How to Create a Private Channel in IRC

IRC offers Internet users a forum for discussion of a diverse range of topics. People may not always want others to know they're in a particular channel, however. When you are in a channel would rather not have your presence known to the outside IRC world, make the channel private.

Instructions

1. Choose a name for your channel. As an example, assume you want to join the channel called "Channel_Name."

2. Use "/join #Channel_Name" to start the channel. If someone else beat you to the idea, go back to Step 1 and select another name.

3. Change the mode of the channel to private. The default mode for IRC channels is public, so use the command "/mode #Channel_Name +p" to make it a private channel.

4. Invite other users to join your channel by entering the "/invite #Channel_Name user123" command. Of course, enter the actual user name instead of "user123."

Tips & Warnings

• Since IRC is a popular Internet chat forum, make sure you choose a channel name that is at least somewhat unique. You can check to see if a channel is already occupied by using the "/who #Channel_Name" command. This command lists the users currently in the channel (assuming it's not a private channel).

• A private channel doesn't restrict unwanted individuals from joining. To make the channel invitation only, use the "/mode #Channel_Name +i" command.

• If you want the channel itself to be invisible to other users, set the channel to the secret mode. Use the "/mode #Channel_Name +s" command to add an additional level of privacy.

• To make the channel public once more, use the "/mode #Channel_Name -p" command.

• If you want to make a channel that already exists private, you can use Step 3 if you have "ops," meaning that you are a channel operator. At their discretion, channel operators can give ops to other users.