Fix: Twitch Audio Delay/Desync

Is your Twitch audio delayed or desynced with the rest of the stream? Fear not, this guide shows you exactly how to fix this common issue.

It goes without saying that audio and video need to be perfectly synchronized for any viewing experience to be enjoyable.

If one of these two elements is out of sync with the other, the quality of the viewing experience will be drastically reduced.

This is especially true for Twitch, as the content in question is broadcasted in real-time.

Unfortunately, this issue is indeed familiar to Twitch users.

Twitch Report Playback Issue

Overall, the undeniable quality of this widely acclaimed streaming platform is unquestioned. Nonetheless, similar to numerous other digital platforms, occasional glitches can disrupt an otherwise pleasant user journey.

The Twitch Audio Delay / Desync bug is not uncommon, but it is also relatively easy to fix. The methods listed in this guide will help you quickly overcome the issue.

Table of ContentsShow

Method 1: Disable HTML5 Player On Twitch

Many users have reported issues with watching streams while HTML5 Player is enabled. One of these problems is audio delay and desynchronization.

The solution is simple: disable HTML5 manually.

To do this, follow the steps below.

  1. Visit Twitch on your preferred browser and sign in to your account.
  2. Open the stream you want to watch.
  3. Hover over the player with your cursor to access the menu at the bottom. Click the cogwheel icon, which will open a settings menu.
  4. Select Advanced in the menu and then untick the Enable HTML5 option.

You have now successfully disabled HTML5, but you will need to do this every time you refresh the stream or load a different one.

According to multiple Reddit threads, including this one, some users need to “pop-out” the player before disabling HTML5. Otherwise, Twitch will immediately reactivate it.

You can do this by clicking the cogwheel again, as described in Step 3, then click the “Popout Player” option in the menu.

Twitch uses HTML5 to display advertisements, which is one of the reasons that disabling it is slightly more complicated than it might otherwise be.  

Method 2: Clean Your Browser’s Cached Data & Cookies

If you haven’t cleaned your cached data and cookies in a while, the accumulation can eventually lead to these strange bugs on Twitch.

If you suspect this is the reason for your audio or video desync issue, there is a straightforward solution: cleaning your cached data & cookies.

Follow the steps below to do so.

  1. Open Chrome on your PC and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of your screen.
  2. Once the dropdown menu appears, select Settings.
    Twitch Can Not Change Username
  3. Scroll down slightly until you see the Privacy and Security section. In this section, find and click on Clear Browsing Data.
    Twitch Will Not Let Me Change Username
  4. There will be two tabs in this menu: the “Basic” and “Advanced” tabs. Basic will be selected by default, and it is the one you need for this process.
  5. In the “Time range” field, select All time” and tick the three boxes next to the options below it.
    Clear Browser Cache On Google Chrome
  6. Complete the process by clicking Clear data in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

Restart your browser and open Twitch. Try watching a stream and see if the problem persists. Users have reported that clearing their browser data and cookies solved the issue.

Method 3: Use A Different Browser

If you still can’t solve the problem, try using a different browser.

Although Chrome and Firefox are the preferred choices for the majority of Twitch users, don’t disregard the alternatives, especially if you’re experiencing issues with your favorite browser.

To help you make an informed choice, we have a comprehensive guide that explores other browsers compatible with Twitch.

In this case, Opera GX might be your best solution. This is because of the browser’s built-in Twitch player.  

Method 4: Check Your Display Drivers

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with Twitch itself but with your system. Every computer system is different, so finding the solution to this problem might require some troubleshooting.

Given the nature of the issue, the problem may be related to your display drivers.

Your Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) does the majority of the work when you watch streams and videos. If it isn’t functioning correctly, issues such as audio delay and desync can occur.

To find out whether or not this is the case, try opening a video on a different website.

You can also try playing a video file stored locally on your PC using a media player. If you experience the same problem with offline videos, the issue could be due to outdated drivers.

Updating your graphics card drivers should help you overcome the problem if it isn’t hardware-related.

Method 5: Disable Hardware Acceleration In Chrome

Chrome’s Hardware Acceleration is a useful feature. However, some users have reported that it could be a reason for Twitch audio and video becoming out of sync.

To find out if this is the reason for your issue on Twitch, you can temporarily disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome.

Follow the steps below to do so.

  1. Open Chrome on your PC.
  2. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and then Settings.
    Twitch Can Not Change Username
  3. On the left side, you will see a menu with various options. Click Advanced and then System.
    Google Chrome Settings Advanced System
  4. Disable the Hardware Acceleration setting by “unticking” the button next to it. See the image below.
    Google Chrome Hardware Acceleration setting
  5. To confirm the change, restart your browser.

The hardware acceleration setting is no longer active on your browser. You should open a stream on Twitch and check if the audio delay desync problem still occurs.  

Method 6: Open Twitch Without Any Third-Party Extensions

Third-party extensions can greatly enhance our viewing experience on Twitch, but they also sometimes cause more harm than good.

Whatever the intended purpose of your extensions (blocking ads, etc.), they could indirectly cause the audio delay and desync problem.

To confirm whether or not they are the cause, disable all extensions and open a Twitch stream to see if the problem persists. This could solve the issue.

Method 7: Use The Twitch Desktop App

Twitch’s Desktop App is usually more stable and reliable, which is why many viewers prefer using it to watching streams in their browser.

You can find Twitch’s desktop app here. Downloading it could help you solve your issue with audio delay and desync.  

Method 8: Track Your System’s Performance

Chrome is recognized for utilizing a significant amount of RAM when browsing for an extended period without closing the browser. This can be a substantial problem on lower-end systems without ample RAM memory.

While watching streams, open your Task Manager and check the current load on your RAM. If you’re using a PC without much RAM (6GB or less), it’s possible that you don’t have enough resources to view a stream with Chrome open.

Rare case, especially with modern computers, but it can happen.

Conclusion

By applying the methods listed above, you should be able to solve the Twitch audio delay and desync problem.

If none of these solutions assist, reach out to Twitch’s support team and clarify your problem thoroughly. Additionally, while viewing a stream, you can utilize the report feature to communicate a playback issue.

Related Reads

Twitch VODs Keep Restarting
Fix: Twitch VODs Keep Restarting
Bojan Veselinovikj
LinkedIn

Bojan is a video-game developer and a tech enthusiast. Combining these two passions allow him to keep you informed on everything that's new in this fast-paced digital world.