How to Improve Stream Quality on Twitch

What to Do as a Viewer

If you're experiencing reduced stream quality on Twitch, try one of the methods below. They will help you get back to watching streams in 1080p.

Plugin

Install the TTV LOL PRO extension. The plugin was created to block ads on Twitch. But it also helps raise stream resolution in Chrome and Yandex browsers. To install the extension, you need to:

• Open the Chrome Web Store and click “Install.”

• Launch the extension and slide the toggle to “Official.”

After that, you’ll be able to watch streams in 1080p. However, Twitch ads will appear again.

Proxies

To increase stream resolution, change your IP address to one from a European country or the USA. You can do this with a proxy server. Then Twitch will see you as a user from a different region, and restrictions won’t apply to you.

Important!

We recommend not using proxies that charge based on traffic usage. If you pay per GB, watching 1080p videos will be quite expensive. Choose providers who charge by time or use your own proxies deployed on VPS or VDS.

To restore stream quality using proxies, follow these steps:

1. Purchase a proxy, e.g., from our partners.

2. Copy its IP address and port.

3. Open proxy settings on your device.

4. Allow proxy use.

5. Paste in the IP address and port, then save changes.

6. Open your browser, enter username and password (if required).

Go to Twitch and refresh the stream page. You’ll see that 1080p is available again.

Anti-Detect Browser

If the above methods didn’t help, Twitch may be blocking your device not just by IP, but also by digital fingerprint, a unique set of device parameters. To bypass such restrictions, you can use an anti-detect browser. It spoofs the digital fingerprint at the browser kernel level. When a user accesses a site with an anti-detect browser, the site sees them as a new user and doesn’t restrict access. But anti-detect software doesn’t change the IP address, so it must be used together with a proxy.

If you only change your IP address, Twitch may detect mismatches between it and your geolocation, time zone, or installed languages. So proxies and VPNs don't always help bypass restrictions. To avoid raising suspicion on the platform, you need to align these parameters with your IP address. An anti-detect browser does this at the kernel level, and even advanced anti-fraud systems won’t notice the changes.

Let’s look at how to restore Twitch stream quality using an anti-detect browser, with Octo Browser as an example:

1. Create an account on the Octo Browser website.

2. Download the browser and log in.

3. Click Quick Profile. The browser will create a new virtual profile with a unique digital fingerprint. All parameters will be randomly selected. The profile OS will depend on the platform chosen to the right of the button and the OS version of your device.

4. Click Direct — Set a New Proxy.

5. Select the proxy type, paste the IP address, port, login, password. Click Confirm.

Important!

Choose proxies that charge by time, not traffic usage, or use your own proxies deployed on VPS or VDS.

6. Click Start to launch the profile.

7. In the new window, go to Twitch and set stream quality to 1080p.

What to Do as a Streamer

Restrictions affect not only viewers but also streamers: stream quality is reduced by one level. If a streamer normally broadcasts in 1440p (2K), users in Russia will see the stream in 1080p; if the stream is in 1080p, they’ll see it in 720p.

To make your Twitch streams broadcast in 1080p for users in Russia, you need to stream in 2K (1440p). Here's how to set it up:

1. Before streaming, open OBS Studio settings.

2. Go to the “Video” section and set the resolution to 2560x1440 and frame rate to 60.

3. Open the “Stream” tab and check all three boxes related to multitrack videos. 

After that, your Twitch stream will be available in 2K; and viewers in Russia will see it in 1080p. If you don’t have access to 2K streams, contact Twitch support.