How Do I Enable Twitch VODs and Highlights?

VODs and Highlights Explained

A VOD (Video on Demand) is the full recording of a past broadcast saved to your channel. A Highlight is a trimmed clip from a VOD that stays on your channel permanently — VODs expire, but highlights do not. Both are essential for creators who want content working for them after the stream ends.

Enable VOD Storage

Navigate to Settings → Stream → VOD Settings and toggle on Store past broadcasts. Also enable Publish VODs if you want them visible on your Videos tab (recommended). Without this setting, your streams vanish when you end broadcast.

VOD Retention Periods

Storage duration depends on your status:

• Non-Affiliate — 7 days
• Twitch Affiliate — 14 days
• Twitch Partner — 60 days

Highlights and uploads never expire regardless of status. Create highlights from your best moments before the VOD window closes.

Create a Highlight

Go to Creator Dashboard → Content → Video Producer. Find the past broadcast, click the three-dot menu, and select Highlight. Use the timeline editor to set start and end points. Name it descriptively — "Insane Clutch Round 34" beats "Highlight 1." Publish and it appears on your channel permanently.

Export VODs for YouTube

In Video Producer, click Download on any VOD to save the MP4 locally. Edit in DaVinci Resolve or CapCut, add a face cam crop for vertical clips, and upload to YouTube Shorts or TikTok. One three-hour stream can yield five to ten short clips if you plan highlight moments during the broadcast.

Enable Auto-Highlight with Markers

During live streams, type /mark in chat (or set a hotkey via Stream Deck) to flag moments. After the stream, markers appear in the Video Producer timeline, making highlight creation faster. Train yourself to mark big plays, funny moments, and subscriber milestones as they happen.

VOD Privacy Settings

You can set individual VODs to private or sub-only if they contain content you do not want public. Sub-only VODs add value to your subscription tier and give paying supporters exclusive access to full sessions.

Weekly VOD Workflow

1. Stream with VOD storage enabled
2. Within 24 hours, create 1–2 highlights from peak moments
3. Download the VOD before it expires if you want to edit long-form
4. Delete VODs with dead air or technical failures to keep your Videos tab clean

Your past broadcasts are a content library. Enable VODs on day one and build the highlight habit early.