How to enable slow mode and follower-only chat mode on Twitch

Why chat restrictions are needed

When a stream gets a lot of viewers at once, the chat turns into a flood of messages that's impossible to read. Spam, flooding with the same phrases, bots, and random new viewers get in the way of normal conversation. Slow mode and follower-only mode are built-in Twitch tools that reduce the load on chat without blocking specific users.

What slow mode does

Slow mode limits how often messages can be sent: each viewer can post no more than once per set interval. It doesn't block people—it just makes them pause between messages. This mode helps during a surge of viewers, during raids from other channels, or when chat starts getting spammed with a single phrase.

How to enable slow mode via the panel

• Open the chat and click the settings icon (gear) below the chat window.
• Select the section with moderation modes.
• Turn on Slow Mode and set the interval in seconds between messages from the same user.

How to enable slow mode with a command

It's faster to do this right in chat with the command /slow followed by the interval in seconds, for example /slow 30. To turn off the mode, use the command /slowoff. These commands are available to the streamer and moderators with the appropriate permissions.

What follower-only mode does

Follower-only mode lets only those who follow the channel write in chat (that is, viewers who clicked the follow button, not paid subscriptions). This filters out bots and random viewers who come in with one goal—to post something offensive or promotional—and then leave.

Setup via the moderator panel

• Go to the chat settings next to the message window.
• Find Followers-Only Mode and toggle it on.
• Set the minimum follow time: you can allow posting right after following or set a delay in minutes, hours, or days.

Command for follower-only

In chat, the command looks like this: /followers enables the mode with no delay, while /followers 10m only allows those who've been following for at least 10 minutes to post. The mode is turned off with the command /followersoff.

Why a follow time delay is useful

The delay helps against bots that mass-follow a channel right before attacking the chat. If you set a minimum follow time of several hours or days, fresh bots won't be able to post right after following, while regular viewers who've been following the channel for a long time won't notice the difference.

When to combine both modes

Slow mode and follower-only are often enabled together during peak load: a raid, a collaboration with a big streamer, or a heated topic being discussed in chat. Follower-only filters out random users and bots, while slow mode further reduces the rate of flooding among remaining viewers. The combination works better than each mode on its own if the audience has grown sharply in a short time.

How not to scare off new viewers

Overly strict settings can push away those who've landed on the channel for the first time and want to join the conversation. If follower-only is always on with a long delay, a new viewer won't be able to say a word and will most likely just leave. A sensible approach is to keep baseline restrictions mild during regular times and tighten them only when truly needed: during raids, chat conflicts, or bot surges.

Automation via moderators and bots

Manually enabling modes requires being at the screen, which isn't always possible during an active stream. Some channels delegate this task to moderators with the appropriate permissions, while others set up bots that automatically enable slow mode when messages per minute spike sharply. This approach takes the load off the streamer and reacts to surges faster than a person can notice the problem.