How do I download on the BBC Sounds app?

First, find the programme or podcast you'd like to download. You can search for programmes using the menus and categories on the homepage, or tap on the search icon to search for a programme or podcast.

  1. Tap on the individual episode you'd like to download
  2. Select the 'Download' option (if there is no download button, the programme may be available to stream only).

The programme will start to download, and you'll be able to see how the download is progressing. 

Two images from the Sounds mobile app. The first is of a programme page with the available episodes listed. One of the episodes is highlighted. The second shows the episode page with the download button highlighted
Once the episode has finished downloading, you can find it in My Sounds > Downloads. 

Two images from the Sounds mobile app. The first is of the My Sounds page with the Downloads option highlighted. The second shows the downloads menu with the newly-downloaded episode and play button highlighted

How do I play my downloaded programme?

To make sure you're playing the downloaded version of your programme:

  1. Go to My Sounds, then Downloads
  2. Tap the black play button to the right-hand side of the programme you want to listen to. This will ensure you're playing your download rather than streaming the programme online.

Why are my downloads queued? 

If you're downloading several programmes at once, they will queue up and complete one at a time. You'll see the progress updating on the currently-downloading programme, while the others say 'Queued.'

Your downloads might get stuck in a queue if you're trying to download over a mobile network and haven't enabled this in the app. To check this:

  1. Go to My Sounds > Settings > Download settings 
  2. Make sure 'Download over mobile networks' is switched on

How do I remove a downloaded programme?

  1. Head to the Downloads section in My Sounds
  2. Find the programme you want to delete and swipe it to the left <<
  3. Tap Delete

Two images from the Sounds mobile app downloads menu. The first shows an episode being dragged left with the bin icon showing in red on the right. The second shows the edit button being selected where a red and white 'x' appears to the right of all downloads
You can also tap Edit or the pencil icon in the top right corner and then the X or bin icon to delete downloads.

How long do I have to listen to the download?

You can download and listen to most programmes offline for 30 days after they're broadcast. The app will remove downloaded programmes at the end of this period, so keep an eye on the expiry date of each programme you download to make sure you don't miss out. 

Some programmes are only available for a shorter period, or are not available to download at all. This is because we have different rights agreements for different types of programmes, for example sporting or live music events.

Some podcasts have no expiry date, so when downloaded they are available indefinitely. However if the download is deleted, the app data is cleared or the app is uninstalled, these will be lost.

Can I download programmes and podcasts over a mobile network? 

Yes. The option is disabled by default but can be enabled in Settings (select the cog icon in My Sounds).
 

It’s not possible to download radio programmes on the BBC Sounds app from outside the UK. This is for rights reasons.