HexChat setup guide: from install to identified in ten minutes

First, the honest part: HexChat development ended in February 2024 — 2.16.2 was the final release. It still works, millions still run it, and this guide remains accurate. But if you are choosing a client today, read HexChat is dead — what to use instead first.

For everyone staying: tabbed interface, network list with the major networks preloaded, TLS and SASL support. Ten minutes from install to identified.

1. Install #

Windows: the 2.16.2 installer from the project site — note it has not been updated (including its bundled libraries) since February 2024. Linux: prefer your distribution's package (apt/dnf install hexchat), which at least gets rebuilt; the Flatpak has been delisted, and Debian has dropped HexChat from testing. The config below transfers to other clients when the day comes.

2. First run: the network list #

On launch you get the network list (later: Ctrl+S).

1. Set nick name plus two fallbacks, and a user name.
2. Select Libera.Chat (or your network) and click Edit…
3. Check Use SSL for all the servers on this network and Connect to this network automatically.
4. Under Login method, choose SASL (username + password) and enter your registered account and password.
5. In Autojoin channels, add the channels you live in.

Connect. The server tab shows the connection; channels open as tabs.

3. Settings worth changing #

Under Settings → Preferences:

• Logging (Chatting → Logging): enable timestamped logs — HexChat has no bouncer magic, so logs are your history.
• Alerts: set highlight words (your name's spellings) and decide which events beep, flash or notify. Untick sounds for every message in busy channels, for your own sanity.
• Strip colors (Chatting → General) if rainbow text annoys you.
• Text events: hide join/part/quit noise per channel via right-click on the tab → Settings — the single biggest readability upgrade in large channels.

4. Daily-driver notes #

• Tab completes nicks; Alt+1..9 jumps between tabs.
• /query nick opens private messages; the usual commands all work.
• Scripts and plugins (Python/Perl) live in the addons directory — URL grabbers and notification tweaks are popular; the plugin interface is the reason many users have stayed for a decade.

If you outgrow it #

The natural next steps are WeeChat for terminal power or Halloy for a modern GUI — but plenty of people have run HexChat happily for fifteen years, and nothing about that needs fixing.