I fully support this audio-only mode request, especially since Twitch mobile already has this feature but desktop doesn't.​

I'd like to expand on this idea: audio-only mode would be incredibly useful for listening in the car while driving, where you don't need (and shouldn't be watching) the video stream. This would be perfect for music streams, podcasts, and DJ sets.

Taking this further, I'd love to see viewer-side audio channel separation where streamers can broadcast multiple audio tracks (music, voice, game audio, etc.) and viewers can toggle individual channels on/off or adjust their volumes independently. This would pair perfectly with audio-only mode - imagine listening to a music stream in your car with the option to toggle the DJ's commentary on/off based on your preference.

Use case: I watch music streams like Vinyl Junkies where some viewers prefer pure music listening while others enjoy the full commentary experience. Combined with audio-only mode, this would allow resource-efficient listening with customizable audio control.

This technology already exists on the broadcaster side (VOD track separation for DMCA) - extending it to the viewer experience would be a game-changer for mobile and in-car listening.​

You can use the "Alternate Player for Twitch.tv" browser extension for audio only. It uses 20-30MB of RAM per tab instead of 400-500MB.