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How To View and Watch Your Own Live Stream on Twitch

Streaming on Twitch has become increasingly popular over the years. As a streamer, you may want to view your own live stream to monitor the video and audio quality. Here is a detailed guide on how to view and watch your own live stream on Twitch.

Why View Your Own Live Stream

Here are some reasons why you may want to view your own live stream on Twitch:

  • Check the video and audio quality of your stream
  • Ensure your webcam, game capture, overlays etc. are working properly
  • See exactly what your viewers are seeing
  • Read your live chat without having to tab out of the game
  • Check if you have any stream lag or frame drops

Ways to View Your Live Twitch Stream

There are a few different methods you can use to view your live stream on Twitch:

1. Use the Twitch Mobile App

  • Download and install the Twitch mobile app on your smartphone or tablet
  • Login to the app using a different Twitch account than what you are streaming with
  • Search for your channel and view your live stream

Pros: Simple, works on any device with the Twitch app

Cons: Can only view the stream, no access to chat

2. Open Your Stream in a Different Browser

  • Start your stream as normal
  • On another device, open Twitch in a web browser and login with a separate account
  • Search for your channel name and watch your broadcast

Pros: Easy, can view chat

Cons: Need access to a second internet-connected device

3. Use the Twitch Creator Camp

  • Go to Twitch Creator Camp
  • Click “Start Broadcast” and login with your streaming account
  • Open another browser tab, go back to Creator Camp, and click “View Broadcast”

Pros: Simple way to test, built into Twitch

Cons: Limited functionality

4. Set Up a Private Viewing Window

  • Add a Browser source in OBS or streaming software
  • Enter your Twitch channel URL
  • Position it off-screen or behind overlays

Pros: Full functionality to test

Cons: More complex set up

No matter which method you choose, be sure to use a separate Twitch account than what you are streaming on to avoid getting penalized for self-view botting.

Checking Past Streams and VODs on Twitch

In addition to viewing your live stream, you can also watch your previously streamed content and VODs (videos on demand) right from Twitch.

Here is how to access your past broadcasts and highlights:

On Desktop:

  • Go to your Twitch channel page
  • Click on the “Videos” tab
  • Scroll down to the “Past Broadcasts” and “Highlights” sections
  • Find the video you want to watch and click on it

On Mobile:

  • Tap your profile picture
  • Tap “Creator Dashboard”
  • Go to Settings > Channel & Videos > Past Broadcasts
  • Turn on “Store Past Broadcasts” and set duration
  • Streams will now automatically archive for replay

By default, Twitch will store your broadcasts for 14 days before deleting them. Affiliate and Partner channels can store VODs for 60 days.

You can also create Highlights from your streams that will save permanently on Twitch. Highlights allow you to trim down long form streams into shorter, shareable clips.

Best Practices When Viewing Your Stream

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Use a separate Twitch account to watch your stream
  • Don’t inflate your view count artificially
  • Test sparingly and not for long periods
  • Disable preview audio to avoid echoes or feedback
  • Check VODs instead of watching live if possible

In summary, viewing your own broadcasts on Twitch can be very useful for monitoring your content as a streamer. Just be mindful of Twitch’s policies around self-view botting and artificial inflation of viewership.

With the methods outlined above, you can easily keep an eye on your stream’s quality without running afoul of Twitch.

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