Many podcast apps exist, but the most convenient one is usually the default app on your phone. For Android users, this used to be Google Podcasts, until Google phased it out last year, directing users towards YouTube Music instead. While YouTube Music offers podcast support akin to Spotify, it lacks some features found in dedicated podcast apps, making it an adjustment for some users. Fortunately, Google is improving the podcast experience within YouTube Music by reinstating a feature lost in the transition—“trim silence.”
The “trim silence” feature, originally available in Google Podcasts, automatically eliminates silence or dead air within episodes, enhancing efficiency for listeners who prefer faster playback speeds like 1.5x, 2x, or 3x. This feature can potentially disrupt intentional pauses designed by podcast creators but is valuable for listeners who aim to consume content swiftly. Previously absent from YouTube Music, this feature is now being integrated, as reported by Android Authority. It was initially identified by a Reddit user and has now been confirmed to be available on the YouTube Music app.
Google’s inclusion of “trim silence” in YouTube Music has been anticipated since March 2024 when 9to5Google discovered the feature in the app’s code. Although it took a while longer to appear in an actual update, it has finally arrived after nearly a year and a half.
To use the “trim silence” feature, ensure that you’re running the latest version of YouTube Music as it might be part of a server-side update or software update. Currently, the feature is visible only in the Android version, so iOS users may have to wait. To enable it, start a podcast and tap the playback speed option located to the left of the playback controls. If the option is there, simply tap or toggle to activate “trim silence.”