install a beta version or install manually?
Section titled “How do I install a beta version or install manually?”Install a beta version with the BRAT plugin, or copy a release’s files into your vault by hand. Other ways to install has the steps for both.
Podcasts and feeds
Section titled “Podcasts and feeds”Which podcasts can I add?
Section titled “Which podcasts can I add?”Any podcast with an RSS feed. In Settings → PodNotes, under Search Podcasts, search the Apple Podcasts directory by name, or paste an RSS feed URL or an Apple Podcasts show link. A show missing from search can still work if you paste its RSS feed URL. See Add and play podcasts.
Can I add Spotify exclusives or YouTube links?
Section titled “Can I add Spotify exclusives or YouTube links?”No. PodNotes plays RSS feeds and cannot open Spotify or YouTube pages. A show that exists only inside Spotify or another app has no feed to add. If the publisher also offers an RSS feed, add that feed.
Can I use a private feed?
Section titled “Can I use a private feed?”Yes, if your provider gives you a personal RSS URL. Paste the whole URL into Search Podcasts. PodNotes cannot sign in to providers that require a browser login. When the URL contains a user name, a password, or a token parameter, PodNotes keeps it on the current device only, so the feed works on one device at a time. See API keys and private feeds on each device. Importing a settings file also leaves these feeds without their URL, as Import your settings explains.
Can I annotate my own audio or video?
Section titled “Can I annotate my own audio or video?”Yes. Play an audio or video file from your vault in PodNotes, then capture timestamps and create an episode note as with any episode. See Play your own audio and video for the steps and the file types PodNotes plays.
Notes and timestamps
Section titled “Notes and timestamps”Why are my timestamps plain text?
Section titled “Why are my timestamps plain text?”Your Capture timestamp format uses {{time}}, which inserts plain text.
Installs set up before PodNotes 2.21.0 keep the old default, which uses {{time}}. New installs use {{linktime}}, which inserts a link that plays the episode from that moment.
In Settings → PodNotes, set Capture timestamp format to - {{linktime}} with a space at the end. If it already uses {{linktime}}, the episode has no feed URL or local file to link to. See Make timestamps clickable.
Can I take notes on an episode I listen to in another app?
Section titled “Can I take notes on an episode I listen to in another app?”Yes. Add the podcast to PodNotes, then create the note from the episode’s menu. The episode does not have to play. See Create a note for another episode. Timestamps come from the PodNotes player, so to capture them, play the episode in PodNotes. For notes about a whole show, use a feed note. See Create a feed note for a podcast.
Do headset buttons control PodNotes?
Section titled “Do headset buttons control PodNotes?”One button does. When your headset sends the previous-track action, PodNotes captures a timestamp. If a note is open in an editor, the timestamp goes in at the cursor. If no note is open in an editor, it goes at the end of the episode note. This works on a phone or a computer, but not every headset sends that action. PodNotes adds no other headset actions, so play, pause, and skip depend on your device. See Capture with a headset.
Devices and sync
Section titled “Devices and sync”Do downloads sync with my vault?
Section titled “Do downloads sync with my vault?”Downloads are files in your vault, so they sync only if your sync service includes them.
Syncing PodNotes’ data.json alone does not move the audio or video. File types and size limits depend on your sync service.
See Downloads on another device.
What happens to notes and links when I remove a download?
Section titled “What happens to notes and links when I remove a download?”Your notes and timestamps stay. Timestamp links point at the feed and the episode, so they stream the episode again while the feed still lists it. Links to your own media files need the file and its entry in Local Files. After Remove from Local Files, select Play with PodNotes on the file again to restore its links. See Removed downloads and existing links.
Does playback progress sync between devices?
Section titled “Does playback progress sync between devices?”Yes, when your sync service syncs plugin data. PodNotes saves progress, podcasts, playlists, and settings in data.json.
PodNotes does not merge changes from two devices, so one device can overwrite the other’s changes. Use one device at a time. When you switch, let sync finish, then restart Obsidian or turn PodNotes off and on before you use it. See Use PodNotes on two devices.
API keys and protected private feeds stay on each device. See Sync between devices.
Transcription
Section titled “Transcription”Does transcription cost money?
Section titled “Does transcription cost money?”PodNotes is free, but transcription uses your own OpenAI or Deepgram account, and the provider bills you for API use. Plain transcripts use OpenAI Whisper. Speaker diarization uses OpenAI or Deepgram. PodNotes transcribes the audio itself. It does not import transcripts from Apple Podcasts or from a feed. See What transcription costs.