What a Streamelements command does and why you'd use one

A Streamelements command is a text trigger that runs an action when you or your chat types it into your stream. Type !socials and Streamelements displays your Discord link. Type !schedule and it posts when you stream next. You build these commands inside Streamelements, connect it to your Twitch channel, and they work in your chat without any coding.

Commands save you from typing the same thing over and over. They also let viewers find information without asking you directly — they can pull up your Discord, your donation link, or your current game settings by typing a command themselves. Streamelements handles the setup through a dashboard where you name the command, decide what it does, and choose who can use it.

The process takes about five minutes once you have a Streamelements account connected to Twitch. You do not need to install anything on your computer or change your streaming software settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Streamelements commands are text triggers you set up in the Streamelements dashboard and set up by typing them in your Twitch chat.
  • You must connect your Streamelements account to your Twitch channel first, which requires logging in with your Twitch credentials.
  • Each command needs a trigger name (like !socials), a response (what the command outputs), and permission settings (who can use it).
  • Commands can display text, links, or images, and you can set them to respond in chat or send a private message to the person who typed the command.

Connect Streamelements to your Twitch channel

Go to streamelements.com and log in or create an account. If you do not have one, click Sign Up and choose to register with your Twitch account — this is faster than creating a separate email and password. Streamelements will ask permission to access your Twitch channel; click Authorize.

Once logged in, you will land on your Streamelements dashboard. Look for the left sidebar menu and click Settings, then Integrations. Find Twitch in the list and click Connect. Streamelements will ask again for permission to post in your chat and read your channel information. Click Authorize a second time. You will see a green checkmark next to Twitch when the connection is live.

This connection only happens once. After this, any command you create will automatically work in your Twitch chat without further setup.

Create a new command in the Streamelements dashboard

From the left sidebar, click Chatbot, then Custom Commands. Click the blue Create Command button. A form will open with fields for the command name, response, and settings.

In the Command field, type the trigger word without the exclamation mark — for example, type socials (not !socials). Streamelements adds the exclamation mark automatically. Keep trigger names short and straightforward to spell so viewers can remember them.

In the Response field, type what you want the command to output. This can be plain text ("I stream Monday through Friday at 8 PM EST"), a link ("Check out my Discord: discord.gg/yourcode"), or a combination. You can also paste an image URL and Streamelements will display the image when someone uses the command.

Set permissions and response type

Below the Response field, you will see User Level. This controls who can trigger the command. The default is Everyone, which means any viewer in chat can type it. If you want only you, your moderators, or your subscribers to use a command, click the dropdown and choose a different level. Most public commands like !socials or !schedule stay set to Everyone.

Look for Response Type. The default is Chat, which posts the response in your channel chat where everyone sees it. If you want the response to go only to the person who typed the command, change this to Whisper. Whisper is useful for commands that give personal information or links you do not want spammed in chat.

Some commands have a Cooldown setting, which prevents the same command from running more than once every X seconds. This stops spam if someone types !socials ten times in a row. A cooldown of 5 to 10 seconds is common for public commands.

Save and test your command

Click the blue Save button at the bottom of the form. Streamelements will confirm the command was created and return you to the Custom Commands list. Your new command now appears in the list with a green toggle switch next to it, showing it is active.

Open your Twitch chat (either in the browser or in your streaming software) and type the command with the exclamation mark — for example, !socials. The response should appear in chat within a second or two. If it does not, check that the Twitch integration is still connected by going back to Settings > Integrations and confirming the green checkmark is still there.

If the command does not work, the most common reasons are a typo in the trigger name, the command being disabled (toggle switch is off), or the Twitch connection having dropped. Reconnecting the Twitch integration usually fixes the last issue.

Edit or delete commands later

Your commands stay in the Custom Commands list. To change what a command does, click on it in the list and edit the Response field or any other setting. Click Save and the change takes effect when ready in your chat.

To turn a command off without deleting it, click the toggle switch next to its name. The command will not work in chat, but you can turn it back on anytime. To remove a command completely, click the three-dot menu next to it and select Delete.

Common command examples

Here are commands many streamers create first:

  • !socials — Response: "Follow me on Twitter @yourname | Discord: discord.gg/yourcode | YouTube: youtube.com/@yourname"
  • !schedule — Response: "I stream Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8 PM EST. Next stream: [date]"
  • !game — Response: "Currently playing [game name]. Difficulty: [setting]"
  • !donate — Response: "Support the stream: streamlabs.com/yourname or ko-fi.com/yourname"
  • !commands — Response: "Available commands: !socials !schedule !game !donate !rules"

You can create as many commands as you need. Most streamers have between 5 and 15 active commands at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a command without the exclamation mark?

No. Twitch chat commands always require the exclamation mark at the start. Streamelements adds it automatically, so you only type the word itself when creating the command. Viewers must type !command to trigger it.

What happens if two commands have the same trigger name?

Streamelements will not let you save a command with a name that already exists. If you try, you will see an error message. You must use a different trigger name or delete the old command first.

Can I make a command that only works for me?

Yes. When you create the command, set User Level to Streamer. Only you will be able to type it and trigger the response. This is useful for testing commands before making them public.

Do I need to be live to use commands?

No. Commands work whether you are streaming or not, as long as your Twitch channel is connected to Streamelements. However, most people only use them during streams when chat is active.

Can a command display different responses at different times?

The basic Custom Commands feature shows the same response every time. If you want a command that changes based on the time of day or other conditions, you would need to use Streamelements' more advanced Tip Alert or Overlay features, which are beyond basic command setup.