Twitch Chat Filter: How to Turn It Off

Updated 15 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

If you want to turn off Twitch’s chat filter, go to your channel’s chat settings and select “Don’t filter” under the moderation options. This disables the automatic filtering of messages that may contain banned terms or phrases, though it does not remove other moderation tools like AutoMod or banned user lists. The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you are a streamer adjusting your own channel or a viewer trying to see more messages in someone else’s chat.

What the Twitch Chat Filter Actually Does

Twitch offers several layers of chat moderation, and the “chat filter” usually refers to the platform’s automatic filtering of messages that contain terms flagged as potentially offensive or harassing. This filter is separate from AutoMod, which is a more advanced AI-based moderation system that streamers can configure to hold messages for review. The basic chat filter is always on by default for all users, and it hides messages that Twitch’s system considers likely to violate its community guidelines.

For viewers, this means you might not see messages that contain certain words, even if the streamer hasn’t set up any custom moderation. For streamers, the filter is one of several tools you can toggle in your channel’s settings. It’s important to understand that turning off the filter does not disable all moderation—it only stops Twitch’s automatic filtering of potentially problematic terms. It also does not affect your banned words list, AutoMod settings, or the ability of moderators to time out or ban users.

How to Turn Off the Filter as a Streamer

If you are a streamer and want to disable the automatic chat filter for your channel, follow these steps:

Open your Twitch dashboard by clicking your profile picture and selecting “Creator Dashboard.”
In the left sidebar, click “Settings” and then “Moderation.”
Scroll down to the “Chat Filters” section. You will see a drop-down menu labeled “Filter.”
Select “Don’t filter” from the drop-down menu.
Click “Update” at the bottom of the page to save your changes.

This setting applies to your entire channel, and it will stop Twitch from automatically hiding messages that contain flagged terms. Keep in mind that the change takes effect immediately, but it may take a few seconds for the system to update across all active chat sessions.

How to Turn Off the Filter as a Viewer

Viewers also have a personal chat filter that can hide messages they might find offensive. This is separate from the streamer’s channel settings. To turn it off for yourself:

Go to any channel’s chat and click the gear icon (settings) in the bottom-right corner of the chat window.
In the settings menu, find the “Chat Filters” section.
Uncheck the box that says “Hide messages containing banned terms.”
Close the settings menu—your changes are saved automatically.

This will show you all messages that the streamer’s own moderation allows, including those that Twitch’s automatic filter would otherwise hide. Note that you cannot see messages that are removed by AutoMod or by the streamer’s banned words list, because those are deleted before they reach your chat client.

Why You Might Want to Turn It Off

There are several reasons why someone might want to disable the chat filter. For streamers, the filter can sometimes be overly aggressive and hide messages that are not actually harmful, especially if your community uses slang or words that are not offensive in context. For example, a gaming community might use the word “noob” frequently, and while it’s not a banned term, other words that are common in gaming culture might get caught by the filter. Turning it off gives you full control over what appears in your chat, and you can rely on your moderators and AutoMod settings instead.

For viewers, turning off the filter can give you a more complete view of the conversation. Some viewers prefer to see everything and make their own judgments about what is offensive. It can also be useful for researchers or journalists who are studying chat behavior and need to see all messages, including those that are borderline.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that turning off the chat filter will also disable Twitch’s other moderation tools. This is not true. The filter is just one layer. AutoMod, banned words, and moderator actions all remain active. Another misconception is that the filter only applies to chat messages, but it also applies to usernames and emotes that contain flagged terms. If you turn off the filter, you might see usernames that were previously hidden.

A frequent problem streamers encounter is that they turn off the filter but still see messages being held or removed. This usually happens because AutoMod is still enabled, or because the streamer has a banned words list that includes the term. To fully disable all automatic moderation, you would need to turn off AutoMod and clear your banned words list, but that is generally not recommended because it leaves your chat vulnerable to spam and harassment.

Another issue is that the “Don’t filter” option might not appear in your dashboard if you are using an older browser or the mobile app. If you cannot find the setting, try using a desktop browser and make sure you are logged in as the channel owner. If the problem persists, check Twitch’s official help pages for any known issues.

How It Compares to Other Moderation Tools

Twitch offers several moderation tools, and it’s helpful to understand how the chat filter fits in. AutoMod is a more sophisticated system that uses machine learning to hold messages for review based on a sensitivity level you choose. The chat filter is simpler—it just hides messages that contain specific banned terms. Banned words are a list you create manually, and messages containing those words are immediately removed. Moderators can also manually time out or ban users.

The chat filter is the only one that is on by default for all channels, and it is also the only one that applies to viewers’ personal settings. The other tools are channel-specific and controlled by the streamer. If you want to have the least amount of automatic moderation, you would turn off the chat filter and set AutoMod to a low sensitivity level, but you would still have your banned words list active.

Safety and Community Guidelines

Turning off the chat filter does not exempt you from Twitch’s Terms of Service or Community Guidelines. As a streamer, you are still responsible for the content in your chat, and you can be penalized if your chat becomes a hostile environment. Twitch’s guidelines prohibit harassment, hate speech, and other harmful behavior, regardless of whether you have the filter on or off. If you turn off the filter, it’s especially important to have active moderators and clear rules for your community.

For viewers, turning off the filter means you may see messages that are offensive. Twitch does not require you to see them, and you can always turn the filter back on if you find the unfiltered chat unpleasant. If you encounter harassment or hate speech, you should report the user to Twitch using the report function, even if the streamer has chosen not to filter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the “Don’t filter” option in my dashboard?

Make sure you are looking in the correct place: Creator Dashboard > Settings > Moderation. The option is under the “Chat Filters” section. If you don’t see it, try refreshing the page or using a different browser. It’s also possible that Twitch has changed the layout, so check the official help documentation for the latest steps.

Will turning off the filter show me all messages, including spam?

No, the filter only hides messages with flagged terms. Spam, such as repeated messages or links, is handled by other tools like spam detection and moderator actions. You may see more messages, but spam is not necessarily more visible.

Does the chat filter affect my own messages in other channels?

No, the filter is per-channel. If you are a viewer, your personal filter setting applies to all channels you watch. If you are a streamer, your channel’s filter setting only affects your own chat, not the chats of other streamers.

Can I turn off the filter on the mobile app?

Yes, you can change the viewer filter in the mobile app by tapping the gear icon in chat and unchecking the filter box. For streamers, the dashboard settings are also accessible in the mobile app, but the layout may be different. If you have trouble, use a desktop browser.

Is it against Twitch’s rules to turn off the chat filter?

No, it is not against the rules. Twitch gives streamers and viewers the option to customize their experience. However, you are still responsible for following the Community Guidelines, and turning off the filter does not give you a free pass to allow harassment or hate speech in your chat.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.