On February 19, 2025, Twitch announced a significant policy change. Starting April 19, streamers will be limited to 100 hours of combined storage for Highlights and Uploads. This move aims to reduce storage costs and allocate resources more efficiently. This change will not affect Past Broadcasts (VODs) or Clips.
Who’s going to be affected
Twitch estimates that less than 0.5% of active channels will be affected by this new limit, as this content accounts for less than 0.1% of hours watched on the platform. Streamers exceeding the 100-hour cap will receive notifications and are encouraged to download or export their content before the policy takes effect. After April 19, Twitch will automatically delete the least-viewed Highlights and Uploads until the account complies with the new limit.
To assist creators in managing their content, Twitch is introducing a storage tracker and enhanced filtering tools on the Video Producer page. These features will help users monitor their storage usage and prioritize which videos to retain based on factors like view count and creation date.
What creators can do
Creators should download any important Highlights and Uploads before the April 19 deadline to avoid losing valuable content. Since Twitch storage will be limited, streamers may want to export their videos to platforms like YouTube, where they can store and share content more freely. Using Twitch’s new storage tracker will also help creators monitor their content usage and decide which videos to keep or remove.
Concerns from the community
While Twitch asserts that this change will impact a small percentage of users, certain communities, particularly speedrunners, have expressed concerns. The speedrunning community relies heavily on Highlights to archive and showcase record-setting runs. With the new storage cap, there’s apprehension that valuable historical content may be lost, especially from streamers who are no longer active.
Image courtesy: Twitch