Twitch’s VOD (Video on Demand) feature makes it easy for viewers to watch previously streamed content. In the past, there was an option for streamers to permanently save VOD videos, but Twitch now only saves past broadcasts for 7 to 60 days before they are deleted, depending on a creator’s account type.
So it’s a good idea for streamers and viewers to download Twitch VODs for later viewing, archiving or uploading to other platforms. This article will show you optimized methods in 2023 to easily download Twitch VODs and clips to any device - whether desktop on Mac and Windows, or mobile on Android and iOS.
This article will cover:
iFunia YouTube Downloader
Free Download macOS 10.11 or later
Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
It's easy to download Twitch VODs of your own or someone else's on Mac and Windows using iFunia Free YouTube Downloader. Despite its name, the app also supports over 1000 other websites including Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, Dailymotion and more.
This best Twitch VOD downloader enables you to quickly download lengthy past broadcasts, individually or in batches, in various quality levels available including the Source quality (such as 1080p 60fps). It can also download clips, highlights, uploads and other videos on Twitch.
Key features and benefits:
Free Download macOS 10.11 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Step 1. Download and install the app with the Download button above. There are Mac and Windows versions for you to choose from based on your computer system. Launch it.
Step 2. Go to twitch.tv. To add a Twitch VOD to the download list, copy the URL of the Twitch video and paste it into the box. Click the + icon to parse the video link. To download in batch, just add multiple VODs links.
Step 3. From the Format drop-down list, select the format (e.g. MP4) and quality level (e.g. 1080p) you need. You can choose the last option for audio download. Then click the download icon to start the download.
Once it's finished, you can click the checkmark icon to find the downloaded Twitch VODs.
Pro Tip: To download multiple Twitch VODs at one time on Mac, you can also go to File > Input URLs in the menu bar on the top of the screen on your computer. There, you can paste a list of Twitch VOD URLs, one URL on each line.
It's common for people to download online videos using browser extensions and add-ons, but most of them don't support Twitch VODs. After testing all the video downloaders we can find, I have found an useful extension for downloading Twitch VODs: Twitch VOD Downloader by Andre Bradshaw, available for both Chrome and Firefox. The downside is that it cannot download short clips and the process speed is a bit slow.
Here is a step-by-step guide to download a Twitch VOD with this browser extension:
Is it possible to access and download expired Twitch VODs? Yes, the Twitch VOD Downloader extension just mentioned above offers a feature to retrieve recently deleted VODs. Here’s how:
Tip: If you feel the speeds are slow, click the “< >” icon next to the download icon to copy the video link. You can then download it by pasting the link into the downloader software in method 1.
Note: Typically, you will only be able to recover recently deleted Twitch VODs within 60 days. As an additional option, check the streamer’s YouTube channel, as many export their Twitch VODs to YouTube for archiving.
You can also download Twitch VODs using online web tools. One advantage of this method is the wide compatibility across platforms. But these sites tend to limit the length of the VOD download, ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours, according to my tests.
Clipr is a browser-based downloader for Twitch clips and VODs. You can choose the video resolution and time period before downloading. But it can only download a VOD video no longer than 3 hours long. Instructions:
UnTwitch is another online Twitch video downloader similiar to Clipr, allowing users to download Twitch VODs and clips to MP4 in different sizes, including audio only. It currently allows downloading up to 1 hour per download, a maximum of 360 segments. So it can be inconvenient to download a Twitch videos that is several hours long. Instructions:
If you want to download Twitch VODs on Android devices, in addition to using web-based tools, you can also consider using dedicated video downloader apps offering browser integration, like All Video Downloader. This free app allows users to browse and download videos from Twitch plus other popular platform.
How to download Twitch VODs on Androids:
Pro Tip: You can change download directory in settings. Tap the three-dot icon at the upper right corner, tap Download Directory and select a folder.
Given App Store restrictions on downloader apps, online downloader sites remain the best option for acquiring Twitch VODs on iPhone/iPad. Also, you can try Documents by Readdle, a powerful file manager, to help you streamline the process and better manage the downloaded files.
Here’s how to download Twitch VODs to iPhone:
Twitch makes it convenient for streamers to download their own VODs from their accounts. If you are new to Twitch, please note that by default Twitch will not automatically save your past broadcasts. You need to enable the storage function first. Here's a how-to guide to download VODs of your own from Twitch.
Step 1. Navigate to twitch.tv, click your profile picture at the top right corner to open the drop-down menu, select “Settings” option. In the settings page, click “Channel and Videos”, it will take you to your creator dashboard.
Step 2. Click Stream under the Settings tab. Under the VOD Settings section, toddle the slider to enable archiving, all broadcasts will be saved for 7 days (up to 60 days for Twitch Partners, Prime and Turbo users).
Step 3. Switch to Video Producer under the Content tab. Here you can manage all your VODs and clips. Click the three-dot icon at the right side of a video, then select Download option to begin downloading the VOD to your computer.
Tips: In addition to downloading Twitch VODs, another great way for streamers to archive past broadcasts is to export your videos/clips to YouTube by connecting your Twitch account to a YouTube account. You can also create highlights from VODs. Twitch will save highlights indefinitely.
In conclusion, utilizing the various tools outlined provides you flexible options for downloading Twitch VODs and clips. Streamers can effortlessly save their own Twitch VODs to computer via Twitch’s creator dashboard. For both streamers and viewers, there are also third-party Twitch Downloaders to easily save Twitch VODs, clips and other videos from any channel. If you download VODs on a regular basis, desktop software like iFunia Free YouTube Downloader may be the best choice with robust capability to download long videos, also a reliable alternative when other techniques are inaccessible.
1. Why do some downloaded Twitch VODs have no sound?
Twitch automatically mutes part of the VOD that contains copyrighted music. Whether you download the muted video from the Twitch official site or use a third-party downloader, the muted segments will persist.
2. Can I download live streams on Twitch as they broadcast?
No, you can’t download the live stream until it’s finished. Some video recording software such as OBS can help you record the stream while live and save it, but the quality can be inconsistent. So it’s generally better to download an archived VOD when it’s fully cashed by Twitch.
3. How to download a Twitch VOD with chat?
Currently, there's no direct way to download Twitch VODs with chat. If needed, you can try to record streams and chats. Also, you can still retrieve and download the chat log of any Twitch VOD using Twitch Chat Downloader, a web-based site that lets you download Twitch chat as a CSV file.
Cheryl has been writing tutorials, reviews, and how-to articles on consumer apps since 2016. She specializes in multimedia products and is always testing on Mac, PC, and various devices.
