Streamlabs Desktop Highlighter is now called Replay in Streamlabs’ newer material. You can use it to capture moments during a session, trim and arrange them into a highlight reel, preview the result, then export the video for a social channel you choose.
The practical workflow is capture first and edit after the session. Editing can make a clip clearer and easier to share, but it does not guarantee more views or audience growth. Streamlabs describes the feature and its current workflow in its Highlighter guide and Replay guide.
Highlighter is now Replay
If you searched for “Streamlabs Desktop Highlighter”, the name is still useful: Streamlabs’ product page uses Highlighter, while its newer guide says Streamlabs Highlighter is now Replay. Look for Replay in current Streamlabs material, but do not assume every screen or version has already changed its wording. The product page is at streamlabs.com/highlighter.
Streamlabs describes Highlighter as a feature built into Streamlabs Desktop. Its Replay guide has different platform wording from the Highlighter product page: the guide says Replay is currently supported only on Windows, while the product page lists Windows 10+ and macOS 12+. Because those official pages do not align, check the current product and download information for your version before planning a session around it. Treat the system requirements as potentially version-specific rather than merging them into a blanket compatibility claim.
The distinction between capturing and editing matters. You configure how to save a moment while you are in a session; you then review and shape the saved clips afterwards. That means you can stay focused on play or commentary rather than trying to assemble a reel live. It also means the tool can only work with what it captured: if the key moment falls outside the replay window or the feature was not configured, there may be nothing to edit later.
Capture clips during a session
Open Streamlabs Desktop and go to the Highlighter tab. Set a hotkey and choose a replay duration before going live. The hotkey is the quick action you use when a moment is worth keeping; replay duration determines how much recent footage is included. Streamlabs’ Highlighter instructions cover setting these up and using the feature during a session.
Choose a key you can press reliably without disrupting your controls. If it shares a key with an in-game action or another streaming shortcut, you may trigger the wrong thing or miss the moment. Test the hotkey in a low-stakes session and confirm that a clip appears before relying on it for a tournament, collaboration or long broadcast.
Replay duration is a practical choice, not a quality setting. A short capture can be easier to sort through, but it may omit the set-up that makes the moment understandable. A longer capture preserves more context, though you may need to trim more material afterwards. For example, if a clever play depends on an opponent’s earlier move, include enough lead-in to show why the response mattered. Check the resulting clip rather than guessing that the default or shortest choice is right for every kind of session.
During the session, use the hotkey when something happens that you may want to share. You do not need to decide its final position in a reel at that point. If you are unsure whether a moment is useful, saving it can give you the option to judge it later; the cost is a little more sorting after the session. Streamlabs’ separate article on choosing clips for social suggests looking for energetic moments, community participation and unexpected events. Use those as creative prompts, not as a formula for reach.
If you want a continuous channel as well as occasional clips, keep those jobs distinct. A clip-editing workflow is not the same as keeping a recorded playlist broadcasting after you turn off your computer. For that separate use case, see how to stream recorded gameplay continuously on YouTube. It addresses ongoing playback rather than editing moments from a live session.
Find clips in Replay
When the stream or recording session ends, return to the Highlighter or Replay area and review the saved clips. Streamlabs’ newer Replay guide also describes Replay options such as importing clips and other recording workflows. Keep those separate from the simple hotkey capture path: if you imported a file or used another recording method, its appearance and available actions may differ from a clip saved during a session.
Start by checking that each clip opens and contains the moment you intended to keep. Look at both ends. A clip may include a loading screen, a long pause, or the aftermath of an event without the event itself. Conversely, cutting too close can remove a reaction, explanation or visual cue that gives the moment meaning. Make a rough shortlist before building the reel; not every saved moment needs to be included.
A useful question for each candidate is whether someone who did not watch the full session can understand why it is here. A surprising result may speak for itself, while a tactical decision may need a little more context. If the context is not present in the capture, you can choose a different clip rather than trying to make this editor do work it does not document. Keep the reel focused on a small set of moments that belong together, such as a match’s turning points or a session’s best audience interactions.
For a live-channel workflow, keep the original recording and the finished social reel conceptually separate. A reel is an edited short selection; an always-on broadcast is a longer playback job with different continuity concerns. If you are also preparing a looping video channel, our guide to OBS settings for looping devotional videos covers a different workflow. The distinction helps prevent treating a clip editor as a way to operate a 24/7 channel.
Trim and arrange a highlight reel
Open a clip in the editing view and drag its edges to shorten it. Remove dead time at the beginning or end, but preserve the part that establishes what happened. A simple test is to watch the clip once without editing and note the first frame that matters and the point at which the moment has landed. Then trim, replay, and adjust. The aim is a clean entry and exit, not the shortest possible duration.
