Watch Twitch together, on one screen

Open a stream on your Walnut’s TV and everyone in the room sees the same picture at the same moment. Talk over the big plays, send reactions, and pass the remote when someone wants to change channel.

Why one screen suits a live stream

When friends each watch a stream in their own tab, they rarely see the same moment. Live video reaches different connections a few seconds apart, so one person reacts to the big play before the others have seen it.

In a Walnut, the stream plays once, on the room’s TV, and everyone watches that one picture. Nobody is ahead, and nobody spoils it in voice.

How to watch Twitch together

1. Start a Walnut and invite your friends with the link, the room’s code or from a chat.
2. Press Start on the TV. It opens on Google, in a browser everyone in the room sees.
3. Go to twitch.tv and open the channel. Theatre mode makes the stream fill the screen.
4. Join voice and watch. Send reactions over the screen, or type in the room chat.
5. Pass the remote when someone wants to pick the next stream. Anyone can ask for it.

Twitch chat, Walnut chat, or both

Twitch’s own chat shows on the TV’s page beside the stream, for everyone to read. Your Walnut has its own room chat too, just for the people in it. Most groups leave Twitch’s chat on screen and talk among themselves on voice.

To type in Twitch’s chat, whoever holds the remote has to sign in to Twitch on the TV. Everyone in the room sees the TV, including what’s typed into it, and the TV keeps its sign-ins for 24 hours after it’s switched off. Only sign in there if you’re happy with that.

Or share your own Twitch tab

For the sharpest picture, one person can open the stream on their own computer and share that tab. In Chrome and Edge a shared tab brings its sound. A screen share goes up to 1080p at 30 frames a second; the TV’s picture is 1600 × 900. How screen sharing works.

When the streamer is your friend

If the person streaming is in your group, the room doesn’t need Twitch at all. They can share their game in the Walnut, and everyone sees it with far less delay than a public stream, and talks to them directly on voice.

Honest limits

• The TV runs at 30 frames a second, so 60 fps streams look less smooth than on Twitch itself.
• The TV blocks ads with uBlock Origin’s and EasyList’s lists, but Twitch puts some ads inside the video stream, where filter lists can’t always reach. Some may still play.
• Subscriber-only streams and chat need a Twitch account signed in on the TV.
• Twitch videos don’t play in sync on everyone’s own player the way YouTube links do. They play on the TV, which everyone watches.
• Phones and tablets can watch and talk in the browser, but can’t share a screen.

Questions

Is watching Twitch in Walnut free?

Yes. Walnut is free, and watching Twitch doesn’t need a Twitch account. Each person needs a free Walnut account.

Can we watch Twitch VODs and clips together?

Yes, on the TV. Open the video on twitch.tv and everyone watches it there. Whoever holds the remote pauses and skips for the room.

How many people can watch?

Up to 16 in a Walnut, including you.