How to Save and Download Twitch Streams

Saving your Twitch streams is one of the best ways to repurpose your content, grow your brand, and protect your work from disappearing after a few days. Most creators do not realize that by default Twitch does not keep VODs forever, especially for non-Partners, which makes manual saving essential if you care about long term content strategy. When you learn how to save and download your streams, you can turn a single broadcast into YouTube uploads, shorts, highlight reels, or even social media clips that keep bringing in viewers over time.​

Settings to follow

The first step is to enable VOD saving in your Twitch settings so your broadcasts are stored automatically. You can do this from your Creator Dashboard by going to Settings, then Stream, and turning on the option to store past broadcasts so Twitch keeps your streams as videos on demand for a limited period depending on your account type. Once this is active, Twitch will start saving new streams without any extra steps, which means you can focus on going live while the platform handles the initial archiving for you.​

How to download the stream

After your VODs are stored, you can download them directly or use third party tools to keep permanent copies on your computer. Twitch lets you download your own videos by opening your Video Producer, clicking the three dot menu next to a VOD, and choosing the download option so you can edit or reupload it elsewhere. If you want more control or batch downloads, browser extensions and external VOD downloaders offer extra flexibility, but you should always respect copyright rules and only save content you have the right to use.​

Difference between browse & App settings 

To get started quickly, log in to Twitch on a web browser and open your Creator Dashboard rather than the mobile app. Navigate to Settings, then Stream, and switch on Store past broadcasts so your channel begins saving future streams as VODs. After a broadcast ends, go to your Video Producer page, locate the stream you want, click the three dots, and select Download to save the video file on your device where you can trim, highlight, and publish it on other platforms. For advanced creators who stream frequently, consider using local recording in software like OBS or XSplit so you always keep the highest quality version of your streams on your own storage.​ Learning how to save and download Twitch streams gives you full control over your content library and protects your best moments from expiring. With VOD storage enabled, direct downloads from Video Producer, and optional local recording or third party tools, you can build a long lasting archive that fuels growth on Twitch and beyond.​

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I save Twitch streams as videos?​

To save Twitch streams as videos, first enable “Store past broadcasts” in your Creator Dashboard under Settings > Stream so Twitch keeps your VODs. After you finish streaming, go to Video Producer, click the three dot menu next to your VOD, and select Download to save it to your device for editing or reuploading

How can I save other people's Twitch streams?​

Saving other people’s Twitch streams is only allowed if you have permission and follow copyright law. You can use third party tools or browser extensions that download Twitch VODs by pasting the video URL, but these should only be used for content you are authorized to reuse, such as collaborations, editor work, or videos under permissive licenses

Is it possible to record Twitch streams locally while I am live?

Yes, you can record Twitch streams locally while you are live by using streaming software with a record feature, such as OBS Studio or XSplit. In OBS, for example, you set up your scenes, start streaming to Twitch, then click Start Recording to save a high quality copy directly to your computer while the broadcast runs