mIRC is an Internet Relay Chat client for Windows that connects to IRC networks for group conversations, private messages and file sharing. It brings server connections, channel windows and individual chats into one configurable application, with a scripting language for changing how the client responds to commands and events.
mIRC offers an evaluation period of up to 30 days. Continued use after evaluation requires registration.
IRC channels
A conversation in mIRC belongs to an IRC server connection. After choosing a server, you can join a named channel or search the server’s active-channel list. Each network has its own channels, so choosing the network determines which communities you can reach. The downloaded channel list remains available for further searches; refreshing it retrieves the current list from the server.
Channel windows show the shared conversation alongside a list of participants. Messages entered there go to everyone in that channel, while the Favorites folder stores channels you want to revisit. mIRC can maintain several server connections at once, with channel and private-chat windows associated with the connection on which they were opened.
SSL connections encrypt traffic between mIRC and a server that supports them. This protects that connection; it does not make a public channel an end-to-end encrypted conversation.
Private queries and DCC Chat
Double-clicking a participant’s nickname opens a separate query window for a one-to-one conversation. You can also address a nickname directly with the query command without sharing a channel, provided that person is on IRC.
mIRC also offers DCC Chat, which establishes a direct connection between two IRC clients. The IRC server initiates the request, but subsequent chat messages travel directly between the clients. The other person can accept or decline the request, and the direct connection depends on the clients being reachable at their network addresses.
DCC transfers
File sharing uses DCC Send and Get. The sender selects a local file and the recipient’s nickname, and the recipient receives a request to accept it. Once accepted, the file travels between the clients rather than through the IRC network’s message relay.
Interrupted transfers can be resumed. When an incoming filename already exists in the receiving folder, mIRC offers a choice to overwrite it, rename it or negotiate a resume. Resuming requests the remaining portion and appends it to the existing partial file, avoiding a complete restart when the negotiation succeeds.
Watching for nicknames and keywords
The Notify list watches chosen nicknames and reports when they join or leave the network you are using. Entries can include notes and arrival or departure sounds. The network determines whether presence changes appear immediately or through periodic updates.
Highlight rules watch the contents of incoming messages, the sender’s nickname or both. You can enter words or wildcard patterns, restrict a rule to particular channels or nicknames, and choose a text color or sound for matches. Icon flashing and tip notifications can draw attention to a match while mIRC is minimized or another application is active.
Conversation logs
Automatic logging saves channel and private-chat conversations to local files. mIRC can timestamp each line, remove text-formatting codes and organize filenames by date or network. Separate network folders help distinguish conversations from different server connections.
Recent logged lines can reload when a conversation window opens again. A configurable file-size limit trims the oldest material as a log grows, retaining the more recent conversation.
Customizing mIRC with aliases and scripts
Command aliases turn frequently used IRC operations into named shortcuts. An alias can accept parameters, run several commands and call other aliases, so a short command can perform a sequence using a channel name or nickname supplied by the user. Function keys can also be assigned commands.
Remote scripts add responses to events such as a participant joining a channel or sending a message. Scripts can use variables, identifiers, conditions and loops, while user access levels determine which users can trigger particular handlers. Multiple script files can operate independently, and scripts can target particular server connections when several networks are open.
