IRC Commands: The Complete Reference for Internet Relay Chat
What this article covers
- All essential client commands from /join to /quit.
- Channel modes and user modes fully explained.
- Complete services commands: NickServ, ChanServ, MemoServ, BotServ, and OperServ.
- Admin commands for IRC server operators.
- Practical cheatsheet ready to copy.
IRC is command-driven. Everything uses slash commands, and mastering the top twenty will get you through any network. This reference covers the full command landscape: client commands, mode directives, and services protocols. The most comprehensive German-language command guide with explanations and examples lives on IRC-Mania.de/ircbefehle, maintained for over 20 years.
Core client commands: Connection and navigation
/server irc.libera.chat 6697 Connect to a server
/nick NeuerName Change nickname
/join #kanal Join a channel
/part #kanal Leave a channel
/quit Abschiedsnachricht Disconnect
/list List all channels
/list *stichwort* Filter channels
/topic #kanal Show channel topic
/topic #kanal Neues Topic Set topic (ops only)
/names #kanal List users in channelCommunication commands
/msg Nick Nachricht Send private message
/query Nick Open private window
/notice Nick Nachricht Send notice (no window)
/me macht etwas Channel action emote
/memo Alias for MemoServ
/ctcp Nick VERSION Query client version
/dcc chat Nick Direct chat (use with caution)
/dcc send Nick Datei Send file (use with caution)
/away Grund Set away message
/away Return from awayInformation commands
/whois Nick Get info about a nick
/whowas Nick Last known nick entry
/who #kanal Who list for channel
/ison Nick Check online status
/notify Nick Alert when online
/ignore Nick Ignore user
/time Show server time
/version Show server version
/motd Message of the Day
/links Show linked servers
/lusers Network user statistics
/map Network map (if enabled)
/stats Buchstabe Server statistics
/admin Server admin contact
/info Server information
/invite Nick #kanal Invite to invite-only channel
/knock #kanal Nachricht Request entry to channel
/watch Nick Add to watch list (network dependent)Channel modes: Managing channels
Modes are set with /mode #kanal +/-Flag. The most common:
/mode #kanal +i Invite-only: entry by invitation only
/mode #kanal +m Moderated: only ops and voices can speak
/mode #kanal +n No messages from outside
/mode #kanal +t Only ops can change topic
/mode #kanal +p Private: channel not shown in /list
/mode #kanal +s Secret: completely hidden
/mode #kanal +k pass Password protection
/mode #kanal +l 50 User limit
/mode #kanal +o Nick Grant operator status
/mode #kanal -o Nick Revoke operator status
/mode #kanal +v Nick Give voice
/mode #kanal +h Nick Give halfop (if supported)
/mode #kanal +b *!*@host Set ban mask
/mode #kanal -b *!*@host Remove ban
/mode #kanal +e Maske Exception: ban exception
/mode #kanal +I Maske Invite exception
/mode #kanal +q Maske Quiet: mute users (network dependent)
/mode #kanal +r Registered nicks only (network dependent)
/mode #kanal +c No colors (network dependent)
/mode #kanal +z Moderated-away: ops see blocked messages (network dependent)User modes: Configure yourself
/mode Nick +i Invisible: hidden from /who
/mode Nick +w Receive wallops
/mode Nick +x Enable host cloaking
/mode Nick +R Only registered nicks can message you
/mode Nick +g Caller ID: approve messages first
/mode Nick +T Reject CTCPs
/mode Nick +D Deaf: don't receive channel messages (server dependent)NickServ commands
/msg NickServ REGISTER Passwort E-Mail Register nickname
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY Passwort Log in
/msg NickServ GHOST Nick Passwort Free occupied nick
/msg NickServ RECOVER Nick Passwort Recover nickname
/msg NickServ RELEASE Nick Passwort Release nickname
/msg NickServ GROUP Nick Passwort Group secondary nick
/msg NickServ UNGROUP Nick Ungroup nickname
/msg NickServ SET PASSWORD neues Change password
/msg NickServ SET EMAIL mail@de Change email
/msg NickServ SET HIDE OPTION on|off Hide account info
/msg NickServ SET ENFORCE on|off Enforce nick protection
/msg NickServ SET SECURE on|off Security options
