What Is the Twitch App? What It Does and How It Works

If you've heard people talk about "going on Twitch" and wondered what the Twitch app is, you're not alone. It looks like a video app, but the live chat running beside every stream makes it feel more like a room full of people than a TV channel.

I'll explain what the app is for, what's inside the mobile app and how businesses and creators use it. Everything here comes from Twitch's own help and about pages.

What the Twitch app is, in Twitch's own words

Twitch's about page describes itself as the place where millions of people come together live every day to chat, interact and make their own entertainment together. That's the heart of it. Most of what you watch is live, and the audience can talk to the streamer in real time.

The categories Twitch lists include Games, Music, Talk Shows, Sports, Travel & Outdoors, Just Chatting, Food & Drink and Special Events. So although gaming is what it's known for, you'll find cooking, music and chat shows too.

Where you can use Twitch: app, website and TV

Twitch works in a web browser at twitch.tv and in a mobile app. Twitch's help says you download the mobile app for iOS from the App Store, or for Android from Google Play. It also mentions TV and console apps, and its chat guide says chat is available on desktop, the mobile apps, mobile web and some TV apps.

Twitch says you must sign in to your Twitch account to take part in chat.

What you see when you open the Twitch mobile app

Twitch's mobile app is built around a discovery feed. According to its help page, the app opens on a feed of live streams from a mix of streamers you follow and channels Twitch thinks you'll enjoy.

• Home (live feed): scroll vertically through previews of live streams and tap the screen to enter theater mode and join one.
• Following: swipe right from the live feed to see who is live, your followed channels and categories, and a Continue Watching shelf.
• Clips feed: swipe left from the live feed to catch up on top moments across Twitch.
• Browse: search for a streamer, or look through a game or category.
• Activity: your notifications and whispers in one place.
• Profile: customise your profile, find the latest Drops campaign and open the app settings.
• Create: the + button in the centre of the bottom bar, to go live, create a story or reach the creator dashboard.

Twitch says the live feed autoplays on mute by default. You can change your mute and autoplay preferences in the app settings under Preferences.

Chat and whispers in the Twitch app

Chat is what turns Twitch from a video player into a social app. Twitch's chat guide says you can type messages for the whole channel to see, use emotes and, where a streamer has switched it on, use channel points. Streamers can control who can use chat through various settings.

Twitch's Activity tab also holds whispers. If you want the details of those, my guide to whispering on Twitch covers the commands and limits.

Following channels and getting notified

When you find a channel you like in the feed, Twitch says you can follow it and sign up for notifications for upcoming streams directly from the feed. Following is how channels end up in your Following tab, so it's the quickest way to build a list of streams worth returning to.

Twitch also says the feed's recommendations are based on a combination of your personal watch history and viewer trends across Twitch, and that liking a clip helps personalise your feed. That information is shared only with Twitch, not with the streamer or clip creator.

Going live from the Twitch app

The Create button is there because Twitch is also a place to broadcast. Tapping the + button lets you go live, create a story and open your creator dashboard.

If you've already picked a name for your channel, or want to change it, my guide to changing your Twitch username covers Twitch's rules and steps.

Who uses the Twitch app, and why small businesses watch it

Viewers use it to watch favourite streamers and communities. Creators use it to build a community around something they love. Twitch says its platform is somewhere your creative content can thrive, with a community built around your passions.

For a small business owner, the useful angle is the live chat. A consultant or shop owner can run a regular live session, answer questions as they come in and see straight away which topics get people talking. Even if you never stream, watching a few channels in your niche shows you how that audience talks.

What the Twitch app won't do for you

• It isn't only for gamers. Twitch's own categories include music, talk shows, food and travel.
• The live feed supports horizontal video only for now, according to Twitch's help.
• You can't chat without signing in.
• It doesn't replace a website or email list. Streams are live, so followers need to show up or follow for notifications.

If the Twitch app won't load for you

If streams won't play, Twitch's playback guide suggests refreshing or restarting the app, trying another live stream as a test and checking whether other sites load. If another video site is lagging for you too, my guide to why YouTube lags can help you tell whether it's your connection, and I've written a separate page on what to do when Twitch itself won't load.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I download the Twitch app?

Twitch's help says you get the mobile app from the App Store on iOS or from Google Play on Android.

Do I need an account to use the Twitch app?

Twitch says you must sign in to your Twitch account to take part in chat.

What is the Twitch app used for?

Twitch describes itself as a place where people come together live to chat, interact and make entertainment. In the app you watch streams, follow channels, chat and go live.

Is Twitch only for gaming?

No. Twitch lists Music, Talk Shows, Sports, Travel & Outdoors, Just Chatting, Food & Drink and Special Events alongside Games.

Can I stream from the Twitch app?

Yes. Twitch's help says the Create button, the + in the middle of the bottom bar, lets you go live, create a story and reach your creator dashboard.