# Connecting with XChat

[XChat|http://xchat.org/]] has been essentially unmaintained for a decade and should not be used. In addition, XChat for Windows is proprietary software. To protect your [freedom](freedom), you should consider using an open source [[IRC client](/bouncer), such as it's open source fork [[HexChat](/Hexchat). If you insist on using unmaintained software, XChat for Linux and Mac are open source.
[XChat|http://xchat.org/]] has been essentially unmaintained for a decade and should not be used. In addition, XChat for Windows is proprietary software. To protect your [freedom](freedom), you should consider using an open source [[IRC client](/bouncer), such as it's open source fork [[HexChat](/Hexchat). If you insist on using unmaintained software, XChat for Linux and Mac are open source.

# From the menu, select `File` → `Network List...`.\\

Attach:xchat-menu.png

# If your nick name is blank, fill in your nick name with the bouncer username you registered. If your user name is blank, fill in your user name with the bouncer username you registered.

# At the bottom-left corner, click on the `+` button to add a new network.\\

Attach:xchat-networklist.png\\

Name the network `network-bnc`; for example, if you want to connect to `ircnow`, name it `ircnow-bnc`. Then, click on `Show details`.

# Select the `General` tab.\\

Attach:xchat-showdetails.png

  # `Hostname`: the bouncer server address (it should look like `example.ircnow.org`)

  # `Port`: 31337

  # Check `SSL`

  # Uncheck `Use global user information`

  # `Nick name`: the bouncer username you registered

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

# Select the `Connecting` tab\\

Attach:xchat-connecting.png

  # Check `Auto connect to this network at startup`

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

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

# Click `Connect in a new tab` at the bottom of the left window.

# If you see a message saying ZNC is not yet connected to the network, type `/znc connect` -- wait a few minutes to connect.