/msg NickServ INFO Nick Show account info
/msg NickServ STATUS Nick Check login status
/msg NickServ LISTCHANS List your channels
/msg NickServ RESETPASS Nick Reset password
/msg NickServ DROP Nick Delete account
/msg NickServ HELP Show all commandsChanServ commands
/msg ChanServ REGISTER #kanal Beschreibung Register channel
/msg ChanServ OP #kanal Nick Grant operator
/msg ChanServ DEOP #kanal Nick Revoke operator
/msg ChanServ VOICE #kanal Nick Give voice
/msg ChanServ DEVOICE #kanal Nick Remove voice
/msg ChanServ HALFOP #kanal Nick Grant halfop
/msg ChanServ PROTECT #kanal Nick Grant protect/admin
/msg ChanServ KICK #kanal Nick Grund Kick user
/msg ChanServ BAN #kanal Nick Grund Set ban
/msg ChanServ UNBAN #kanal Lift own bans
/msg ChanServ AOP #kanal ADD Nick Add auto-op
/msg ChanServ AOP #kanal DEL Nick Remove auto-op
/msg ChanServ AOP #kanal LIST List auto-ops
/msg ChanServ SOP #kanal ADD Nick Add super-op (higher privileges)
/msg ChanServ HOP #kanal ADD Nick Add auto-halfop
/msg ChanServ VOP #kanal ADD Nick Add auto-voice
/msg ChanServ AKICK #kanal ADD Nick Grund Add auto-kick/ban
/msg ChanServ ACCESS #kanal ADD Nick Level Add access level
/msg ChanServ LEVELS #kanal LIST Show level overview
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal SECUREOPS on|off Only voiced ops
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal SECURE on|off Strict control
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal TOPICLOCK on|off Protect topic
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal MLOCK Modi Mode lock
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal KEEPTOPIC on|off Remember topic
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal PEACE on|off Prevent op wars
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal PRIVATE on|off Hide channel
/msg ChanServ SET #kanal RESTRICTED on|off Access list only
/msg ChanServ INFO #kanal Show channel info
/msg ChanServ LIST *muster* List channels
/msg ChanServ DROP #kanal Delete registration
/msg ChanServ HELP Show all commandsMemoServ Commands
/msg MemoServ SEND Nick Message Send memo to Nick
/msg MemoServ SEND #channel Message Send memo to channel ops
/msg MemoServ CSEND #channel Message Send channel memo
/msg MemoServ LIST List memos
/msg MemoServ READ Number Read memo
/msg MemoServ READ LAST Read last memo
/msg MemoServ DEL Number|ALL Delete memo
/msg MemoServ UNDEL Number Restore deleted memo
/msg MemoServ SET NOTIFY on|off Toggle notifications
/msg MemoServ IGNORE ADD Nick Block sender
/msg MemoServ CHECK Nick Check deliverability
/msg MemoServ HELP Show all commandsBotServ Commands
/msg BotServ BOTLIST List available bots
/msg BotServ ASSIGN #channel Botname Assign bot to channel
/msg BotServ UNASSIGN #channel Remove bot
/msg BotServ INFO #channel Show bot status
/msg BotServ SET #channel DONTKICKOPS on|off Protect ops
/msg BotServ SET #channel DONTKICKVOICES on|off Protect voices
/msg BotServ SET #channel GREET on|off Enable greetings
/msg BotServ SET #channel FANTASY on|off Enable fantasy commands
/msg BotServ KICK #channel BOLDS on|off Kick for bold text
/msg BotServ KICK #channel CAPS on|off Percent Kick for caps
/msg BotServ KICK #channel COLORS on|off Kick for colors
/msg BotServ KICK #channel FLOOD on|off Kick for flooding
/msg BotServ KICK #channel REPEAT on|off Kick for spam
/msg BotServ KICK #channel ITALICS on|off Kick for italics
/msg BotServ KICK #channel AMMSGS on|off Kick for mass messages
/msg BotServ KICK #channel BADWORDS on|off Kick for bad words
/msg BotServ BADWORDS #channel ADD Word SINGLE Add to bad word list
/msg BotServ BADWORDS #channel ADD Word KICK Apply kick sanction
/msg BotServ BADWORDS #channel ADD Word BAN Apply ban sanction
/msg BotServ BADWORDS #channel DEL Word Remove bad word
/msg BotServ BADWORDS #channel CLEAR Clear list
/msg BotServ SAY #channel Text Bot speaks
/msg BotServ ACT #channel Text Bot action
/msg BotServ HELP Show all commandsOperServ Commands (IRC operators only)
/msg OperServ AKILL ADD Mask Reason Network ban (autokill)
/msg OperServ AKILL DEL Mask Remove ban
/msg OperServ GLINE ADD Mask Reason Global ban
