How long are Twitch VODs available before they expire?

Twitch affiliates get 14 days of VOD storage. Twitch partners get 60 days. After that, past broadcasts are permanently deleted. Highlights created from VODs do not expire, and uploads to the video manager also persist. If you want to keep a VOD long-term, download it before it expires.

Can I download a Twitch stream while it's still live?

No. While a stream is live, the HLS playlist is continuously growing with no defined endpoint. The extension needs a finalized segment list to assemble a complete file. Wait for the streamer to end the broadcast — the VOD typically appears within 15-30 minutes.

Can I download Twitch highlights and clips this way?

Twitch highlights are served the same way as full VODs (via HLS) and can be downloaded with the same process. For Twitch clips specifically, see our dedicated Twitch clips download guide which covers the slightly different format clips use.

What if the streamer deletes the VOD before I can download it?

Once a VOD is deleted from Twitch — whether manually by the streamer or automatically after the retention period — the video is removed from Twitch's servers and cannot be recovered. The extension needs the live VOD page to detect the stream. Download VODs promptly if you want to keep them.

Do I need a Twitch account to download VODs?

For public VODs, no account is needed — you just need to navigate to the VOD page in Chrome and play the video. However, subscriber-only VODs require you to be logged into Twitch with an active subscription to that channel before the video will play and be detectable.

Why is only 'Source' quality available on some VODs?

Twitch transcoding (multiple quality options) is not guaranteed for every stream. Smaller streamers may only get transcoding options intermittently. When only 'Source' is available, the VOD is stored at the streamer's original broadcast quality — typically 720p or 1080p depending on their streaming settings.

Free Guide

Download Twitch VODs & Past Broadcasts as MP4

Twitch past broadcasts expire after 14-60 days. Video Downloader Pro detects the HLS archive on any VOD page and saves the full recording as a standard MP4 file before it disappears.

Last updated: March 7, 2026

Twitch stores past broadcasts (VODs) as HLS archives for a limited time — 14 days for affiliates and 60 days for partners. After that, they're deleted permanently unless the streamer creates highlights or exports to YouTube. Video Downloader Pro lets you download any Twitch VOD directly from the VOD page in Chrome, without pasting URLs into third-party sites or installing desktop software. Just navigate to the past broadcast, play it, and the extension detects the stream for download.

How to Download

Find the Twitch VOD you want to download

Go to the streamer's Twitch channel and click on 'Videos' in their profile navigation. Select 'Past Broadcasts' from the filter to see saved VODs. Click on the specific broadcast you want to download. You can also access VODs directly via URL if you have the link (e.g., twitch.tv/videos/123456789).

Tip:Twitch past broadcasts are only available for 14 days (affiliates) or 60 days (partners). If a VOD is close to expiring, download it sooner rather than later. Highlights and uploads don't expire.

Play the VOD and open Video Downloader Pro

Start playing the VOD from the beginning so the Twitch player begins loading the HLS archive. Then click the Video Downloader Pro icon in your Chrome toolbar. The extension will detect the M3U8 manifest for the VOD, which references all the stored segments of the full broadcast.

Tip:For very long VODs (3+ hours), open the extension popup quickly after the player starts — the manifest is usually loaded in the first few seconds of playback.

Select your quality tier

Twitch VODs are available in multiple quality options that match the streamer's broadcast settings. Common tiers include 160p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 720p60, and 1080p60. Choose a lower quality for faster downloads and smaller files, or the highest available for the best viewing experience. The quality options shown depend on what the streamer broadcast at.

Tip:Twitch transcoding (quality options) is not always available on every VOD. If you only see 'Source' quality, that's the only option — it's the original broadcast resolution.

Download the full VOD as MP4

Click download on your preferred quality. The extension will download all HLS segments in order and assemble them into a single MP4 file. This process is fully automatic. The final MP4 is saved to your default downloads folder and plays in any standard video player.

Tip:Long VODs produce large files. A 6-hour broadcast at 1080p60 can be 15-30 GB. Make sure you have sufficient disk space before starting the download.

Supported Formats

MP4 (assembled from Twitch HLS archive, any available quality tier)

Limitations

Live-in-progress Twitch streams cannot be downloaded — you must wait until the broadcast ends and the VOD is published (usually within 15-30 minutes of going offline).
Not all streamers enable VOD saving. If a streamer has VODs disabled in their settings, past broadcasts won't be saved and there's nothing to download.
Twitch subscriber-only VODs require an active subscription to access. You must be logged into Twitch with an eligible account to view and download these.
Very long broadcasts (8+ hours) produce very large files. Ensure you have adequate disk space and a stable connection for the download.

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Download Twitch VODs Before They Expire

Install Video Downloader Pro free. Navigate to any Twitch past broadcast and save the full recording as MP4 — no third-party sites needed.

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