If you are starting to build an audience on Twitch, you may want to start helping out friends or other streamers that you stream with. You can do this by “hosting’ someone, which means you show the others person’s stream on your channel. This gives that streamer exposure and some of your audience may decide to go to their channel.
Let’s jump in and take a look at how you can host someone on your Twitch channel.
Host vs Raid On Twitch
Before we show you how to host someone on Twitch, let’s explain what it is. You may have heard of a raid before. A raid is when you send all the viewers on your stream to another person’s stream when you end your stream. These people can then chat and follow that other streamer.
However, when you host someone on Twitch, you are just sharing their stream on your channel. Your audience will be able to view their stream but won’t be able to comment in chat or follow them unless they go to their channel. When you are hosting someone on your channel, a button will appear allowing viewers to go to that streamers channel.
A section will also appear underneath the username on your channel stating that you are hosting someone on your channel. Now, let’s take a look at how you can start hosting someone on your Twitch channel.
How To Host Someone On Twitch
Follow the steps below to host someone on your Twitch channel.
- Open Twitch and click on your profile image in the top right-hand corner
- On your channel open the chat on the right-hand side and type /host [channel name]
- You will now be hosting this streamer on your channel. Anyone who visits your channel will now see the person you are hosting until they end their stream.
A button will appear on your channel allowing the viewer to head over to the other streamers’ channel if they want to interact and follow them.
How To Set Up Auto Hosting On Twitch
If there are certain people that you stream with on a regular basis you may want to set up hosting. This means that you can automatically host your friends on your channel when you are offline. They can do the same and you can cross-populate your audiences, helping each other grow.
Follow the steps below to set up Auto-Hosting on your channel:
- Go to Twitch and click on your profile photo in the top right-hand corner. Select “Creator Dashboard”
- In your creator dashboard select Settings –> Channel –> Featured Content
- Scroll down to auto hosting and turn it on. You can then choose your Autohost priority.
- Lastly, you want to choose your Autohost list. Click on Autohost list and start adding your friend’s channel names. These are the people who will automatically be showcased on your channel when you are offline.
Now you know exactly how to host people on your channel and keep your channel active when you are offline.
Is Raiding Better Than Hosting?
Raiding is different from hosting as it sends your audience directly to the other person’s channel and it has to be done as you finish a stream. Neither is better than the other. It really depends on your goal.
If you are trying to help someone grow their channel, raiding is the much better option. When someone gets raided, the viewers end up on their channel where they can follow and engage with the streamer.
Hosting is good if you want to regularly share someone else’s channel on yours while you are offline. It gives people who come to your channel while you are offline, something to watch. This, however, is unlikely to grow someone’s channel.
So, if you want to help someone grow, raiding is the best option but if you want to keep your audience engaged while you are offline, hosting is the better option.
How Long Does A Twitch Host Last?
Your channel will host the other channel until you remove the host from your channel. You can do this by typing /unhost in the chat. If the streamer ends their stream the host will also end.
How Often Can I Host Another Channel
You can host up to 3 channels in any given 30-minute period. To change the stream you are hosting just type /host [channel] (Adding your new channel).
Wrapping Up
Now you know exactly how to host someone on your Twitch channel. The best way to use hosting is between a group of friends who stream together. You can then share each other’s streams while you are offline and benefit from each other’s audience.
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