Twitch Inspector
Having stream lag, buffering, or disconnects? Twitch Inspector is your go-to diagnostic tool.
📌 What is Twitch Inspector?
Twitch Inspector is a free tool created by Twitch that allows streamers to:
- Analyze their past broadcasts
- Monitor real-time connection quality
- Diagnose stream issues like frame drops or disconnections
- Test their connection before going live
📍 Link: https://inspector.twitch.tv/
🧪 Why Should You Use Twitch Inspector?
| Use Case | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Stream disconnects | Pinpoint the exact time and reason for dropouts |
| Dropped frames | Identify network stability and bitrate issues |
| Audio/video sync issues | Review stream data to fine-tune your setup |
| Internet test before going live | Catch problems before they ruin a show |
🔍 Key Features of Twitch Inspector
✅ 1. Past Stream Analysis
- View every broadcast session
- See bitrate graphs, frame rate stability, and disconnect history
- Click on any stream session for a minute-by-minute breakdown
✅ 2. Real-Time Monitoring
If you're live now, Twitch Inspector will show:
- Current bitrate
- Frame rate (FPS)
- Resolution
- Connection drops or errors
✅ 3. Test Stream Mode
- Use this to simulate going live without notifying your followers
- Add ?bandwidthtest=true to your stream key
- Example: live_12345678_abcd?bandwidthtest=true
- Great for testing new scenes, overlays, bitrates, or internet stability
🎓 How to Use Twitch Inspector (Step-by-Step)
- Go to https://inspector.twitch.tv/
- Log in with your Twitch account
- Choose a broadcast from the list, or click "Live" to monitor your current stream
- Use the bitrate graph to spot:
- • Red drops (disconnections)
- • Yellow areas (bitrate instability)
- • Purple/Blue (good, stable stream)
- Click any session for detailed info
🎯 How to Read the Data
| Indicator | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 📉 Bitrate Drops | Connection problems or bitrate misconfiguration |
| 🟥 Red Segments | Connection lost or full stream crash |
| 🟨 Yellow Areas | Fluctuating connection; may cause stuttering |
| ✅ Flat Graph | Stable stream, everything working as expected |
🧠 Common Issues Twitch Inspector Can Help Identify
| Problem | Potential Fix |
|---|---|
| Bitrate spikes or drops | Lower bitrate or enable CBR (Constant Bitrate) in OBS |
| Frequent disconnects | Check for router/ISP instability or change ingest server |
| Frame drops (OBS) | Use hardware encoding (NVENC) or lower CPU usage preset |
| Poor stream quality | Balance resolution (720p/900p) with bitrate (~3000–6000 kbps) |
💡 Pro Tips
- Run a Test Stream before every major stream or tournament
- Use Twitch Inspector alongside OBS logs for a full tech diagnosis
- If you're experiencing consistent issues, try switching to a different Twitch ingest server in OBS
- Pair this tool with Twitch Bandwidth Test Tool or TwitchTest (by R1CH) for deeper server testing
📘 Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bitrate | The amount of data sent per second (e.g., 4500 kbps) |
| Ingest Server | Twitch's server location that receives your video stream |
| CBR | Constant Bitrate (a setting in OBS that stabilizes quality) |
| FPS | Frames per second (e.g., 60 FPS is smoother than 30 FPS) |