Streamlabs Desktop’s Highlighter workflow lets you capture moments and assemble them into a highlight reel. Streamlabs now calls the feature Replay, so the labels and available steps may differ from older instructions; the sequence below explains the legacy Highlighter flow and where to check for current behaviour.
For legacy Highlighter, configure a hotkey and replay duration before you capture. During a stream, press that hotkey to save a moment, then return to Highlighter to arrange, preview and export the clips. Export gives you a file to upload or share yourself; it does not mean every version automatically publishes to the same destinations.
Highlighter is now called Replay
Streamlabs’ current guide says Highlighter is now Replay. Its guide describes a newer feature set, including automatic recording and other capture and editing features. That is a naming and product-version change, not a reason to assume every old menu item or button still appears in the same place. If you are following a tutorial written for Highlighter, treat it as guidance for that legacy workflow and check the current Replay guide if the app differs.
The distinction matters because two workflows are easy to confuse. The older Highlighter instructions describe a replay buffer: the application keeps a recent window available, and you save that window by pressing your configured hotkey. Replay is the current name and its guide describes additional automatic capture behaviour. Decide whether you want to mark a recent moment yourself or review automatically captured material, then follow the instructions for the feature actually shown in your version.
The current Streamlabs Replay guide is the primary reference for current naming and its listed capabilities. It was updated on 22 September 2026. Streamlabs’ legacy Highlighter support article explains the older capture-and-export sequence. Labels can move between releases, so use those references to reconcile a mismatch rather than assuming your installation is broken.
There is also a platform caveat. The current Replay guide says Replay is supported on Windows only, while Streamlabs’ Highlighter product page lists Windows 10+ and macOS 12+. Those pages conflict. If you are on a Mac, do not infer that the older Highlighter workflow remains available in your current Desktop build; check the current download information and the app itself. The sources do not resolve whether legacy Highlighter is available on every current macOS installation.
Open the Highlighter tab
In the legacy Desktop instructions, open the Highlighter tab from the left-hand navigation. Look for the capture settings before going live: the point is to configure the replay buffer and the control that saves a clip, rather than expecting the application to decide which moments matter. If the current app instead shows Replay, start with that feature’s own controls and documentation.
Streamlabs’ recording-functionality article explains that Highlighter works with Replay Buffer. The buffer is the short, recent section of video from which a replay can be saved. Its setup article describes starting Replay Buffer manually beside the Go Live control, which can also be useful if you want to capture a replay without actually broadcasting. See Streamlabs’ recording and Replay Buffer notes if you need to distinguish buffer recording from going live.
Before you configure anything, make a small test plan: decide which input you want in the clip, whether your microphone should be heard, and what you will press to mark a moment. A clip cannot improve audio or framing that was not present in the captured video. If you are broadcasting to YouTube, first check that your stream is healthy and that the intended scene is live; the practical checks in YouTube Live Control Room stream health settings are relevant before you start collecting moments.
Do not spend time hunting for an exact menu position if your version has changed. The useful checkpoints are that you have opened the relevant capture feature, selected its duration and configured a save control. A current interface may use Replay terminology instead of Highlighter, and a newer version may offer different capture choices. Confirm that you can see the settings before relying on a live event to test them.
Set the hotkey and replay duration
In the legacy Highlighter flow, set the hotkey and replay duration before capture. Streamlabs also calls the duration clip duration. The hotkey is the manual save command; the duration determines how much recent video the buffer will preserve when you press it. If either is unconfigured, you cannot rely on the legacy documented save action to produce a clip.
Choose a key that you can reach without disrupting the game or presentation, and that is unlikely to be assigned to another important action. If you use a keyboard shortcut already occupied by your game, scene switching or another Desktop control, you may trigger the wrong thing or fail to save the moment. Check Streamlabs’ displayed binding and change it if necessary. Then rehearse pressing it while the relevant scene is active.
Duration is a practical trade-off. A shorter replay is easier to review and contains less material around the moment; a longer one gives more context but can include a great deal you will later trim away. For a quick goal or reaction, you may prefer a tight window. For a developing play, explanation or musical passage, a longer window may preserve the lead-in. The source material does not prescribe one correct length, so select what fits your content and confirm what your version allows.
Run a test before an important session. Start the buffer, perform a simple action, press the configured hotkey, and check that a clip appears where you expect. This tests the complete path: the buffer is active, the key is recognised, and the captured scene and sound are useful. It is more reliable than assuming the key works because it appears in settings.
Capture moments while live
Once the settings are ready, go live and press the configured hotkey when the moment you want has just happened. In the legacy workflow, the buffer preserves recent video, so the press saves a replay of the preceding duration rather than beginning a new recording at that instant. You still need to configure the key first; Highlighter should not be treated as if it automatically knows which event you want to keep.
Timing affects what makes it into the clip. If you press too early, the key moment may occur after the saved window. If you wait too long, you may capture extra material or lose the moment from the buffer, depending on the selected duration. Practise on a low-stakes stream or recording, then adjust the duration to include enough lead-in and aftermath. For an interview, for example, keep the question as well as the answer if the answer depends on it.
Streamlabs’ older recording article says Replay Buffer can be started manually beside Go Live, so the legacy buffer flow can be used without actually streaming. This is useful for testing a game or recording locally, but it is not the same as the current Replay feature’s automatic recording description. When not streaming, start the buffer deliberately and verify the saved result; do not assume the buffer was running just because Desktop is open.
