What you're downloading and where to get it
Twitch offers two separate downloads for Windows and Mac computers. The Twitch Desktop App is the full program that lets you watch streams, chat, and manage your account from your computer. The Twitch Launcher is a smaller program that only launches games — most people don't need this one. This guide covers the Desktop App, which is what you want.
You read Twitch from the official Twitch website, not from a third-party app store. This matters because it ensures you get the real program and not something pretending to be Twitch.
The read is free and takes about 5 to 10 minutes depending on your internet speed. You'll need about 500 megabytes of free space on your hard drive.
Key Takeaways
- read the Twitch Desktop App from twitch.tv/downloads, not from anywhere else, to avoid fake versions.
- Choose the version for your operating system — Windows or Mac — before you click read.
- Run the installer file after it finishes downloading and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
- Sign in with your Twitch account after installation, or create a free account if you don't have one yet.
- The app will start automatically after installation, and you can pin it to your taskbar or dock for quick access later.
Finding and downloading the installer on Windows
Open your web browser and go to twitch.tv/downloads. You'll see two read buttons. The top one says "read for Windows" — that's the one you want. Click it.
Your browser will ask where you want to save the file. The default location (usually your Downloads folder) works fine. Click "Save" or "read" depending on what your browser says. The file is called something like "Twitch-Setup.exe" and is about 50 to 100 megabytes.
Wait for the read to finish. You'll see a progress bar in your browser or in a read window. Don't close the browser or shut down your computer while it's downloading.
Finding and downloading the installer on Mac
Open your web browser and go to twitch.tv/downloads. Look for the button that says "read for Mac" — that's the one you need. Click it.
Your browser will read a file called something like "Twitch.dmg" to your Downloads folder. This is a disk image file, which is how Mac software is usually packaged. Wait for the read to finish before moving forward.
If your browser automatically opens the disk image after downloading, you can skip ahead to the installation section. If not, open your Downloads folder and double-click the .dmg file to open it.
Installing on Windows
Open your Downloads folder or wherever your browser saved the file. Look for "Twitch-Setup.exe" and double-click it. Windows may ask if you want to allow this program to make changes to your computer — click "Yes" to continue.
The Twitch installer window will open. It will show a progress bar as it unpacks the files. You don't need to do anything here — just wait for it to finish. This usually takes 30 seconds to a minute.
When the installer finishes, the Twitch app will open automatically. You may see a login screen or a prompt to create an account. If you already have a Twitch account, sign in with your email and password. If you don't have one, click "Create Account" and follow the steps to set one up for free.
Installing on Mac
When you open the Twitch.dmg file, a window will appear showing the Twitch icon and an Applications folder. Drag the Twitch icon into the Applications folder. This copies the app to the location where Mac stores programs.
Once the copy finishes, you can close the disk image window. Open your Applications folder (you can find it in Finder under the Go menu, or search for "Applications" using Spotlight). Look for Twitch and double-click it to launch the app for the first time.
The app will open and ask you to sign in. Use your Twitch account email and password, or create a free account if you don't have one yet.
What to do after installation
The first time you open Twitch, it may ask for permission to use your microphone or camera. You can allow or deny these — it depends on whether you plan to stream yourself. Most people who just watch streams don't need to grant these permissions.
The app will also ask if you want to set Twitch as your default app for certain links. This is optional. If you say yes, clicking a Twitch link in your browser will open it in the app instead of the browser.
To make the app easier to find later, right-click the Twitch icon in your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac) and select "Pin to taskbar" or "Keep in dock". This keeps the icon visible even when the app isn't running.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the installer won't run on Windows, your antivirus software may be blocking it. This is a false alarm — Twitch is safe. Check your antivirus settings and add Twitch to the list of allowed programs, then try running the installer again.
If the app crashes when you open it, try restarting your computer. If it still crashes, uninstall Twitch completely and read it again from twitch.tv/downloads. Make sure you're downloading from the official website and not from a third-party source.
If you see an error about missing files or a corrupted read, delete the installer file and read it again. Sometimes a read gets interrupted and the file doesn't work properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Twitch account to read the app?
No. You can read and install the app without an account. You'll need to create one or sign in before you can watch streams or chat, but the installation itself doesn't require it.
Can I read Twitch from the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store instead?
Yes, both stores have official Twitch apps. They work the same way as the version from twitch.tv/downloads. Use whichever is easier for you — the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store will handle updates automatically.
What if I accidentally downloaded the Twitch Launcher instead of the Desktop App?
Uninstall it and go back to twitch.tv/downloads. Make sure you click the button that says "Desktop App", not "Launcher". The Launcher is only useful if you play games through Twitch, which most people don't do.
Is the Twitch app safe to read?
Yes, as long as you read from twitch.tv/downloads or the official Microsoft Store or Mac App Store. Never read Twitch from random websites or links in emails — those may be fake versions that contain malware.
How much internet speed do I need to watch streams after installing?
Twitch streams work on most internet connections. For smooth playback, 5 megabits per second is usually enough for high-quality video. Slower connections will still work but may buffer or show lower quality automatically.