Twitch is a streaming platform, mostly used by gamers to stream video games. The experience of streaming on Twitch is amazing but what makes it more wholesome is the chat feature, which allows gamers to communicate with each other. However, this experience is sometimes disrupted by an issue that causes Twitch to not display the chat.
This makes for a bad experience for the gamers and other users who stream normal videos on the platform. In this post, we will teach you how to fix Twitch chat not showing. Before we get to it, though, let’s go through some of the common reasons for the error.
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Common Reasons for Twitch Not Showing the Chat
If you can’t view Twitch chat, it means that there is a problem somewhere. The problem could be from your browser or phone. Discovering the source of a problem is instrumental to know the solutions to proffer to such a problem. Thus, this section will tell you some of the common reasons for Twitch chat not working.
1. Browser Extension
The first and most common reason for Twitch chat not loading is the existence of browser extensions. The most common example is AdBlock, which is used to block ads when browsing. Since the extension works to block ads, it sometimes affects browser-based apps such as Twitch by recognizing their scripts as ads. This is because it blocks the script from loading, which causes the typical case of the chat not to show.
2. Browser Cache
When using a platform like Twitch, you need to clear your browser cache often. This is because browsers store information from sites that you often visit to make those sites load faster on your device. While this is a pro on the side of caches, the con is that this information can get corrupted. When they do, it can cause prevent Twitch chats from showing and other features from loading.
3. Proxy Settings
When you can’t view Twitch chat, you should check your proxy settings. It is common for proxy settings to put some limitations on your browser, preventing the remote host from being resolved.
4. Failure to Execute Page Script
This is the most common reason for Twitch chat not showing messages. The problem is caused when the IRC sessions do not run properly or are stopped mistakenly. It is a simple problem to fix, though. Therefore, we will be moving straight to how you can solve the problem of Twitch not showing chats.
6 Ways to Fix Twitch Not Showing Chat
Now that you know where the problem may originate from, you can go ahead to look for the solution that will work. We have explained six solutions to Twitch chat not showing messages. You should try them out one after another and see which works for you. So let’s get to it:
1. Clear browser cache
We have explained above that a corrupted browser cache may cause Twitch chat to not work. If this is the case, all you have to do is clear the browser cache. To do that, you can force a hard refresh by pressing Ctrl + F5 on Windows and Cmd + Shift + R on macOS.
You can also clear the cache from the browser setting:
1. Open browser settings by clicking on the menu icon at the top right corner of your screen.
2. Scroll down to Settings.
3. Go to Advanced.
4. Select Clear Browsing Data.
5. Set the time frame to All time.
6. Click on Clear Data to confirm your action.
Open Twitch again and see if the problem is resolved.
2. Try a Different Browser
Often, when you have problems with Twitch, it may be your browser acting up. So, try to use a different browser and see if it fixes the problem. For example, you can switch from Chrome to Opera and see if Twitch loads your chat. If this does not work, try other solutions on this list and see what works.
3. Disable AdBlock
Browser extensions such as AdBlock are designed to make the browsing experience more fun, but they sometimes prevent scripts for Twitch from loading. Therefore, if you have AdBlock installed as an extension on your device, you should go to the settings and disable it. This is how to disable AdBlock from your browser:
1. Open Settings.
2. Click on More Tools and select Extension.
3. Find and open the AdBlock extension that you’ve installed.
4. Click Disable to turn it off.
That simple fix often solves problems relating to Twitch chat not displaying messages. However, if you are worried about ads after disabling AdBlock, you should read our post on blocking Twitch ads.
4. Use Incognito Mode
Using Incognito mode is another way you can fix Twitch not showing chats. Most of the instances of Twitch chat not working are from faulty browser extensions or corrupted caches. Therefore, you are protected from any extension or cache stored on your normal browser using Incognito mode.
To use Twitch in Incognito mode, do the following:
1. Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the page to open the menu.
2. Select New Incognito Window.
3. Open Twitch in the new window.
4. Check if the chat loads.
If the chat loads on the new window, the problem is with either your extensions or cache. You can go ahead to fix both using the solutions we explained earlier.
5. Change DNS Configuration
Sometimes, the problem is not with your browser but your DNS. If this is the case, you only have to change your DNS to fix the problem. Changing the DNS configuration is fairly easy. Follow these steps to get it done:
1. Go to the taskbar on your computer and click on the network icon.
2. Pick your network connection from the options displayed.
3. After clicking on your network, click on Change Adapter Settings.
4. You will see a list of all network connections on your computer. Right-click on your network.
5. Click on Properties. It should display a new window.
6. Use the DNS server address and set the values to these:
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
7. Click on OK to save the changes.
Now open Twitch and check if the chat works fine.
6. Poor Internet Connectivity
When you first discover that your Twitch chats are not loading, you should check your internet connection. If your connection is poor, it may prevent the chats from loading, as Twitch needs a strong internet connection to load all the features. You can start by rebooting your router.
- Press the power button to put off the router.
- Wait for a few minutes and turn it back on.
- After the router is fully on, check again and see if the chat is still not loading.
A weak internet connection can also be a result of the place you are. If the internet connection there is not stable, Twitch may have difficulties loading the chat. So, try again when you are in a place with better access to the internet.
Wrapping Up
Before you go, do a run-through of this post again to confirm that you remember all you have read. Knowing the causes of the problem is the first step, after which you should apply the most relevant solution. For example, while disabling AdBlock is one of the ways to fix Twitch chat problems, some users still use AdBlock while using Twitch. If you are one of those, you can read our post on fixing AdBlock not working on Twitch here.
