To clip on Twitch, click the clip icon on a live stream or past broadcast, set the length with the slider (up to 60 seconds), add a title and click Publish. Twitch says a clip is only saved once you publish it, and streamers can restrict who may clip.
A great moment on a stream lasts a few seconds and then it's gone into a long broadcast nobody will scroll through. A clip captures just that moment so you can share it, post it on social media or send it to a friend. For streamers and small businesses it's also the easiest way to make a short promo from something that really happened.
This guide follows Twitch's own help pages: how to make a clip as a viewer, how streamers can clip their own channel, who's allowed to clip, and what to try if the clip button isn't there.
Clipping a Twitch stream as a viewer
Twitch's help article says you click the clip icon on a live stream or a past broadcast to open the Clip Creator. It opens as an overlay that you can move around the screen. From there:
- Open the live stream or past broadcast you want to clip, while you're logged in.
- Click the clip icon to open the Clip Creator overlay.
- Use the slider under the video player to set how long the clip should be. Twitch says clips can run up to 60 seconds.
- Give the clip a title that says what happens in it.
- Click Publish.
Don't skip the last step. A clip isn't saved and shared until you publish it. Menus vary a little between the website and the mobile app, so look for the same clip icon and publish option on your phone.
How long a Twitch clip can be
The help article says up to 60 seconds with the slider, and Twitch's developer documentation for creating clips says a clip can be from 5 seconds to 60 seconds long. So think of a clip as a tight highlight, not a mini show. Shorter usually works better for sharing, because people will watch ten seconds on a whim and rarely a full minute.
Clipping your own Twitch channel as a streamer
You can clip your own streams in the same way, but Twitch's Stream Manager adds a faster route. Its help page lists Clip That among the Quick Actions you can customise, alongside Raid a Channel, Add Stream Marker and Start Watch Party. Add Clip That to your Quick Actions panel, then press it the moment something good happens on stream.
Twitch notes that clips made this way include captions by default, and streamers can turn the default captions off in Clip Settings. Check the setting before you share clips on a client or brand account, so the finished clip looks the way you want.
Who is allowed to clip on Twitch
According to the help centre, logged-in viewers can create clips of a channel as long as the streamer has enabled clips from live streams and VODs. Streamers can also restrict who can clip, with options such as followers-only or subscribers-only, or by blocking specific users.
- If you can't clip someone's channel, they may have limited it to followers or subscribers.
- If you're a streamer and your viewers can't clip, check that clips are switched on for your channel.
- If you're blocked by the streamer, you won't be able to clip their channel.
Streamers manage all of this in Creator Dashboard, under Settings, then Stream, according to Twitch's Clips Settings help page. If you're a streamer, it's worth five minutes to make sure the settings match what you want your community to be able to do.
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What to do with a Twitch clip once it's published
A clip is only useful if it travels. Once it's published, you can share the link and post it where your audience already is. Here are ways I'd use clips if I were streaming for a business:
- Post the funniest or most helpful moment on your social channels with a short caption.
- Add the clip link to your newsletter or website as a quick taste of what you stream.
- Save a few reliable highlights to show a brand partner or collaborator what your stream feels like.
- Thank the viewer who clipped something good, which encourages others to clip.
If you're growing a channel towards the official programmes, my guide to Twitch Partner requirements sets out what that journey looks like, and my comparison of Twitch alternatives helps if you want to repurpose clips on another platform.
| Question | What Twitch says |
|---|---|
| How do I start a clip? | Click the clip icon on a live stream or past broadcast |
| How long can it be? | Up to 60 seconds with the slider |
| When is it saved? | After you add a title and click Publish |
| Who controls clipping? | The streamer, through clip settings in Creator Dashboard |
If you can't clip on Twitch
When the clip icon is missing or the clip won't publish, go through these in order:
- Make sure you're logged in, because Twitch says logged-in viewers can clip.
- Check whether the streamer has restricted clipping to followers or subscribers.
- Try the website if the mobile app isn't showing the clip option, or the other way round.
- Refresh the page or reopen the app, then open the stream again.
- If you're the streamer, open Creator Dashboard, Settings, Stream and check your clip settings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clip on Twitch?
Click the clip icon on a live stream or past broadcast to open the Clip Creator, set the length with the slider, add a title and click Publish.
How long can a Twitch clip be?
Twitch's help says up to 60 seconds using the slider, and its developer documentation says a clip can be from 5 seconds to 60 seconds.
Why can't I clip on Twitch?
The streamer may have limited clipping to followers or subscribers, switched clips off, or blocked you. You also need to be logged in.
What is Clip That on Twitch?
It's a Quick Action in Stream Manager that lets a streamer make a clip while live. Twitch says clips made this way include captions by default.
Where do streamers change clip settings?
Twitch says in Creator Dashboard, under Settings, then Stream.
