# Connecting with Hexchat

[Hexchat](/https://hexchat.github.io/) is an open-source IRC client that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can download the Windows 7 app for free. The Windows 7 app works fine for Windows 10 and does not cost money.

## Graphical Instructions

# Once you start Hexchat, it will open up the network list automatically. If it does not, go to the menu bar and click on `Hexchat` → `Network List`.

# Click `Add`\\

Attach:hexchat-add.png

# Rename `New Network`.

# Click `Edit` while the new network is selected.

# Fill in the details:\\

Attach:hexchat-edit.png

  # Click on the field that says `newserver/6667`. Fill in the bouncer server address, followed by a slash /, followed by 31337. For example, if your bouncer server address is `example.ircnow.org`, then you should fill in `example.ircnow.org/31337`.

  # Check `Connect to this network automatically`.

  # Check `Use SSL for all servers on this network`.

  # Uncheck `Use global user information`.

  # `Nick name`: the username you registered for the bouncer

  # `Real name`: anything is fine

  # `User name`: the username you registered for the bouncer

  # `Password`: username/network:password -- for example, if your username is `john` and you want to connect to `ircnow`, you might fill in `john/ircnow:abcde12345`.

  # Click `Close`

# Click `Connect`

# If you get a message saying ZNC is not yet connected, type `/znc connect`.

## Quick Command

Type this command:

    /server -ssl example.ircnow.org 31337 username/network:password


Replace username, network, and password. For example, if your username is `john`, the network you want to connect to is `ircnow`, and your password is `abcde12345`, then type:

    /server -ssl example.ircnow.org 31337 john/ircnow:abcde12345