Looking for Twitch chat commands? This guide explains the most useful built-in Twitch commands for viewers, streamers, and moderators—from whispers and chat colors to timeouts, bans, chat modes, raids, and stream markers. Type a slash command in Twitch chat and press Enter; your role and channel permissions determine which actions are available.
How Twitch chat commands work
Twitch’s native chat commands begin with a forward slash (/). They are different from bot commands, which often begin with an exclamation mark (!). A command such as /timeout is a Twitch moderation feature; !socials or !commands is usually created in a bot such as Nightbot, StreamElements, or another channel bot. Bot commands vary by channel.
Useful Twitch commands for viewers
/mods— Show the channel’s moderators, so you know who can help with chat issues./vips— Show the channel’s VIPs./color blue— Change your chat name color to a supported color. Some account types may have additional color options./me message— Send a message in Twitch’s action-style chat format. Example:/me is cheering for the team!/w username message— Send a private whisper to a user. Example:/w Alex hello!/block username— Block a user to hide their messages and reduce unwanted contact./unblock username— Remove a user from your block list.
Twitch moderator commands for timeouts and bans
Broadcasters and moderators can use these commands to manage disruptive behavior. Use moderation actions consistently and follow the channel’s rules.
/timeout username— Temporarily prevent a user from chatting. Twitch applies the default timeout when no duration is specified./timeout username 600— Timeout a user for 600 seconds (10 minutes). You can add a short reason after the duration, for example:/timeout username 600 repeated spoilers./ban username— Permanently ban a user from the channel’s chat./unban username— Remove a channel ban. It can also end an active timeout early./clear— Clear the visible chat history for the channel. This does not replace a ban or timeout.
Twitch chat mode commands
Chat modes help moderators slow a fast-moving chat or limit participation during spam. These settings affect who can chat, so announce the change when appropriate and turn the mode off when it is no longer needed.
/slow 10— Enable slow mode so a chatter must wait 10 seconds between messages. Use/slowoffto turn it off./followers— Limit chat to followers. Add a duration to require a minimum follow time, such as/followers 10mfor 10 minutes or/followers 1hfor one hour. Use/followersoffto turn it off./subscribers— Limit chat to subscribers and moderators. Use/subscribersoffto turn it off. If the channel is not eligible for subscriptions, access is more restricted./emoteonly— Allow emote-only messages. Use/emoteonlyoffto return to regular chat./uniquechat— Prevent users from posting the same message repeatedly. Use/uniquechatoffto turn it off.
Raids and stream markers
/raid channelname— Start a raid to another live channel when you are ready to send your audience there. Tell viewers where you are going first. Use/unraidto cancel a raid before it completes./marker— Add a marker at the current point in your stream so you can find a moment later while reviewing or making a highlight./marker clutch win— Add a stream marker with a note describing the moment.
Quick Twitch command examples
Here are a few commands you can copy into chat when you have the right permissions:
- Slow chat down:
/slow 5 - Require 30 minutes of following:
/followers 30m - Give a 60-second timeout:
/timeout username 60 - Ban a user:
/ban username - Send a raid:
/raid channelname - Mark a highlight moment:
/marker final boss
Why a Twitch command may not work
- Permission: Moderation and channel-setting commands require broadcaster or moderator permissions.
- Syntax: Put the username directly after the command and include a duration where the command supports one.
- Wrong command type: A command beginning with
!is usually a bot command. Ask a moderator which bot the channel uses. - Channel settings: Eligibility, subscriptions, and channel configuration can affect whether a mode is available.
- Updates: Twitch can change command behavior. Check Twitch’s official chat commands guide for the latest syntax. For markers, see Twitch’s stream markers guide.
Make Twitch chat easier to manage
Save the commands you use most, give moderators a clear set of chat rules, and use slow, follower-only, or emote-only mode only when it helps the community. For channel-specific commands such as !socials, check the streamer’s bot panel or ask a moderator.