How to change the category and tags when switching games on Twitch without restarting the stream

Category and tags are different fields

The category (also known as the game) determines which section of the directory you'll be seen in and which searches will find you. Tags are labels on top of the category. When you change games, you change the category manually; tags usually stay the same, but they aren't always appropriate.

You don't need to restart the stream for this: the recording isn't interrupted, and viewers stay where they are. But some settings will have to be adjusted by hand, and Twitch doesn't process changes instantly.

Where to change the category during a stream

Two working paths.

• Creator Dashboard in a browser: the "Channel Info" section. It contains the "Title" and "Category" fields. The category is found by searching for the game name in that field.
• The Twitch mobile app: the same stream info block. Convenient if you're not at your main PC or the game is running fullscreen.

The tags block is in the same "Channel Info" section, below the category field, in the "Tags" area — the same place where you usually add labels before going live. There's no separate place for tags when changing games; it's all the same form.

After saving, the channel page doesn't update for viewers right away: the delay can range from a few seconds to tens of seconds. If you see the old game in the first few seconds, that's normal — wait.

Why the category sometimes doesn't change

The most common reason is editing the wrong field. The stream title has no effect on the directory section at all, no matter how many game names you put in it.

The second reason is a desync between the streaming software and Twitch itself. OBS, Streamlabs, and similar clients can set the category and title when the stream starts. If such integration is enabled in the client's settings, the next time you restart the stream it may revert to the old category, overwriting your edit. This doesn't affect the current stream — only the start of the next one.

The third is that the game isn't in the Twitch database. Then you either pick the closest category by meaning or request the game be added via the form in the database. The second path takes time and doesn't guarantee approval.

What to uncheck in OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop

The option that makes the client revert to the old category on start is in the Twitch connection settings.

OBS Studio

"Settings" menu → "Stream" section. Select the Twitch service — a "Connect Account" button will appear below, and under it a checkbox "Update the stream information / Update channel info". While it's checked, OBS inserts the saved title and category when the stream starts. Uncheck it if you change the game manually and don't want the client to overwrite your Dashboard edits on the next launch.

Separately, check the source properties if the category is set through it (some plugins have their own setting). In standard OBS, the source doesn't set the category — only the "Stream" section does.

Streamlabs Desktop

"Settings" menu → "Stream" section → Twitch block. The "Update title and game" toggle is there too, sometimes labeled "Automatically update stream info". Uncheck it if you change the game manually.

How many tags you can add

At the time of writing, Twitch allows up to 10 tags per stream. The platform revises the limit periodically, so go by the number and check the counter next to the tag list in the panel.

When you add new ones, the extras simply won't fit. Plan your set in advance: remove what you don't need first, then add.

Tags aren't technically tied to the game

An important point many people get wrong: on Twitch, the list of available labels is shared — it isn't tied to the selected category at the system level. Changing the game doesn't automatically remove or block tags — they stay the same as you set them before. Nothing "falls off" or gets added on its own.

But in terms of meaning, some labels relate to a specific stream and a specific game, while others relate to the channel as a whole. This isn't Twitch mechanics but selection logic: which labels are appropriate in the new category.

• Describe the current game or stream format: story playthrough, speedrun, competitive mode, genre. In a new category they lose their meaning, even if they're technically available.
• Describe the channel: language tag, channel format labels ("chatting", "educational stream"), accessibility tags like streaming with subtitles or sign language.

After changing the game, go through the first set and keep the second. Don't rely on the system removing incompatible ones itself: the tag set is your responsibility, and you'll have to remove an extra label by hand.

Example: a set before and after changing the game

Suppose you were streaming a story-driven action game and are switching to a competitive shooter. The set before switching:

• Russian
• Chatting
• Story playthrough
• Speedrun

After switching, you remove "Story playthrough" and "Speedrun" — they described the previous game. You keep "Russian" and "Chatting". You add "Competitive" and "Ranked". The final set:

• Russian
• Chatting
• Competitive
• Ranked

You update the title too: remove the old game's name from it and put in the new one. Otherwise a viewer in the directory will see one thing while the screen shows another.

Step-by-step when changing the game on the fly

1. Open the Creator Dashboard or the app and find the "Channel Info" section.
2. Change the category to the new game and wait for the change to display.
3. Check the tags: remove the ones tied to the previous game, add relevant ones. Don't exceed the limit.
4. Update the title if it mentioned the old game.
5. Look at the public channel page through a viewer's eyes: the category, tags, and title should match what's on screen right now.

The order matters in one way: change the category before you start playing the new game. Otherwise the stream hangs in the wrong section for a while and attracts off-target viewers who'll close the tab immediately.

What to keep in mind when switching

Audiences come for the game, not the channel, especially for smaller streamers. An abrupt category change almost always causes a drop in viewership. There's one way to soften it: give advance warning — an announcement on stream and mentioning the new game in the title work better than a silent switch.

Don't touch the language and channel format tags when changing games: they relate to the channel as a whole, not to a specific game. Removing them means losing some reach for no reason.

What to expect from search after the change

Your position in the directory isn't recalculated instantly. After changing the category, you may not see yourself in the new section for a while, or you may see yourself in the old spot. This passes on its own. Don't switch the category back and forth to check — frequent edits confuse both the system and viewers.

Competition varies between sections. Moving to a popular category doesn't guarantee being shown at the top of the list: streamer density is higher there, and your position may end up lower than it was in a less crowded game. You'll have to choose between "fewer competitors" and "more audience" based on your format.

Checklist before switching

• The category is changed and already showing in the panel.
• The previous game's labels are removed, new ones added within the limit.
• The language and channel format tags are left in place.
• The title doesn't contradict the new game.
• Viewers have been warned on stream.
• In OBS, "Update the stream information" is unchecked; in Streamlabs, "Update title and game" is unchecked, if auto-fill gets in the way.
• The public channel page has been checked: the category, tags, and title match what's on stream.