This wikiHow teaches you how to change your Twitch account latency settings to reduce delay in live broadcasts. These settings can be changed using any computer browser or by accessing the Twitch website with a mobile browser and requesting the desktop version.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Enable Low Latency on Twitch
Step 1. Log into Twitch using your preferred browser
Type https://www.twitch.tv in the address bar and press Enter on your keyboard.
If the login does not happen automatically, click on the button Log in in the top right corner of the page, then log in to open your account.
Step 2. Click on your profile picture at the top right
The thumbnail of your profile picture is located in the upper right corner of the page. A drop-down menu will open.
Step 3. Click on
Settings from the drop-down menu.
This will open the page dedicated to settings.
Step 4. Click on the Channels and Videos tab
You can find it at the top of the screen, under the heading "Settings". This will show the channel settings on a new page.
Step 5. Select Low Latency next to the "Latency Mode" option
You can find it at the bottom of the "Streaming code and preferences" section of the channel settings.
- This option reduces the streaming delay on average by 33 automatically.
- The changes will take effect when you start a new live broadcast.
- The changes will be saved automatically.
Method 2 of 2: Troubleshoot the Streaming System
Step 1. Check the upload speed of your connection
You need a relatively fast upload speed to stream live in high quality with low latency.
- You can use https://www.speedtest.net to check your average upload speed.
- To be sure of your upload speed, you can also visit https://testmy.net/upload and select 6 MB in the section Manual Test Size. This will load random data that will amount to the size of the selected file. The test will indicate the numbers of constant upstream, on which live broadcasts usually depend.
- Generally, for a decent streaming from 720p at 30 fps, the recommended minimum is 1500 Kbps (1.5 Mbps). To stream better in this video quality, you will need a speed of 2 Mbps or higher.
Step 2. Change the encoding and quality options within the software you use for live broadcasts
Depending on your internet connection and the hardware you have, you may simply need to lower the encoding and video quality settings to get less delay.
Be sure to check out Twitch's guidelines at https://stream.twitch.tv/encoding in order to choose the most suitable encoding and quality options for your live broadcasts
Step 3. Check if a fixed delay has been set within your streaming software
Most streaming software, such as OBS Studio, allow you to set a fixed delay for your live broadcasts.
- Be sure to check your streaming schedule settings and disable any fixed delay option that has been configured for your broadcasts.
- For example, if you use OBS Studio, you can inquire about its specific instructions in order to set it up for Twitch.
Step 4. Try a different streaming software
You can take a look at popular streaming programs, such as OBS Studio, XSplit, and Bandicam, in order to determine which one works best for your system. You could try:
- OBS Studio on the site
- XSplit on the website
- Bandicam on the site
Step 5. Disconnect some additional hardware components, such as webcams and microphones
If you have installed multiple hardware components and configured related software, this could adversely affect the upload, increasing the latency of the stream.
Step 6. Consider whether it is convenient for you to change internet service providers
If the loading speed is too slow to do live broadcasts, you may want to consider the various options available in your area or a different plan offered by your current provider.
