Twitch has decided to shut down its desktop app, inviting users to watch all the content via the browser or mobile apps instead.

The Amazon-owned company claims that fans aren't really using the standalone app, so they'd rather redistribute the funds required to keep the app running to other areas.

What's Happening With the Twitch App for Desktop?

Twitch announced that its desktop app will shut down on April 30, 2022. This effectively leaves the platform without a dedicated app for computer users. Considering that most people stream directly via a browser, the decision isn't surprising.

While many people are only just finding out Twitch even had a desktop app, others complain about the decision, saying they enjoyed the app far more than they do the website. The main point of their stance is that the app doesn't lag as much as the website version of Twitch does when playing games and watching streams.

Man Playing Fortnite with Headphones on

Furthermore, since it is a standalone app, they don't have to bother with the common issues that come with streaming and watching live streams via a browser. Furthermore, the Twitch app could launch at startup, providing a convenient way to access the service.

With the massive resources required by browsers, especially Chrome, it's understandable why fans are upset about having to use Twitch in this manner instead.

Why Is Twitch Killing Its Desktop App?

According to the message Twitch sent out to users, the Twitch App for desktops is getting the boot after the company took a look at usage statistics and community feedback.

This move allows us to invest more heavily in enhancing and adding new ways to engage with the creators and communities you care about. If you're used to using the Twitch Desktop App, we recommend bookmarking Twitch.tv in your browser of choice for easy access.

Following the app's demise, Twitch mentions that this will allow it to invest more heavily in enhancing and adding new ways to engage with the service's creators and communities.

The decision to cut support to the desktop app came five years after its launch in March 2017, when the Windows and macOS tools went into beta.

What to Use Instead of Twitch's Desktop App

Twitch Games streams

Once Twitch phases out its desktop app, users can continue accessing the platform via browsers, mobile apps, gaming consoles, or TVs. The platform recently released a Twitch app for Nintendo Switch, so maybe check that one too.

For the most part, the company expects users of the desktop app to solely rely on their web browsers instead since that's the only option PC and Mac users have left.

Thankfully, Twitch works on any browser, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Brave, to name a very few. The benefit of doing this is that you can also get various apps to add to your browser to improve your viewing experience on the platform, including cool Firefox add-ons for Twitch.

Whether or not the extra perks you get from these tools will outweigh the downside of having to use a browser in the first place is something you'll have to decide on your own.

Say Goodbye to the Twitch Desktop App

With the Twitch app on its last legs, it's time to find alternative ways to enjoy the platform. Whether that's one of the other apps or going straight for the browser, that's up to you. The truth is that the app will only be available until the end of April before Twitch kills it forever.

In the meantime, it's always a great idea to learn how to gain more viewers for your streams and perhaps even end up monetizing your videos.