Twitch security and privacy settings

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Learn how to protect your Twitch account, block spammers and haters, and make chat easy and secure.

At the end of January, when users’ monthly hours watched surpassed 1 billion for the first time, Twitch developers must have been jumping for joy. The world’s leading video streaming service continues to grow, and if you’re a gamer and like to watch others play, most likely you’re already signed up.

Alas, like any popular service, Twitch is also home to account hijackers, spammers, and haters. This article explains how to protect your account, whether you’re a regular follower or a top streamer.

• Twitch security settings
  • How to change your Twitch password
    
  • How to set up two-factor authentication on Twitch
    
  • How to verify that only you are logged in to your account
    
• Twitch privacy settings
  • How to block a user on Twitch
    
  • How to get rid of spam in private messages on Twitch
    
  • How to disable gifting on channels that you don’t follow
    
  • How to hide subscription information on Twitch
    
  • How to get rid of ads on Twitch
    
• For streamers: How to configure channel privacy on Twitch
  • How to block raids from unknown users
    
  • How to get rid of chat abuse
    
  • How to get rid of chat spam
    
  • How to get rid of bots in chat
    
• Protect all of your accounts
  

Twitch account security

Even if you don’t stream yourself or have many followers, your account is still a target for attackers. The reason to steal it could be to make purchases using the card linked to it, or to use your account in a hate raid. The following security settings will help protect your account against hacking.

How to change your Twitch password

The first thing that needs attention is your password. It should be strong — that is, long and not guessable. If the password is your name or year of birth, for example, change it immediately. To do so:

* Click your photo in the upper right corner of the screen.
* In the drop-down menu, select Settings and go to the Security and Privacy tab.
* Under Security, click Change password.

How to set up two-factor authentication on Twitch

Another useful setting you should not neglect is two-factor authentication (2FA). Using it creates an additional barrier for hackers: To break into your account, they will need not only the password, but a one-time code.

By default, Twitch, like Steam, sends these codes by e-mail, but only when you try to log in on a different device. For added security, you can configure 2FA for every login attempt on any device, and receive codes by text or in the Authy app. The latter method is, of course, more reliable; texts can be intercepted and mailboxes hacked. If someone gets into your mail, they can also gain access to accounts for a whole host of other services.

To set up 2FA, you need that same Security and Privacy tab.

* Under Security, click Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.
* Enter your password, followed by your phone number and the code received by text or in the Authy app (if you have it installed).

All done! Now no one can log in to your account without knowing the one-time code.

How to verify that only you are logged in to your account

Did you watch or stream something on someone else’s computer and then forget to log out? Or just worried that you might have been hacked? If for some reason you suspect that you are not the only one logging in to your account, you can check the list of devices on which you are logged in.

* In settings, go to the Connections tab.
* Scroll down to Other Connections.
* If the list contains unfamiliar devices, click Disconnect next to each of them.
* After that, be sure to change your password in case your account has been hacked.
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