Twitch setup guide

Enabling VOD storage on Twitch

The most common reason VOD Manager has nothing to archive is that Twitch never created a VOD in the first place. That happens when "Store past broadcasts" is off in your Twitch settings — and off is the default for new accounts.

Default state

Off for new accounts

Twitch doesn't save past broadcasts by default. The toggle has to be turned on once per account.

Future-only

No retroactive save

Turning the setting on now only helps future streams. Past streams that weren't saved are gone.

Mobile streamers

Use desktop once

The toggle lives in the desktop dashboard. Sign in once on a desktop browser to flip it.

Context

Why this setting matters

VOD Manager can save your streams only after Twitch has made a past broadcast. If Twitch doesn't keep the recording when you stop streaming, there's no file for VOD Manager, your editor, or your future self to grab later.

"Store past broadcasts" controls whether Twitch creates the full stream recording after you go offline.
This is separate from clips and highlights. Twitch still lets you make those, but they aren't the same as a full VOD archive.
Turning the setting on now only helps future streams. It can't create a VOD for a stream that already ended.

Walkthrough

Three steps to flip the toggle

Step 1

Open Creator Dashboard

Twitch moves labels around over time, so look for the panel that controls past-broadcast saving. At publication time, the path is in the desktop Creator Dashboard under stream settings.

From any Twitch page, click your avatar in the top-right corner.
Open Creator Dashboard .

Step 2

Find VOD Settings

In the left sidebar of the Creator Dashboard, open Settings, then Stream.
Scroll to VOD Settings and turn Store past broadcasts on.
If you want new VODs to be public by default, turn on Always Publish VODs too. Subscriber-only VODs require Partner or Affiliate status and use a different setting.

Step 3

Confirm with the next VOD

After your next stream ends, wait about 5 to 15 minutes. Then open Creator Dashboard, go to Content, and check Video Producer (Twitch sometimes labels this Video Manager — same job).

If your past broadcast appears, Twitch is saving VODs for your channel. VOD Manager will detect the new recording and archive it the next time your account is online. If nothing appears, recheck Store past broadcasts before your next stream starts.

Retention

The clock starts the moment a VOD is saved

Twitch keeps Affiliate VODs for 14 days. Partners, Turbo users, and Prime users get up to 60 days. Non-monetized streamers' VODs aren't saved automatically — with "Store Past Broadcasts" enabled, that window is around 7 days. Clips and highlights have separate timing.

Read the VOD retention guide

Troubleshooting

Common problems

Toggle on, but Video Producer is empty

The stream may have been very short, in offline-mode, or the toggle was turned on after the stream started. Only future streams will save.

VODs disappear before VOD Manager finds them

Points to the retention window, not the toggle. Check how long Twitch keeps VODs for your account type.

Always Publish VODs is off, can't find the public VOD

Open the saved broadcast in Video Producer and change its visibility there.

Mobile streamers

The toggle is desktop-only, but it's a one-time flip

"Store past broadcasts" lives in the desktop Twitch dashboard. If you only stream from a phone, sign in to Twitch from a desktop browser once, turn the setting on, and then go back to your normal mobile stream setup.

Keep reading

Related guides

Retention

How long Twitch keeps VODs

Know the deadline before a saved broadcast disappears.

More details

Why archive

Why archive Twitch VODs?

Decide what's worth saving before Twitch removes it.