How Does Search Work?

This page describes how to use search and answers some frequently asked questions.

What is Search?

Search is one of the primary content discovery features on the Twitch website, iOS and Android apps, mobile web and TV Apps.

The search field is accessible from the magnifying glass in the Twitch mobile app or in the top navigation bar on twitch.tv.

 

Suggestions

Type any word or phrase to see search suggestions. Search suggestions provide shortcuts to popular channel names or categories.

Results and Ranking

Search works best when searching for the exact channel name, category, tag, or VOD title.

  1. Enter any word or phrase
  2. Press Enter to see search results

Select Show More to expand the options on mobile and desktop.

 

Which Channels Appear in Suggestions?

When typing into the search box, we will surface relevant suggestions to aid your search. If your channel does not appear in search suggestions, it could be that your channel is not searched frequently enough yet to show in suggestions. This is not necessarily a bug.

Don't see your channel in search suggestions? Click enter and check search results!

 

Which Channels Appear in Search Results

A channel may not show up in search results for any of these 3 reasons:

  • The channel is banned
  • The channel is geoblocking in your region
  • The channel has not streamed once in the last 365 days
Learn more about geoblocking in our knowledge guide: help.twitch.tv/s/article/geoblocking
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Search logic may change over time without notice. These answers do not represent solely how search logic works, but are meant to generally help you understand common search questions.

How do search suggestions work?
When you type words or phrases in the search input box, we check if those search words or phrases match with a channel name (or its display name), a category name, or other user-entered search queries so that it can prefix suggestions.

Channels, categories and frequently searched queries are ranked using a number of factors. The top results will be shown in search suggestions.

Some example factors are:

  1. How frequently a particular query (including channel or category names) were searched
  2. How frequently the displayed suggestion was clicked

Channels eligible for suggestions need to have streamed once in the last 365 days, and not currently suspended.

What is the difference between ranking in search suggestions and search results?
Search results are not the same as search suggestions. Suggestions exist to guide a user to select a search term. Suggestions shown are usually prefixed to what the user has typed. Meanwhile, search results take into account a variety of different factors in ranking the results.
What aspects of my channel are used in search results and ranking?
Various factors are used to rank items on the search result page. Some examples include:
  • Channel name or login
  • Category of the stream
  • Tags
  • Stream title
  • Social media username
A live channel I am searching for appears offline in search results. Why?
There can be a delay in updating search with information such as whether a channel is live or offline, which game the channel is streaming, the title of the stream, its tags or other such information.
My channel used to be ranked first in results for a particular query. Why has this changed?
It is expected behavior if your channel ranking changes at different times.

A number of factors can impact where a particular channel ranks in search results. These factors include but are not limited to:

  • how frequently the channel was clicked from search suggestions
  • how frequently the channel was clicked from search results
  • whether or not the channel is live or offline
  • many other factors
I just started my first live stream. How long will it take for me to appear in search results?
Not very long at all. Usually within 10 minutes, but it can take up to 60 minutes.
Once unsuspended, how long does it take for a channel to show up in search results, or search suggestions?
It may take up to 60 minutes for unsuspended channels to show up on search results, and up to 48 hours to show in search suggestions.
Can I search for scheduled streams?
Not directly. If a channel has a scheduled stream and is the top result, the next scheduled stream will appear.
Can I search for any custom tag?
Yes! Search results can show you live streams using any custom tag, as long as it is an exact match. Learn more in our knowledge guide on how to search with tags: link.twitch.tv/SearchWithTags
Can I search for social media handles?
Yes! If a streamer has added their social media handles to their channel profile, they will appear in search whether online or offline. Add up to 5 social links in your channel profile settings: link.twitch.tv/3BemxRh