You can reorder clips to build a sequence. Arrange them so one moment leads naturally to the next: a short opening clip can establish the session, a stronger moment can carry the middle, and a final clip can provide a satisfying finish. You might instead group clips by match, game mode or theme. There is no single correct order; avoid a sequence that depends on chronology if the clips do not make that order clear.
The Highlighter guide documents controls to enable or disable clips and to delete clips from the edit. Disabling is useful when you are deciding between two versions or want to test the reel without a moment; deleting is for material you have decided not to retain in the project. Before removing anything you may want later, make sure you still have the source recording or another copy. Do not treat an editing project as your only archive unless you have checked how it saves your work.
Streamlabs also documents transitions, including choosing a type and length, and adding an intro or outro and background music. A transition can help separate clips that otherwise cut abruptly, but it can also slow down a tight sequence. An intro can identify the series or channel, though a long opener delays the moment a viewer came to see. Music may give several clips a shared tone; listen for whether it competes with game audio, speech or reactions. Use the controls to serve the content, not to add an effect to every cut.
If the reel needs captions, a particular vertical layout, or more detailed sound work, assess whether the editor offers what you need in your version. The documented Highlighter workflow covers trimming, ordering, transitions, intro or outro, music and preview; it does not establish every advanced editing capability. When a required control is not available, export the clip and finish it in a separate editor rather than assuming a feature exists. If captions are important for viewers watching without sound, our guide to closed captions for YouTube Live explains the separate live-captioning topic; captions on an exported reel are a different editing task.
Preview the edit
Preview the whole reel before exporting, not just each clip in isolation. Check that the opening starts promptly, transitions do not hide an important action, and the final clip ends cleanly. Listen as well as watch: a music bed that seems quiet while editing may mask a spoken line or an important in-game sound when played with the clips in sequence.
Look for continuity problems. A clip may begin with a different audio level, an abrupt camera change or a cut that makes an action hard to follow. If you notice one, return to the relevant clip and adjust its trim, order or transition. Preview again after making changes, because improving one cut can make the timing of the next transition feel different.
Consider the person seeing the reel without the original stream. Can they tell what happened, and does the sequence give enough context to understand the reaction? A brief title card or an intro might help, if that fits the intended style and is available in your version. If the moment only makes sense after a long explanation, it may work better as a longer video or a different edit. The goal is a finished file that communicates clearly, not a promise of social performance.
Export and upload the video
Once the edit is ready, choose export settings and export the video. The Highlighter guide’s workflow ends with exporting the finished reel, which can then be uploaded to the social channel you prefer. The newer Replay guide documents export routes including a computer, YouTube, Discord or phone, but do not assume every route is present in every product version. Check the choices shown in your own application and use the route that fits your destination.
If you export to your computer, note where the file is saved and open it before uploading. Confirm that the video plays through, that audio is present and that the edit is the version you intended. A quick check can catch an accidental disabled clip, an unwanted ending or a file that was saved to an unexpected folder. Keep the exported copy if you may need to upload it again or use it in another edit.
Upload the exported video through the destination’s current workflow. Platform requirements and posting controls can change, so check the channel’s official help if you are unsure about its format or upload process. Do not assume a direct export option means that a particular social destination is supported; Streamlabs’ documented routes are the ones noted above, and the available options can depend on version. Give the file a clear name before sharing so that you can distinguish a final export from source clips and drafts.
If your broader channel plan is to keep a recorded programme running while you are away from your desk, that is a separate operational need from producing social clips. A cloud-based service such as StreamNeo can remove the specific burden of leaving your own computer on to keep an uploaded video broadcasting as a 24/7 YouTube stream. It is YouTube-only and does not edit a highlight reel; make the reel in Replay, then treat any continuous broadcast as its own workflow.
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
Is Streamlabs Desktop Highlighter still the name?
Streamlabs’ product page still uses Highlighter, while its newer guide calls it Replay. Search either name if needed, and check the current interface and documentation for your version.
Can I edit a clip after the session?
Yes. The described workflow is to capture moments with a configured hotkey during the session, then return to Highlighter or Replay afterwards to review and edit saved clips. You can trim and arrange clips, adjust transitions and preview the reel before export.
Does editing a reel guarantee more views?
No. Editing can remove dead time and make a sequence easier to follow, but it does not guarantee views, engagement or audience growth. Streamlabs’ suggestions for selecting energetic, participatory or unexpected moments are creative guidance, not measured predictions.
Is Replay available on macOS?
Streamlabs’ current Highlighter product page and Replay guide describe platform support differently: the product page lists Windows 10+ and macOS 12+, while the guide says Replay is currently supported only on Windows. Check Streamlabs’ current product and download information for your version before relying on either statement.