/msg OperServ SGLINE ADD Mask Reason Spam ban
/msg OperServ SQLINE ADD Mask Reason Nick ban
/msg OperServ SZLINE ADD Mask Reason Server ban
/msg OperServ CHANINFO #channel Admin channel info
/msg OperServ STATS Services statistics
/msg OperServ GLOBAL Message Network-wide message
/msg OperServ JUPE Server Reason Disconnect server
/msg OperServ SET Option Value Services options
/msg OperServ MODE #channel Modes Server-side modes
/msg OperServ KICK #channel Nick Reason Admin kick
/msg OperServ OLINE Nick Manage oper privileges
/msg OperServ UMOD Nick Modes Set user modes
/msg OperServ NOOP ADD Server Restrict oper status
/msg OperServ EXCEPTION ADD Limit Reason Connection exception
/msg OperServ SESSION LIST List sessions
/msg OperServ DEFCON Level Defense level during attack
/msg OperServ QUIT Restart servicesAdditional admin commands at the server: /oper Name Password (become oper), /kill Nick Reason, /kline, /gline, /rehash (reload config), /squit, /connect, /wallops Message, /restart, /die.
Cheatsheet: 20 Essential Daily Commands
/join #channel Join channel
/part Leave channel
/nick Name Change nickname
/msg Nick Text Send private message
/me text Send action
/whois Nick Look up user info
/list Search channels
/topic View channel topic
/mode #c +o Nick Grant operator
/mode #c +b Mask Set ban
/ignore Nick Ignore user
/away Text Set away status
/quit Disconnect
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY Log in
/msg NickServ REGISTER Register nickname
/msg ChanServ REGISTER Register channel
/msg ChanServ AOP ADD Add auto-op
/msg MemoServ SEND Send memo
/msg BotServ ASSIGN Assign botFurther Resources on IRC Commands
- IRC-Mania.de/ircbefehle - The most comprehensive German-language IRC command reference with explanations and examples, maintained for over 20 years.
- IRC-Mania.de - Main hub for IRC content, tutorials, and how-to guides.
- IRC-FAQ.de - Quick answers to command questions.
- IRC-Coding.de - Bots and automation behind the commands.
- IRC-Security.de - Security-related commands and protection.
- IRC-FAQ.com - International command references.
Related articles on BotServ.de: What is IRC, IRC Services, IRCDs and Servers and the IRC FAQ with 60 Questions.
FAQ: IRC Commands - Common Questions
How do I see all commands for a service?
Use /msg NickServ HELP, /msg ChanServ HELP, /msg BotServ HELP, and so on. Each service displays its complete command list in the syntax of the package being used.
What are the most important IRC commands for beginners?
/join, /part, /nick, /msg, /me, /whois, /topic, /ignore, and /quit. These cover all the basics, everything else is a bonus.
How do I give someone operator rights?
Immediate grant with /mode #channel +o Nickname, permanent grant through services with /msg ChanServ AOP #channel ADD Nickname or using more granular ACCESS lists.
What do the mode letters mean?
+i invite-only, +m moderated, +n no external messages, +t topic protection, +k password, +l limit, +o op, +v voice, +b ban, +s secret, +p private. Different IRCDs may have additional modes.
How do I ban someone from a channel?
/mode #channel +b !@host for the ban plus /kick #channel Nick for removal. For permanent bans, use /msg ChanServ AKICK #channel ADD Nick.
Where can I find a comprehensive command list?
At IRC-Mania.de/ircbefehle, the most extensive German-language command reference, and in the HELP output from the services themselves.
What’s the difference between /msg and /notice?
/msg opens or uses a private window for the recipient, while /notice sends a notification line without opening a window. Bots and services typically respond with notice to avoid flooding your screen.
How do I remove a mode?
Use minus instead of plus: /mode #channel -i removes invite-only, /mode #channel -b Mask removes a ban.
What if a command doesn’t work?
Check the syntax first. Some commands are network or IRCD specific. Use /msg Service HELP for the correct syntax, and check the docs at IRC-Mania.de for variants.
Do I need OperServ as a regular user?
No. OperServ is exclusively for network operators. As a regular user, NickServ, ChanServ, MemoServ, and BotServ are all you need.