[Enhancement]: Add the ability to skip time at the start and end of podcast episodes #897

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opened 2025-10-14 17:53:23 -06:00 by navan · 0 comments

navan commented

2025-10-14 17:53:23 -06:00

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Originally created by @mgrecar on 12/14/2024

Type of Enhancement

Server Backend

Describe the Feature/Enhancement

I'd love if Audiobookshelf could support the ability to automatically skip a configurable number of seconds at the start and/or at the end of a podcast. This is not modifying the source podcast file at all, but instead is a per podcast, per user configuration value that causes the player to skip X seconds at the start of each episode of the podcast, or X seconds at the end. Skipping at the end would also cause that episode to mark as complete, and enable the player to move to the next queued podcast episode (if that capability exists).

This configuration would apply per user, per podcast, and would default to 0 in all cases.

Why would this be helpful?

Many podcasts have a long intro before they actually get into the show, sometimes up to a minute or two. This is pretty much the same every episode and really doesn't add anything except wasted listening time. Additionally, many podcasts have a long canned ending outro, with a long theme music drop or static credit sequence.

Future Implementation (Screenshot)

The following is a screenshot from the configuration screen for a podcast from Podurama, another podcast player that supports this feature. The two fields in question are the Skip beginning of each episode and Skip ending of each episode fields. They just control a number of seconds to skip at the start, defaulting to zero, or to trim off the end, before marking the episode played and moving to the next one in the queue.

Audiobookshelf Server Version

v2.17.5

Current Implementation (Screenshot)

I imagine adding that configuration here in the podcast Details tab might make sense, or possibly a new tab, maybe call it Playback or something, if Details is a bit too crowded to shove it in there.

*Originally created by @mgrecar on 12/14/2024* ### Type of Enhancement Server Backend ### Describe the Feature/Enhancement I'd love if Audiobookshelf could support the ability to automatically skip a configurable number of seconds at the start and/or at the end of a podcast. This is not modifying the source podcast file at all, but instead is a per podcast, per user configuration value that causes the player to skip X seconds at the start of each episode of the podcast, or X seconds at the end. Skipping at the end would also cause that episode to mark as complete, and enable the player to move to the next queued podcast episode (if that capability exists). This configuration would apply per user, per podcast, and would default to 0 in all cases. ### Why would this be helpful? Many podcasts have a long intro before they actually get into the show, sometimes up to a minute or two. This is pretty much the same every episode and really doesn't add anything except wasted listening time. Additionally, many podcasts have a long canned ending outro, with a long theme music drop or static credit sequence. ### Future Implementation (Screenshot) The following is a screenshot from the configuration screen for a podcast from [Podurama](https://podurama.com/), another podcast player that supports this feature. The two fields in question are the `Skip beginning of each episode` and `Skip ending of each episode` fields. They just control a number of seconds to skip at the start, defaulting to zero, or to trim off the end, before marking the episode played and moving to the next one in the queue. ![image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e531cecf-5667-4606-8dee-05c26a2a5f74) ### Audiobookshelf Server Version v2.17.5 ### Current Implementation (Screenshot) I imagine adding that configuration here in the podcast Details tab might make sense, or possibly a new tab, maybe call it Playback or something, if Details is a bit too crowded to shove it in there. ![image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a1c31741-0576-4b2a-9437-bb4f147be6dd)