For a YouTube creator, a clip and a live broadcast are separate outputs. A saved replay can help you make a short edit or a recap, while the live stream itself continues on its own schedule. If you run a continuous channel, such as a 24/7 lo-fi playlist stream, consider whether a gameplay-style clip workflow suits what viewers are watching. A moment saved from a live presentation does not automatically become a YouTube Short or a new broadcast segment.
Return to Highlighter after the stream
After ending the stream, return to Highlighter to access the clips captured through the legacy workflow. Review the available clips before editing. Confirm that each contains the expected moment, image and audio; a hotkey press is not a substitute for checking the saved media. If a moment is missing, revisit the buffer and hotkey setup before your next session rather than assuming export will recover it.
Keep the original clips until you have a finished export that plays correctly. A clip may be useful on its own, while several clips may work better as a single reel. Give the files names that help you recognise their contents, especially if you capture several moments in one stream. If you are building a repeatable process, note which scene and settings produced the useful material, so your next capture does not depend on memory.
If you stream a recurring format, think about where edited clips fit alongside the main broadcast. A short excerpt may work as a preview or recap, while a complete highlight reel needs context and a clear sequence. For an always-on channel, the continuity of the live programme is a separate issue from editing clips; the guide to how YouTube loop streams work covers that distinction. Do not plan on a Highlighter export replacing or automatically updating a continuous live stream.
Arrange and preview clips
The legacy Highlighter instructions describe basic highlight-reel editing. You can trim clips by dragging their edges, change their order, choose transition type and length, add an intro or outro, add background music, enable or disable clips, and delete clips. The names and exact controls may differ in your build, but the editorial decisions are the same: what stays, in what order, and how one moment leads into the next.
Start by removing clips that do not add anything, then trim the remaining clips to the useful action and enough context to understand it. Avoid cutting a sentence or reaction in half simply to make a clip shorter. A viewer who did not see the live broadcast needs enough setup to understand why the moment matters. If a clip depends on an earlier explanation, either include that context or leave it out of a short reel.
Arrange clips into a sequence rather than accepting capture order by default. You might open with a clear moment, then show how it happened, or group clips by topic. The right order depends on your audience; there is no need to add transitions between every item. A simple cut can keep the pace clear. If you use a transition, preview it to ensure it does not obscure speech, action or the beginning of the next clip.
Intro, outro and music are optional tools, not required polish. An intro can identify a recurring series; an outro can provide a natural ending. Background music can help connect quiet sections, but keep it low enough not to mask commentary or important game audio. Use music you have permission to use for your intended publication, and check the current YouTube guidance for your account and format rather than assuming an edit tool clears rights.
Preview the whole reel, not just the individual cuts. Watch for a clip that starts too late, silence between moments, abrupt audio changes, an unintentional disabled clip, or a transition that feels longer than the action it connects. Make one pass for story and one for technical checks. If you notice an issue, adjust the clip or order and preview again before export.
Export and share the result
When the reel is ready, use Export and choose the settings offered by your version. The legacy Highlighter article describes exporting the highlight reel and then uploading the downloaded result to the social channels you prefer. This is a file-based workflow: check the rendered video on your computer before you upload it, and choose the destination and visibility settings yourself.
The newer Replay guide lists export destinations including a computer, YouTube, Discord and phone. That list belongs to the current Replay guide and should not be read as a promise that every legacy Highlighter build has those same choices. If a destination is absent in your interface, export to the computer if available and upload the file through the destination’s own publishing flow. Confirm the exported file plays before deleting the source clips.
A useful comparison is the practical difference between the older capture-and-edit flow and the newer Replay description:
| Need | Legacy Highlighter flow | Current Replay guide |
|---|---|---|
| Save a recent moment | Configure the buffer, duration and hotkey; press the key to save | Check the current Replay controls and capture behaviour in your installed version |
| Capture while offline | Streamlabs says Replay Buffer can be started manually beside Go Live | Do not assume this matches every Replay mode; check its current guide |
| Build a reel | Arrange, trim, preview and export clips using the described Highlighter tools | Replay’s guide describes additional recording and editing features; available controls may vary |
| Publish the result | Export the file, then upload or share it yourself | The guide lists destinations, but availability can vary by version |
For a YouTube upload, review the title, description, audience and visibility before publishing. An export is not necessarily a public post; it may simply be a local file, and an in-app destination can still require you to confirm where and how it is published. Keep a local copy until you have checked the published result. If you intend to use the excerpt to bring viewers to a continuing channel, treat it as a separate piece of content rather than an automatic promotion mechanism.
When the file and channel are ready, use the option that fits how much editing and ongoing maintenance you want to do.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
How do I clip gameplay on Streamlabs Desktop?
For the legacy Highlighter workflow, configure the replay duration and hotkey, start the buffer, then press the hotkey after the moment you want to save. Check that the resulting clip appears before relying on the workflow for a planned stream. Current builds may show Replay instead, so use the controls and guide for the version you have installed.
Can I make clips without streaming?
Streamlabs’ older recording-functionality article says you can start Replay Buffer manually beside Go Live and save replays without broadcasting. That describes the legacy buffer flow, not a guarantee that every mode or current Replay version behaves identically. Start the buffer and test a clip locally before an important session.
Where do my Streamlabs clips go?
In the legacy sequence, return to Highlighter after the stream to access captured clips and assemble a reel. The export is a downloaded result when you choose the computer option; newer Replay documentation lists other destinations, but those should not be assumed available in every older build. Check the export screen and verify where the file was saved.
How do I export a highlight reel?
Arrange and trim the clips, preview the complete reel, then select Export and choose the settings shown in your version. Check the downloaded video before uploading it yourself, unless your current Replay interface explicitly offers a destination you intend to use. The available destinations are version-dependent, so do not assume an export is automatically published.