A raid sends your viewers to another streamer's channel when you go offline
A raid on Twitch is a feature that automatically sends your live viewers to another streamer's channel. When you end your stream, you can choose a channel to raid, and everyone watching you gets redirected there with a notification that you sent them. The raided streamer sees a message in their chat that you've arrived with your audience, and your username appears on screen as the raid source.
Raids are different from hosting, which was Twitch's older feature for sending viewers to another channel. Twitch phased out hosting in favor of raids because raids feel more like a community event—your viewers arrive as a group with your name attached, rather than silently being sent elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- You can only raid another channel when you end your stream, using the raid button that appears in your broadcast interface.
- The streamer you raid must have a channel with at least one follower and cannot be suspended or banned from Twitch.
- Your raid sends all your current viewers to the target channel at once, and Twitch notifies the raided streamer in their chat.
- You can raid the same channel multiple times in a day, and raids work the same way whether the target streamer is live or offline.
- If you change your mind after starting the raid process, you can cancel it before the countdown finishes.
Where to find the raid button when you end your stream
When you stop broadcasting, Twitch shows you an end-stream screen with several options. On this screen, you'll see a Raid Channel button (sometimes labeled just "Raid"). Click it to open the raid interface. If you don't see this button, make sure you're using the official Twitch Creator Dashboard or the Twitch app—third-party streaming software like OBS or Streamlabs won't show the raid button directly, though you can still raid through the Twitch website after you stop the stream there.
The raid button appears only after you've ended your broadcast. If you try to raid while still live, you won't find the option. Some streamers use a countdown timer in their stream to let viewers know they're about to raid, so people stay in the chat until the raid happens.
How to search for and select a channel to raid
After you click the Raid Channel button, a search box appears where you type the name of the streamer you want to raid. As you type, Twitch shows you matching channels. You can raid streamers in any category, whether they're live or offline at that moment—raids work either way.
Click on the channel name from the search results to select it. Twitch then shows you a preview of that channel and asks you to confirm. At this point, you can still change your mind and pick a different channel, or cancel the raid entirely. Once you confirm, a countdown timer appears (usually 5 seconds) before the raid launches and your viewers are sent to the target channel.
Restrictions on which channels you can raid
You cannot raid a channel that belongs to a suspended or permanently banned account. You also cannot raid a channel with zero followers, though this is rare since most active channels have at least one. You can raid your own channel if you want, though this doesn't accomplish much since you're sending viewers to a stream you're not currently running.
There's no limit to how many times you can raid the same channel in a single day, and you can raid different channels on different days without restriction. Twitch doesn't penalize frequent raids or raids to small channels, so you're free to raid whoever you choose as long as their account is in good standing.
What happens in the raided channel's chat
When your raid lands, the raided streamer sees a system message in their chat that says something like "[Your username] raided with [number] viewers." Your username appears as a clickable link, and the number shows how many people you sent. If the streamer is live, they usually acknowledge the raid and thank you in their chat.
Your viewers appear in the raided channel's chat with a special raid badge next to their names for a short time, so the streamer and other viewers know they came from your raid. This makes it easier for the raided streamer to welcome your audience and for your viewers to find each other in the new chat.
Canceling a raid before it goes through
After you click Confirm on your raid selection, Twitch shows a countdown timer (usually 5 seconds) before the raid launches. During this countdown, you can click a Cancel button to stop the raid. Once the countdown reaches zero, the raid is final and your viewers are sent to the target channel—you cannot undo it after that point.
If you realize mid-countdown that you picked the wrong channel, canceling and starting over is faster than trying to redirect your viewers afterward. After you cancel, you can search for a different channel and start the raid process again.
Raiding as part of your streaming routine
Many streamers use raids to build relationships with other creators in their community. Raiding a smaller streamer can introduce them to your audience and create goodwill that sometimes leads to collaboration or mutual raids later. Some streamers have a regular list of channels they rotate raids to, or they raid whoever was most helpful or entertaining to them that day.
Raids also keep your viewers engaged even after you've stopped streaming. Instead of just logging off and leaving them without content, you're directing them to another live stream where they can continue watching. This is better for the Twitch community overall because it keeps people on the platform and helps smaller streamers find new viewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I raid someone if they're offline?
Yes. Raids work whether the target streamer is live or not. If they're offline, your viewers will arrive at their channel page, and the streamer will see the raid notification when they check their chat later. The raid still counts and still sends your audience to their channel.
What's the difference between a raid and a host?
Hosting was Twitch's older feature that silently redirected viewers without showing who sent them. Raids are newer and more visible—your name appears in the raided channel's chat, and your viewers get a raid badge. Twitch removed hosting in favor of raids because raids feel more like a community event.
Do I need permission from the streamer before I raid them?
No. You can raid any channel without asking first. Most streamers welcome raids, but there's no requirement to check with them beforehand. If you raid someone regularly, it's nice to let them know, but it's not necessary.
Can the raided streamer refuse my raid?
No. Once your raid countdown finishes, your viewers are sent to their channel and they cannot stop it. However, they can ban your viewers from their chat if they choose, though most streamers don't do this.
How many viewers do I need to raid?
You can raid with any number of viewers, including zero. If you end your stream with no one watching, you can still raid a channel—it just won't send anyone there. The raid still registers and the target streamer still sees the notification.